adventure on the high roads

[eleanor2]

talk about adventures.....we got to ferry easy enough.had a lovely smooth crossing.whilst thousands were stranded at airports and the chunnel.phew we thought how lucky..........dont speak to soon.we landed at calais and thought we were in the antartic.snow everywhere.we were all led out of the harbour via a short cut.we were soon to learn the French arnt as stringent as us Brits for cleaning snow.we set off for our guest house,which is in the middle of the somme.the main road wasnt too bad.but when we had to turn off and go down the country roads. oh dear...............we managed to get along some snow drifted roads.then up ahead a massive lorry stuck on a hill.we got stuck behind.then loads of cars got stuck behind us.french people came out trying to help.but no go.this french man tried to tell us he had phoned the mairie.and voila within 5 mins the mairie appeared with a farmer and his tractor.they pulled the lorry aside.we sneaked past.neary swerving into said lorry.crept along these snowy roads.turned and oh no.it was getting dark and very lonely. a car was stuck.we managed to get round.hubby by now panacking like mad.darkness falling.we crept to the next main road and hubby said no guest house for us we have to just keep driving down these main roads.there was absolutely no where to stop for hours.we eventually found a motorway stop.to fill up and have a drink.all in all we drove till 3 a.m next morning.

[Crocus]

Goodness me Eleanor! What a terrifying experience! Could you get to the guest house eventually? x

[Ivy]

hope the traveling conditions had improved for the return ( are you back yet or still in France?)

[sheddie]

Tell us more Eeee. X

[jazzactivist]

A bit of a nightmare start to your trip, eleanor. It is bad enough struggling along through ice and snow on roads that you know, as everythng looks quite unfamiliar, but in a different country and driving on a different side of the road. Your OH is brave, brave, brave... and so are you. 'Hope the rest of the festive season goes well for you.

[eleanor2]

well by the time we got to daughters.we had driven through snow,ice,driving sleet,pouring torrential rain. oh the washer in the car had frozen.we had to buy a big bottle of screen wash.jet black roads,lorrys kicking up rain and a stone that hit our window screen like a bullet.thankfully just marked the screen not cracked it.we stopped at a service station in the middle of no where.no-one about.stopped for an hours sleep.then off again.no crocus we couldnt get to guest house on way there.we travelled continually till we were both half traumatised.we did try a hotel but they hadnt even cleared the drive and we couldnt get up it.the only option was keep to the main motorway.as we got nearer daughters.the weather started clearing from snow and sleet to rain.it went from 0 degrees to 12 degrees.when we got to daughters local village we were so tired we were disorientated.just the last bit of mental lucidity got us to house.the sat nav had done well right to village but didnt have daughters address in it.i had to tx daughter to say we were here has she'd left a key under a pot for us.she said when she woke up for the loo she needed to see we were there safe.we are home safe ivy but this is just the beginings of our adventure.oh the oil light came on in the car too.thankfully it was just the oil had used up quicker than it should have.so now we had to stop to buy oil.3a.m we lay down in bed and fell fast asleep till 10 a.m.you are right jazz.it was the language and being in a foreign country that made everything a lot more frightening and stressfull.

[Crocus]

Dear Eleanor, this could well be a novel you're writing, a thriller actually! I'm just quite glad you got to your daughter's more or less safe and sound .. xx

[franbee]

Eee, what a time you both had! I hope that's the last of the tale, and you spent a happy warm Christmas with family and a safe journey home?

[eleanor2]

oh no fran.............the week before we went, daughter and s inlaw had had a tummy bug that had gone around the area.we thought eh all is well now.but elder grandson did look pale and didnt want to eat.we thought it was excitement.then that he was sick all over his bed.he seemed better next day.we had a lovely christmas day.son in law a great cook.local farm goose and about 8 veg.yummy.home made christmas pud and brandy sauce.but that night hubby went down with a bang.sickness and diahorrea.i thought he was dying.all night and next day.next night it was my turn.lucky me i just had a few hours diahorrea.no stomache pains or anything.next night other grandson.another sick bed.none of us put any weight on anyway.o.k we are all well at last.monday we went to our car to travel to next town for local street market.oh dear....water light now comes on dash.hubby looks.not a drop of water in car and big flood underneath.in France 90% of population drive renault,peugeot or citreon.all french cars.we are in a vauxhall.hubby flips which unsettled me.we fill car with water drive to town a few kilmeters.all water gone again. we are going home the next day and this is the last straw.i manage keep tears back in front of daughter.but hubby sees them glisten on my eyes.we have one chance find radiator leak liquid and hope it works.none of us know what it is called in french.i grab a customer in the shop and drag her to the car stuff asking her to try to help us decipher a bottle we think is right.between us we think this is right stuff.put it in and phew it worked.but we now have over 700 km to travel down some lonely parts of the auto route with a radiator that might go any minute.guarantee no parts could be got either.i got that desperate i rang my dad and asked him to get people praying for a safe journey for us.that night we did have a lovely leaving tea and good night.set off early next morning.travelled all day in torrential rain again.this time we did reach avrils guest house and what a surprise we had there.

