Croatia Saturday 23 June 2012

Saturday 23 June 2012




Up at 03:30 which I really don’t want to do! At least with these bright mornings it doesn’t feel quite so early.
All the pick-ups go well and we are away from Guildford on time at 06:30.
As we turned off the A3 at Guildford it seemed unusual to see flashing lights on the roundabout and even more unusual to see them at a funny angle.
All became clear when we reached the roundabout and saw an ambulance on its side and amongst others two very sorry looking ambulance ladies.
Our pick up point is very close to the hospital so I presume they came flying out on an emergency and took the roundabout too fast.
As we left a lorry was beginning to right the ambulance.
Being early on a Saturday there is very little traffic as we reach Folkestone by 08:00.
There is a small queue at the shuttle ticket booths but we are soon through and heading for a break in the terminal.
We are booked on the 09:20 and our boarding letter is P. You are boarded in letter sequence so O will be the 08:50 and R the 09:36. All this is displayed on large electronic notice boards showing the time to drive to the train.

Imagine my confusion when I looked at the board and our 09:20 is now the 09:45 after R!

What’s all that about?!

I had a word at the information desk and they told me not to worry and just drive round. In the end we travelled on the 09:36 which doesn’t make a lot of difference and we are soon driving down the French autoroute towards Belgium and then Germany.

One thing I didn’t like about the train was the rubbish in one of the carriages we drove through. There was an open bin liner spilling out used coffee cups all over the floor. I stopped and went to move it out of the way but it was horrible to touch and I didn’t know what was inside the bag so kicked it to one side before driving over some of the rubbish. The bag has obviously come from another coach and it is disgusting to leave it behind.

We have a good run down to Brussels and stop for lunch at the service immediately before the ring road. Always a convenient stop as I explain about paying for the toilets but if the lady is not there you may get a free wee! No such luck today as they have put turnstiles in hat make you pay the 50c although, as in Germany, you do receive a voucher worth 50c to spend in the restaurant or shop.

From here we drive to the German border for a short stop before reaching our overnight hotel, the Ramada, in Bruhl by 17:00.
All meals are buffet here which makes for a relaxing stop.

The Spain France quarter final is on tonight but I’m too tired to watch. Spain win 2-0