We opted for open windows instead of noisy air con, but I was never going to get a good night's sleep as the biological clock wanted me up at 3 am and with noise of the traffic and passers by didn't help. However it was another bright sunny morning but the forecast was for thunderstorms so we packed our waterproofs.We decided to explore southern Manhattan today. Taking the subway to near Brooklyn Bridge where there were some great views across the river....

This trip has been planned for a long time. It seemed like a good idea to have a weekend in New York before going to Chicago for the World Triathlon Championships but slightly complicated with the issue of taking the bikes and it got even more complicated when I qualified so two bikes to transport. Anyway at great expenses the bikes were sent separately and should be winging their way to Chicago in good company (Louise Mincham's bike was in the van with the...

The wind in the night was shaking our tent and we awoke for the first time to grey skies, it must be time to go home. We left early having to change our departure port to Dunkirk. The roads were quick and easy but as soon as we hit the DFDS terminal there were long queues. We thought we could automatically get on to the next available ferry but we were diverted back to the office to change our tickets and opted to pay extra to get on the next ferry rather than c...

Half a bottle of cough mixture consumed and I managed to sleep a bit better. Not cough free but at least I didn't abandon the tent. We are a bit indecisive where to go today, so started researching and now have found out that DFDS have suspended Calais to Dover sailings and we will have to go Dunkirk to Dover. Are the roads to Dunkirk going to be congested ? Shall we stay nearer Dunkirk? Toll roads or non toll roads? We kept changing our mind but set off and ...

We had a leisurely start to the day and gradually packed up and bade farewell to Irene and Gerry knowing we probably would not see their house in France again. As lovely as it is the steep steps and drive are not so practical for those in their eighties and nineties and they I'll probably have to move soon.We hit the motorway and then turned off towards Le Puys which took us through hilly, windy roads , the scenery was lovely but it was quite a long journey. ...