Hotel fire alarms before breakfast are not amusing….. I’d hardly got out of the shower when it went off !
Subsequently, the breakfast room was in complete chaos, as everyone took the opportunity to feed. Not the best way to start the day.
Anyway, having walked across the road to the SNCF Auto Train Office (thankfully only opening after the rush hour was over), I gathered up my skirts and attacked the Paris traffic.
The Auto Train experience was (much to my surprise and delight) absolutely first class and hassle free – might be different in the REAL summer though. A bit expensive, but fitted my overall travel plan very well and I’ve ended up at the end of the 4 weeks in reasonable fettle.
Except for the Paris traffic……… I’ve relied heavily on my TomTom navigation thingie, but it has not let me down. A few wrong/missed turnings by yours truly soon got sorted out, accompanied by Mr Fry’s dulcet tones ( PS Mr Fry was purchased by son Sam, not me, just in case you wondered, but nevertheless most reassuring).
He led me straight on to the Parisian Boulevard Perifique, or as I like to call it the Boulevard Terriffique. Its the Paris Inner Ring road, like a sort of motorway version of the South/North Circulars around London, but 4 lanes of howling traffic. On my direction, some poor van driver had broken down in Lane 3, causing monumental jam – such fun…..
My route to Dieppe was on ordinary main roads, much preferred to Autoroutes.(paid or unpaid for) the well trodden route to Dieppe was fine and I ended up somewhat early.
The DFDS Seven Sister ferry seems to be only 25 % full on this crossing, so I was able to get my favourite Commodore cabin for the crossing.
Beautiful sunset on the way across the Channel, great sight at the end of 4 magic weeks.
I stayed at my “usual” B+B in Newhaven (thank you Madeline) overnight and drove home at my leisure next morning. Bit anti-climatic really !