Oh dear!! The ferry we were booked on, the “PONT AVEN" has broken down, one of the port propellor shaft bearings has failed and it will be in dry dock untill another can be sourced which will be several weeks. BRITTANY FERRIES suggested we transfer onto one of the other ferries but all others from Roscoff get to UK at silly o’clock in the evening so we elected to drive to ST MALO and get the MV BRETAGNE on the overnight crossing to PORTSMOUTH.
Sue’s predilection to seasickness is getting worse so we always book a cabin on every crossing short or long day or night so that in the event of feeling icky she can have a lay down. On this occation it worked in our favour as we had booked a “COMMODORE CABIN” for our day trip on the Pont Aven which was very cheap and our transfer to the night trip on the Bretagne was at no extra cost to us including (the very expensive at night) posh cabin - result!!
On the day of our departure we were required to leave the campsite at noon for the , unfortunately the ferry timetable - checking open at 16:30, boarding starting at 18.30 for a departure at 20:30 - would leave us with lots of hanging about time. On the way to St Malo we received the following text message from Brittany Ferries: -
“We are sorry to inform you that due to a port workers labour dispute, tonights departure from St Malo will now be departing at 21h30. Check-in will open from 18h30 and boarding from 20h00. We’re sorry for this inconvenience and look forward to welcoming you on board Bretagne”
Oh Bugger!!
Arriving at the port there was just two motorbikes in the queue ahead of us, the riders of which came over to tell us about the hold up explaining that the lorry drivers were in dispute and blocking roads. They had been allowed through because the picket liked their bikes.
We showed them our text which they had not received and we settled down for a long wait. At exactly 18:30 the check-ins opened and we were quickly sorted and sent through to the loading lanes. At around 18:40 a bus containing pickets arrived and disgorged it’s contents of strikers, one of whom used a nearby fork lift truck to place a barrier in front of the loading ramp and each side looked at the other for the next hour and twenty minutes and I must say on the part of (most of) the passengers with humour and patience. On the stroke of 20:00 a whistle blew, the fork lift driver removed his barricade and all the pickets stood aside and the loading began.
Despite the late departure arrival was spot on and just five minutes after docking we were off the ferry, through customs and trucking up the M275 towards our home base at Little Henham. Our latest adventure over.
For the sad among you some statistics:-
Days away 171
Distance travelled 12,586 km (7809 miles)
Fuel used 1565 litres (344 gallons)
cheapest €0.91
dearest €1.07
Economy 8km/l (23.4mpg)*
Wine - Cheapest €0.92 (£0.71 at the time)
Dearest €6.00 (£4.62 at the time)
Eating out - Cheapest €7.00 (£5.39 at the time)**
Dearest €17.00 (£13.09 at the time)**
* This may seem on the low side but many of those miles were covered towing the caravan, without which the consumption drops to less than 30 mpg
** All these prices include food, drinks, tip - everything.