Hey, here we go…..🤣

 We eventually set off on our winter adventure travelling through France, Spain and Portugal - me, Dave and Ruby 😃 

It’s probably fair to say that we were feeling a mixture of emotions - certainly excitement about what was to come, but also some (mild) apprehension around the challenges of travel. The last couple of years since leaving the EU, and our restricted ability to move freely across Europe, has certainly brought with it some uncertainty, not knowing whether the stories we have read in the press, e.g. having to provide proof of accommodation and proof of financial security at some borders is actually real etc. Also mindful that we need to stick to a very precise timetable of 90 days in the EU, as heard recently of people who overstayed in France by a couple of days and ended up with a £1000 fine as well as a ban on future travel for the next 2 years! We definitely want to avoid that happening to us 😃 

Anyway, very pleased to say that all went smoothly at Folkestone Eurotunnel, in fact it was so quiet when we arrived, only one other van in the car park waiting area, that we managed to get on a train 2 hours earlier than scheduled, and even then there were very few vehicles crossing - train was empty! Interestingly, despite the lack of travellers there was a chaotic, delayed jam trying to get through French border security at Folkestone - not sure why 🤣

                                    

Arrived in Calais to  23 degrees and lots of sunshine. In the interests of slow travel we set off on minor roads and ended up at Le Crotoy for the evening. An interesting place, at the mouth of the River Somme. Turns out this place is famous not only for the horrendous WW1 Battle of the Somme, but also for cockle picking! Wandering along the sea front later in the evening we saw loads of fish and sea food stalls doing a roaring trade. Surprised at how many vans there were around, having assumed we were heading into low season - but not the case, as we ended up squeezing into a space in the second Aire we attempted.  Maybe it was the warm weekend weather that brought loads of people out 😃 

Le Crotoy is also a favourite place for painters and  artists who tend to come to this area to capture the changing colours and hues. 

Cockle pickers wading across the estuary 

Looking across the mouth of the Somme to Le Crotoy

Left Le Crotoy the following morning, after an early morning run, watching the sun rise. Heading south now towards Spain - hopefully for more sun 🤞😃 Feeling very excited, but also reflecting on how fortunate we feel to have this travel opportunity, and what our privilege affords us 🤨

Beautiful sunrise for our morning run 😉