Robert Charles SCEATS's Journal

After an abortive attempt to collect Arlette in late March then drive her to Spain, my 2nd attempt arrangements are now in place. A repeat of the previously proposed route - Colchester - Basingstoke - Portsmouth to catch the boat to Bilbao, is out !.The plan now is fly to the UK on Friday 6th May, collect the car from near Woodbridge, Suffolk,then back to my friend Vernon's at Colchester to pack for an early off on Sunday the 8th to catch the 09.10 DFDS ferry from Dover to Calais .Following disembarcation at 11.40 local, aim to,drive approx. 400 miles before making an overnight stop, probably around Dijon, France. God willing we will crack the rest to Barcelona on Monday. The good news is that I now have Dave as my co-pilot, an old pal of some 52 years now, which should prove to be bags of fun and hopefully, a very pleasurable experience. Dave in actual fact, was going to host me overnight for my transit stop at Basingstoke under the original plan so that it would only have been a short drive to Portsmouth to catch the 08.45 sailing. I just pray this time that nothing goes pear shaped and "falls apart at the seams" again !