Route Masters

Wed 6th Jul

We are real truckers - we will get to use the truckers lounge

"Waggons roll" I say cheerfully as we walk to the truck, only to find I've left the keys on my desk at home. Good start.

We think we are so big and bold...

Highlights of our first day on the road:

100 London black cabs decked out with balloons going the other way taking under-privileged kids for a day at the seaside. They are all looking about excitedly, whether at balloons or pals in other cabs or at police motorbike outriders it's impossible to tell.

Once on the ferry we give the truckers lounge a miss in favour of the panoramic view from the main lounge at the bow.

Dutch friends Edgar and Else (with Cloggie doggie Kooshe) are sailing from the Netherlands today on their steel gaffer Windbreker and they had posted on Facebook when they were passing Flushing. We joked that we should look out for them and after doing some rough calculations as we near Calais Howard is keeping watch. Amazingly he picks out a gaff sail approaching from the north and sure enough it is them. You could not organise it if you tried! They are not close enough for waving but we ring them and Howard asks Edgar why he's not set his topsail. (The reply comes back that they are motor sailing - fair enough).

Calais Marina is our destination for tonight but surprisingly it is not where we left it. A major rebuild is underway and the whole thing has been shifted along. We find it and then track down a non height restricted entrance, eventually, and persuade them to let us park up for the night. They are not sure what to charge us so they don't charge anything at all and we aren't going to argue with that.

Supper in town is followed by a very exciting, but eventually disappointing, Euro 16 football match on the Yacht Club TV. dWales gave it their best shot, well several in fact but sadly none made the target, as you will know.

And so back to our high rise accommodation.

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