ACROSS THE CHANNEL TO FRANCE

and so we hot-tailed it to Dover, where we would take the cross-channel ferry for the mammoth 90 minute journey across the English Channel. I shouldn't really mock it, as it stopped the Hitler juggernaut in its tracks during World War 2. However, he did have the RAF to contend with, whereas the most we had was a flock of seagulls who insisted on following the ship all the way to Calais.

The Renault waits patiently in the queue for the ferry at Dover Harbour, for it's emotional return to the country of it's birth

And off we go, aboard P&O leaving the French boat stalled at the grid


The French get away, but we're already about three minutes in front


The cross-channel ferries are retired cruise ships which have been modified to take vehicles. This wide deck has obviously seen better days


Karen bids farewell to that famous English Icon, the White Cliffs of Dover


and in just over an hour we motor into Calais

Happy to back in continental Europe (as opposed to Political Europe)

A sister ship of the one we were on, sets course for Dover on the return trip

On arrival at Calais, we drove north along the coastline to our planned overnight stop at the port of Dunkirk, scene of the famous evacuation in May-June 1940. My father had been one of those evacuated by the fleet of the famous 'small boats' which rescued 330,000 soldiers under the onslaught of the German air force (Luftwaffe).

As a mark of respect to Dad, we called in briefly at the war memorial cemetary to pay tribute to his fallen mates

The cemetary is beautifully maintained by the Commonwealth Graves Commission

A sad reminder that many fallen soldiers were never identified

and so, after a quiet night in Dunkirk, and our first experience of a French pizza, the next morning we set off to travel through France and Belgium, and were heading for Germany