Wednesday 08/06/2011 Coventry to Antwerp 165007-165243 = 236 miles

It might seem mad to attempt to drive to the arctic in a car that's nearly 20 years old. I've been told, quite correctly, that it would be cheaper to fly there, hire a car and pay to sleep in hotels, rather than buy hundreds of gallons of diesel and sleep in the back of the Peugeot 405. I can't argue about the cost. My reason for this trip is, I guess, is to experience a little bit of excitement and adventure. It might not be quite Michael Pallin but then I haven't got the budget he's got.

I decide not to fit the headlight deflectors that I've bought because I'm not sure where to stick them. Instead I stick some black tape on the headlights where John said it should go and hope for the best. The theory is that, if the tape is no good and someone complains then I've still got the deflectors to deploy. If I stick the deflectors on and they're wrong then I'm banjaxed in Belgium (or wherever).

Afternoon session.

So I set off at 14:00. It's a nice afternoon but I have butterflies in my stomach. I'm not sure whether the whole adventure is a good idea but I've already paid for the cross channel ferry, so I feel I should at least try to get to France and back.

There are 11 miles of roadworks on the M1. It's start/stop motoring for 4 of them but the 405 copes well. No overheating. I thought I might hit some traffic around the M25 but although it's busy there's no hold ups. I'm soon over the Dartford crossing bridge (£1.50) and onto the M20. I haven't put any diesel in as I'm trying to run the fuel down to fill up in Belgium where I believe it's cheaper. But, as the fuel gauge gets lower and lower, my bottle runs out and I leave the M20, find a filling station and put 27 quid's worth in, which is way too much really. It's raining a bit as I get nearer to Dover. This reminds me that the passenger side windscreen wiper is only held together by a piece of kitchen foil wedged into the ball and socket joint. Still, it holds out and I arrive in Dover at 17:40.

I can't find the Norfolk Lines check in. Apparently Norfolk Lines is now DFDS Seaways. So I eventually get my boarding pass and head for security where the 405 is searched and I have to empty my pockets and go through a metal detector just like the airports. Maybe they thought I might hijack the ship, take it up the Thames and ram the Houses of Parliament!

The ferry departs at 20:00, more or less. It's quite windy but the crossing is very smooth.

Late session.

We arrive in Dunkirk at 23:00. It's a 2 hour crossing but they're 1 hour ahead in Europe.

The plan is to just find a place to stop and start driving in the morning but I'm not tired and I'm in a bit of a convoy with all the lorries, which, I assume, are mostly going towards Germany like me. So I just carry on driving. No one seems to be troubled by my headlights, which is good news. I soon find the A16/E40 junction, which is the 1st one I need to negotiate. I'm through without any hitches. After 90 minutes and about 50 miles I decide it's time to sleep. The lorry in front pulls into a big lay-by; so I follow it, find a space, put the curtains up and kip for the night.