26th May Licques

After a brief stop in Maidstone we duly left at 1 pm and drove down the M2/A2 to Dover. Bright sunshine, almost blue skies and a real hint of Spring!

When I booked the ferry crossing I had expected it to be quite light and the boat only partly filled. Most people would have gone to France on Saturday, I thought so we should have an easy voyage. Well not exactly as I has not factored in a football game.

The boat was overflowing with Germans! Yellow and Red shirts were to be seen everywhere. One coach on the dockside was notable for the racket coming from its interior, drums banging and 'singing'.

As we waited at the front of a line of vehicles, men began to kick a ball about, as one does, I suppose. What was notable was that it was mixed - Bayern fans and Dortmund fans playing together! There was no sign of fighting or hostility at all. And there was clear evidence that beer was being drunk in some quantity as well. One can but imagine what the scenes would have been like if it had been English fans waiting to get on a boat.

The boat was very busy and at times very noisy with fans chanting and singing - well Dortmund fans at least but it was never unruly or unacceptable.

The drive in France was quiet and quick - about 20 kms to our overnight stop in a small, pretty village near Ardres on the old main road south. We are sitting here in a rural peace with croissant and baguette order for the morning. Dortmund awaits!!