Left Oxford about 10:30, had a great journey down to the M20, when we encountered Operation Stack.
It added a good 45 minutes to the journey from J7 to J8. When you are directed off at J8 you are met by 3 lanes going to 2 lanes then some police holding up laminated sheets waving madly at lorry drivers, whilst taking the 2 lanes to one lane for 99% of the traffic on a roundabout. Absolutely bloody useless idiots who thought it up.
Caught the 15:50 train which we were booked onto. Virtually empty but still left late. No questions or passport check by the French, just waved through.
Arrived a little late, but set off for Long Aire (expensive choice 10€ for nothing).
First issue was that our phones and the mifi did not connect properly to internet they worked fine, but no data. So turned on an old phone with a EE PAYG SIM and googled APN settings. Changed for Lebara and Superdrug and hey presto they worked brilliantly.
Whilst we stopped on the A16 Aire the heavens opened but it gave us the time to sort out the APN settings.
Arrived at Long 20:20, chosen as we had not been before at the moment at 10.20€ to park we won’t both returning. Mind not paid yet! Tried but reception closed and although they saw me they did not come out so I obeyed the sign to not knock.
Lasagne, wine and Gangs of London and a glass of ice….bliss.
