Tues 21st July 2009 Home - Koln Prague

03:30 and I'm once again crawling out of bed to go to work, this time to Prague and the Czech Republic.
My first pick-up is in Petersfield at 05:30 and then Liphook and Guildford.
All of the taxi's arrive with my passengers on time and by the time I leave Guildford I am running 10 minutes early allowing a stop at Clackett Lane before arriving in Dover by 08:30.
We are booked on the 10:00 ferry but manage to catch the 09:15 which is great as I'm feeling a bit peckish and my little tummy is ready for a bit of breakfast! This is where the ferry wins over from the shuttle as you can have a break from the coach and enjoy a decent brekkie.
We are sailing with P&O, on the Pride of Burgandy, as opposed to Seafrance who we used last year, and I am pleased as I think the food and staff are far superior.
I would like to say that I only had some cereal and fruit for breakfast but seem compelled to have the full fatboys! And very good it was too!
The boat arrived on time and we were the second coach off, straight onto the motorway towards Dunkirk and then after 40 minutes the Belgian border.
Driving through Belgium was a pleasure with the traffic being very light as it was a public holiday, this being the second time this has happened to me this year and it does make the journey easier.
We stop just before Brussells and then again after crossing the border into Germany, arriving in Cologne by 17:30, an hour ahead of schedule. I wish all days went as smoothly as this.
We are staying at the Novotel Cologne City Hotel which is one of my favourite overnight hotels as the rooms are very good, the restaurant is lovely with good set meals and the breakfast spread is fantatstic. The beer's not too bad either!