Portsmouth to the Pyrenees
After spending a few hours waiting for the ferry, it was off to Cherbourg, where I would find out if my long and careful preparation had worked, after first stocking up on those last minute essentials, like warning triangles, spare bulbs, oil, etc. all those little things that tend to get forgotten! Anyone know how head light deflectors are meant to fit '67 campers, the instructions don't seem to go back further than '80 cars. Oh well, it's not as if the're particulrly bright.
The ferry crossing was as pleasant as ever (when there are coach loads of school children present).
The route to Portugal? As I wait to disembark, lets have a look at the map, it's about time I planned something. Right, looks like the easiest is to Caen, then south (avoiding motorways) to Spain, then turn right, and that should get me to Portugal. Easy!
The route actually went through Laval, Angers, Poitiers, Limoges, Perigueux, Agen, Lourdes and ending at Bagneres-de-Luchon. Mainly because many years ago I used to cover car rallies in the Pyrenees, and wanted to spend a day or two, seeing them again, slowly!
As far as the van is concerned, there was an alarming rattle coming from the front, some toilet roll stuffed down behind the number plate sorted that out. Not a permanent fix though, as I haven't got any blue tack, and there's a nail in the front tyre, but I had one in my old Land Rover tyre for a year or so before I had to do anything, so not to worry...