4 December 2022 - Safely home

Miles driven today = 126

Total Miles to date = 4,901

Today's final leg was very straightforward and hassle free.  We got to the Le Tunnel terminal with plenty of time to spare.  There was no queuing and very little waiting around other than a couple of quick checks to make sure the gas was turned off and we had no stowaways lurking in the shower or the garage.  As a result we were 4th in line for the 10:20 train, a full hour before we were due to depart, and we were already steaming along the M20 in Kent by the time we were actually booked to leave.

Even the Dartford Tunnel was unusually free flowing and with our watches set back an hour were home by lunchtime.  Our shared driveway is a bit on the tight side to negotaiate in a 7.4 metre vehicle but our neighbours kindly allowed us to park the van in front of their house in order for us to unload.  The house was cold and the car battery was flat but the depot we store the van at is only 2 miles from home so I was able to pedal back home once I had dropped her off and emptied what was left in the water tanks.

It was only once we started putting clothes and other stuff away that we realised how much we had taken with us which was never worn or used.  We definitely overpacked but on the other hand, and thanks largely to Lisa's phenominal organisational skills, there were surprisingly few things we forgot to take with us so hopefully I will re-read this before our next trip and remind myself that I don't actually need 7 fleeces (I wore 3), 8 button up shirts (I wore two of them, once each) or 3 pairs of jeans (none of which even made it out of the vacuum bag).

I checked the trip record before I left the van.  We covered 4,901 miles at an average of 30mph and 29.0 miles to the gallon, which I was fairly pleased with given the steepness and wriggly nature of some of the roads we have covered.

So where next?  Well with the whole 90/180 days fiasco I'm basically grounded now until March as far as European travel is concerned.  But another lengthy trip is definitely on the cards for some point in 2023, so watch this space...

Summary