Tuesday 6 June 2023 - Navenby to Gravelines

 

 

Checkout that bit before Maidstone!

 

With plenty of time to get to Folkestone for our booked crossing we didn't rush away, spending another hour or so with Mum. All went well and we stopped at Birchanger Green services on the M11 for lunch - not our favourite place as it's chaotic getting in and out, currently made worse with the junctions being reconstructed.

Down to the M25, very busy as usual and we did spot a couple of gantry signs saying M20 was closed J3-5, on our route of course. They shortly disappeared and TomTom showed no holdups so we took little notice, but it wasn't until after the Dartford Bridge that we realised he was showing the route via the M2 and naturally we were in the wrong lane. However still no signs about the M20 so we thought it was probably all sorted, as has happened lots of times before.

But that was our first big mistake of the trip - the M20 was still indeed blocked, at J5, and we hit the queue at J3 with miles to go. TomTom was not being helpful so we cobbled a route around the blockage but of course by now everywhere in the area was gridlocked and wherever we went there were more queues, coupled with more roadworks. Hopefully the map will show our track but suffice it to say we drove an extra 60 miles touring the towns and villages of Kent and a leg that should have taken 20 minutes took over 2 1/2 hours. We never found out what the problem had been although someone said a lorry was involved.

And we missed our train - a first for us!

Eurotunnel, or rather Le Shuttle as it's now known, have always been flexible but because we had to go through Pet Reception, another bit of Brexit red tape and a ruse to extract more cash out of us, we missed the next train too and were put on the 2020, two hours late. The knock on effect was that we'd missed our (cheaper) refuelling stop and it was thus 10-30pm when we finally parked up at Gravelines - but at least it was still light. However the thought of food was not very welcome although we had managed a sandwich whilst waiting at Folkestone so a quick hot drink and open the new box of biccies before collapsing into bed!

But there was worse to come!