Brugge to Ipswich

 A big day on the road today so an early (for us) start. We said goodbye to this charming town. As we were packing the sun coming up shone red and made for a lovely scene with the canal and Roman bridge in the foreground.



 Then it was a quick breakfast.

We are on the fast roads today so although it is a bit colder we can put in the miles. 

On the way out of town we saw the horses and carts heading to the town square for their day of work showing tourists around. They even knew to stop for the red light. 

Our first stop was Dunkirk and we headed out the beach and checked out the Allies memorial there. I have always wanted to see the beach where such a mammoth evacuation happened. It was blowing a gale and bloody freezing so we didn’t hang around. 


After a short detour for gas we hit the motorway for the short trip to the Euro tunnel terminal. This is such a simple process. You rock up to one of several barriers, punch your ticket code into a machine, it spits out a ticket and the barrier lets you through. Then it’s passports at the French and then British customs booths and your good to go. Because we we had booked a flexi fare we were entitled to go the equivalent of the Koru lounge. So we had a quick bite and a coffee before we headed to the boarding gate. We were probably only there 10 minutes before we were invited to ride onto the train. We chatted to a few other bikers for the 30 minute trip and picked up some tips for next year. 

So then we rode the length of the train, about 300 metres I reckon before exiting through a side door onto the platform. Well signed roads lead you onto the motorway and that’s it. So easy. 

The Dartmouth tunnel. I used to drive through here regularly  45 years ago for work it was 2 lanes then. They have since added a parallel tunnel.

A fairly uneventful ride, we did stop at a cafe for a drink and sandwich. Quite the contrast from the Boulangeries we have grown accustomed to. Tea in a mug. Door stop bacon sandwich for Robyn and a sausage sandwich for me. Optional HP sauce. Very tasty though.

We then got back on the road to Ipswich. We are staying the night with my cousin Patrick who I last met in 1980. Just like me he hasn’t changed a bit.  


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