The cattle are lowing when we wake up. It's nippy and there is a light frost when the sun rises big and orange over the Seine. A large cargo ship rumbles past as we have breakfast. This is a lovely stop and we'd love to stay longer but we have a long drive ahead and we're all ready to go at 10:15 A quick detour to refuel then we join the toll roads for most of the next 240 miles. Traffic is generally light and the scenery is beautiful with brilliant green...

The wind is force 8 as we leave the inn for the 10 minute drive to the Newhaven ferry. Long queues suggest the ship is full, which we later discover is due to last night's crossing, but boarding progresses quickly and we are soon Away in a salle a Manger munching on pain au raisin and drinking coffee. Big waves are crashing over the breakwater as Cote d'Albatra manoeuvres out of port. The first two hours are quite rough and the tanoy announces we will be 3...

Rain is hammering down as we leave the site and traffic is very busy. We point Mary*Lou's Mercedes grill badge towards Peacehaven and follow the three pointed star to the east [although wise men were in short supply judging by some of the driving]. After a soggy drive we reach misty and windswept Peacehaven and find there is room at the inn for us to park overnight. Nick and Grete arrive later and when the wind eases we go in for our evening meal, which ...

All packed and ready to leave at 11:15. Ali has decorated Mary*Lou with a few Christmas garlands, tinsel and bright red seat covers. We have an easy and sunny dive to Sourton where we break for lunch and refuel. There are a few showers but plenty of sun, making south Devon and Dorset look really beautiful and colourful. In fact more autumnal than mid-winter. We reach Birchwood campsite near Warehan about 10 minutes before darkness and a cloudburst. ...