At last the day, and then the hour arrives. After all our planning we are about to set off on our longest trip yet.

We make a final check of tickets, passports, money etc and leave home at 15:45 to beat the tea-time chaos in Truro. We have a good drive in sunshine arriving Torpoint and 17:30 and drive straight onto the ferry with no queue. Traffic through Plymouth is light and we reach Millbay docks at 17:50.

Check in begins at 18:30 and we are second in line. We pull into the required lane and wait... and wait....

Amidst the vehicles being waved through we spot Chris and Mandy then Roger and Elaine. By coincidence we're all on the same crossing so have arranged to meet for dinner.

Eventually we are waved through Customs but are not asked to stop, instead we are directed to the head of another lane where we wait again as everything passes by. We spot C+M on the stern and get a text from Roger. Now we know from past experience loading is done to position vehicles in the right places, and that allows us easy access to the lift, but this is getting daft. It's 19:50, we want to meet our friends and we want our dinner. We are the only ones left and they're loading the lorries and shutting the gates. At last, literally at last, we are instructed to follow the last lorry and we are the last vehicle down the ramp.

We get to the bar and as quick as the kisses and handshakes are done Chris rushes back from the bar bearing two large glasses of Guinness. Lifesaver!

Six of us troop into the restaurant and have a pleasant meal catching up with each others' news.

At 23:00 we say goodnight and head for our cabins.

The sea is choppy and the ship rolls and creaks through the night preventing us from sleeping soundly.