[Crocus]

Eleanor, I'm totally speechless here. You won't ever forget December 2009!

[eleanor2]

when we reached guest house all the usual holiday rooms were in darkness.the only light was the main part of the house.we knocked on door and entered.there was avril all smiles giving us a hug and kiss. a lovely log fire.next we noticed a family of other guests.well what a r.m night we had.it was a wealthy business man and his wife,son and daughter in there early twenties all from Australia.they were 0n a 6 week tour.they had done the usual singapore bali.thailand etc.then england,switzerland,germany then france.next they were off to u.s.a for a week.they were fab company.dad was busy outside putting his whisky and other drink to cool in the snow.we all had a glass of wine.introduced ourselves etc.sat round a table together for tea.then dad starts bringing in his drink. conversation of nearly every topic thread on r.m.all of us relaxed ,happy and down to earth.i learnt a lot about aussie.they dont wear hats with corks dangling.they love english tea.dont like the over the top jokes about aussie accents.sorry to say the aboriginies wernt in good light.there is recession there too.but obviously the very wealthy too.i was very impressed with this family.they were friendly,intelligent and very interesting.we had breakfast together next day.then said fond farewells after much more conversation. oh the dad was the twin of tony off coronation street.we then started back home.we travelled all the way home in terrible rain.but had a good journey.all together from leaving daughters to getting home.we saw about 30 breakdowns and 3 bad accidents.we were about 3 minutes behind one accident on a motorway slip road.we had to drive over all the broken glass from car lights .i dont think hubby will be in any rush to travel in december again.

[Crocus]

All I can say is thanks goodness you're back home safe and sound! x

[eleanor2]

thanks crocus........ forgot to say the worst thing happened.on the ferry on the way home.something to do with diving in the loo desperate for a wee and not noticing the seat was down.oh dear that was terrible.but by then i had give up worrying about anything.so glad its a new year.a new start and i am feeling great this morning.....whoop whoop

[jazzactivist]

Oh no, eleanor. On top of everything else. I hope that you realised that you were sitting on the seat just in the nick of time...

[Crocus]

It's like a scary novel Eleanor! It sure was a test for patience, perseverance and personal strength!

[eleanor2]

oh dear jazz no.i stooped and let forth.it didnt sound right so i looked.the floor was flooded and the seat dribbled it all down my trousers.l was dabbing away with toilet paper for ages.then rushed and sat down on a seat all the way over the channell.it had dried by the time we got up to go to our cars.luckily i had yesterdays jeans in my overnight bag on the back seat.so i was scrabling around changng my jeans in the car.i tell you it all happened.

[jazzactivist]

Poor you, eleanor, but you can excuse yourself as you had such a terrible time of it. You must have felt whacked. Lucky you had your previous jeans with you. I think that crocus is right, and it sounds like one of those awful nightmares that you long to wake up from. At least you are back safe and sound now, and one day it will all be really funny...

[eleanor2]

your right jazz.it is funny already .excursions like these stick in your mind for ever.they become a time of adventure .when we sit there old and grey.hardly venturing from our front door.

[Crocus]

You better write all of this in a journal Eleanor - for your grandchildren and great grandchildren to read ....!

This happened to my mum as well one day long, long years ago. Boy did we laugh! She also realised to late and just carried on ....

[eleanor2]

crocus i really must.the thing is i now feel like i could take on anything.you should have seen me today.my ordeal isnt over.i was on the bus.i asked the driver if he was the right number bus.he said yes.then i asked for my des5tination clear as a bell.cus he was foreign.yet i just had this sixth sense this driver was going to go the other route.by george he did.i rang the bell and walked to the front .proclaiming he told me he was going my way.he said i dont understand you.what.......i had five bags of sale shopping and a long walk down snowy paths to get to my house.because he just wasnt concentrating.i kept my cool.but told him he must listen more carefully to people as it was his bad mistake making it harder for me.i asked for a refund of my fare out of principle he said he didnt understand.i tell you.by the time i got home i cooled down.felt sorry for him.he was checkoslavakian.we have a check friend so .i didnt ring the bus station and complain.but from now on i will double check my route.you just cant trust men.

