Friday 06 August Saarlouis - Oberammergau

Up at 03:00! I had a very long day yesterday and do not feel like driving to Germany today. Can I go back to bed please?!!
I am off to Oberammergau for the Passion Play and then to Austria for a week on a trip I didn't think would happen.
The initial deposit to Oberammergau was paid two years ago and I was convinced that in the next two years we would fill a coach. (I had even toyed with the idea of running 2 coaches!). Ten years ago I drove a full coach for Truemans here and as the play is only on every ten years I thought it would be popular.
The response has been poor and I only have 13 passengers. It was 14 until a couple of weeks ago but one of the passengers had to cancel.
At one point I was going to cancel the whole trip when it was pointed out to me (thanks Sue) that I would lose less by running it than cancelling!
So here we are, me and the Bakers Dozen!
After a short stop at Clackett Lane services we arrive in Dover at 07:45 and after going straight through passport control are called in for a security check. Thankfully this doesn't take long and we are soon queing at the ticket booth.
Once we have our ticket I wait in the loading bay to loaded onto the 08:30 sailing. It seems quiet with there being only one other coach waiting with the cars.
When we are loaded I see why it was quiet on the quayside, everybody else is already on the boat! We are parked right at the back (the blunt end) and are out in the open. It is a lovely sunny morning and I hope it is like that for the crossing because if the wind gets up all of the sea spray showers the coach and leaves it covered in salt. I needn't have worried as it is a smooth sunny crossing. Not that I knew much about it having slept most of it!
Our overnight hotel tonight is in the German town of Saarlouis which is an hour south of Luxembourg.
The drive seems to take a long time, which shows I am tired, but at least I can listen to the cricket as far as Luxembourg when I lose reception.
We have a couple of stops along the way and arrive at Victor's Residence Hotel at 18:00.
This is my first time here and I would definitely come back (lucky that as we are here on the way home!) as it is a smart hotel. The dinner is a buffet and the beer is only €1.95 a pint.