Dijon by way of Folkestone and Reims

First proper day of #drivingadventures. Have to give a quick shout out to the isosceles fish that was the first dish of the holiday. If you fancy starting a holiday in style, I can’t recommend dinner at the Holiday Inn Express at Folkestone. Think formica tables and plastic banquettes that weren’t even cool when they were cool. And triangular fish aren’t natural. Husband suggested a form of angel fish. I didn’t agree.

Bed was sort of comfy. Breakfast was just weird. But then we drove to Chunnel and met up with the “group”. 13 other cars… some red ones, some blue ones and some other ones including a green one. That’s all that really matters. Although some readers would probably love to see the full details *available on request.

Once we reached France, and were convoying our way down the motorway towards Reims, I remembered that I really should have brought a neck pillow, nay even a neck brace. I think I mentioned a button yesterday. That button has a new name. “Brace, brace”. Technically it is a sport plus button. To be employed at will without warning but with unintentional consequences for any passenger. I have requested a “brace brace” warning. There’s is a condition called selective mutism. Enough said.

I had forgotten how flat and boring northern France was… and so had to spend most of the journey fantasising about being anywhere else but on a motorway in northern France. Lunch stop was preceded by a short detour around Reims (satnav took the blame, driver didn’t and I wasn’t going to get involved). But at least the “t” works well and the barriers respond appropriately. (Memories of first tour when Husband said “watch this, we drive up and the barrier goes up automatically”… we drove up and the barrier stayed down except for the point when he drove straight up to it and through it. No magic lift. We saw it bouncing down the road behind us through the rear window).

After another boring hour on the motorway we finally turned off onto a much more interesting road. With bends and everything. There were a few stretches of straight bits when it got quite exciting. But mainly it was just getting stuck behind flour lorries. Husband muttered a few car things under his breath every now and again. I fell asleep, worn out by all the excitement. And then we arrived at the chateau near Dijon.

Best bit of the day coming up! There is an outdoor pool and it is gorgeous. Splashed merrily about for a long while and then lay drying off in late afternoon sun.

Dinner was good! Courgette and garlic amuse, trout ceviche, cod and chorizo, local cheeses. Washed down with a good red Bourgogne wine.

Tomorrow we head to Switzerland. So am expecting chocolate.