[Crocus]

I really think you must lock yourself in your bedroom for a few days Eleanor! I wonder if it's a good idea to use "foreign" bus drivers? Especially if they don't understand what you're saying or asking. xx

[eleanor2]

your not kidding.at least he drove the bus well.even if he couldnt understand our language very well.i am feeling sorry for him now.......

[franbee]

You know, eee, they say challenging experiences make you a stronger person.

[eleanor2]

thats adzactly how i feel fran,i feel i have gone past my safe boundaries and way exceeded them.so now other things seem tame.

[Katelb]

Blimey Eleanor,I have just tracked this thread down,what a time you have had,thank goodness you are both home safe and sound,as you say,you won't be travelling in December again ,at least not to France.
Glad you can laugh at it now,you should write it down for your great grandchildren,...although it might be a bit frightening for a bed-time story!!x

[eleanor2]

thanks kate.we were laughing last night when we were tackling the English roads.saying how much better we felt even if we did get stuck or break down in our own area.you could just ring son or leave car and get a taxi home.in the wilds and 6 hours away from everyone you know.not knowing the language.not even a torch(i learnt a few lessons) it was a terrifying ordeal.

[jazzactivist]

I expect that all of the bus drivers have their minds on keeping safe on the icy roads at the moment, eleanor, so don't be too harsh on the man. If I travel on the bus I like it if the driver isn't obviously British, as I think that they drive better and get less ruffled. I also always have horrible thoughts about the TV programme On The Buses, not to mention the time when I had a very erotic dream about a regular bus driver and after that I couldn't get on his bus and hand over my money without blushing. He was a real hairy horror too, and none to bright about his routes, but somehow managed to find his way to a steamy hotel room in Panama!

[eleanor2]

jazz wel i never...............
i learnt a lesson i will always check myself from now on.

[eleanor2]

phew adventures again.hubby only booked us in a place called ravenscar this wekend.on a cliff at the edge of the world in north yorkshire.guess what i woke up saturday morning.to a snow storm.we got snowed in the hotel all day.i was terrified we were going to get snowed in.cus after France i am phobic about driving on snowy roads in our car which is rubbish in snow.i was imagining being snowd in thre all week.thankully the next day was lovely.roads passable.we had a day in whitby.got home safe today.

[dragonfly]

I'm glad you are home safe and sound Eleanor. Perhaps you should stay near to home until spring and good weather.

[franbee]

Did you climb the steps to the Abbey, eee? and did you have fish and chips at the Magpie?

[Crocus]

Oh you lucky girl Eleanor! I hope you enjoyed every minute of it! X

[eleanor2]

fran we climbed the steps what a climb.....didnt know which was best fish and chips.but we did get some scrummy ones.what quieus at the fish and chip shops.loved the church.didnt see dracula anywhere even tho i looked for him.not at night i might add.got you a good christmas pressy d.f. yes we had a lovely time crocus.also i vowed no more travelling in winter.next feb we are staying close to home on our w.e away for sure.

[jazzactivist]

I enjoyed Whitby too, eleanor. That's where I stayed at the NTN hotel. It was great. The Magpie is the best fish and chip shop, but we found that the others were just as good too. We found Whitby town itself to be really busy, but with an excellent book shop, but if you walk out along the boulevard to the left past the West Cliffs then it becomes quiet and seasidey with just sand dunes and eventually a small beach. We'll definately go there again, will you?

We aren't as brave as you travelling all over in the snow. It is our 20th wedding anniversary this weekend and we are going to Keswick, which is only about an hour's drive from here and still in Cumbria, but it was where we spent our first anniversary and we do really like it there. We had thought about Whitby again, but the snow and ice and now all the potholes too put us off the idea!

[eleanor2]

thats why we travel every feb jazz.it is our 31st w.a. this year.i do think whitby was too far for 3 days.i do like whitby but even tho it was snowy and only end of jan it was very busy.the shops are quaint.but i didnt get a quaint feeling about the place.i think your walk along the boulevard past the west cliffs is what i should have done.cus i am not that bothered about going back.saying that i am so glad i went and have seen the town,church and abbey.i cant imagine how busy it is in summer.some people we were talking too in the hotel say it is heaving in summer.yet they and another couple we were talking too who all live in yorkshire say they come often to whitby for hols and weekends.apparantly our hotel was a good point for walkers.i saw quite a few don on walking boots and set off down the coastal path and walking down the roads.