EUROPE

The ferry to Calais was uneventful and all too soon we arrived and it was time to begin our marathon through Europe. Three days to cover 2000 miles meant Europe was mainly spent behind the drivers wheel. Driving through the night and in the early hours of the morning. At 4am the first morning a wrong turn was taken and instead of finding a way back on to the main road we decided moving the heavy barriers was a much better idea! The jerry cans came in handy as time was of the essence although Jim ended up with half a can down his shorts! Staying each night in the services with all the trucks waking us at dawn as a reminder it was time to hit the road again.

A beautiful drive through the Alps and in to Italy, a road that was a network of tunnels through the mountains. Down the heel of the boot to cross to Sicily on the ferry from Reg’s namesake Reggio Calarbia.

We arrived in to Trapani late on Friday night and we stayed at a campsite for the first time. Our first showers in three days – bliss!

On the Saturday morning we arrived at port in Trapani to find out that our ferry was actually leaving from Palermo, over an hour drive away – oops! We hauled it to Palmero to watch our ferry depart as we drove up.

Luck was on our side though and another ferry was leaving at 8pm that same evening and despite having to pay again (a VERY expensive mistake!) we were relieved to know we were back on track.