| Day 1 - Calais to Arras |
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| The route we cycled is shown in shocking pink (why not?) |
| The original plan was to take the train from Calais Frethun to Arras all the way. Looking at the train timetable, however, I discovered that by the time we crossed the Channel we would miss the first departure at 10.30 am, and have to wait until around 2.30 pm for the next train. Not so exciting a prospect.... Then I remembered that it took only an hour and a half to cycle to Chateau Cocove, one of our favourite lunchtime stops - and Audruicq station, where the train stopped at 2.50 pm was only 15 minutes cycle from Cocove. Say no more! |
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| A cycle ride from the Calais drop off point to Cocove was now definitely on the cards! However, on the day, it wasn't quite so straightforward. Sure, we arrived at Cheriton centre on time and, as ever, Norman was there ahead of us with minibus and trailer ready, but we hadn't reckoned with the new computer system Eurotunnel had recently installed so that motorists could book themselves in at the barrier - so saving time and personnel overheads. Only trouble was that it was now experiencing its 5th crash in as many days! Queues weren't so long but the system just wasn't working, leaving motorists trying to reverse out of one lane to try another, and tempers becoming increasingly short all round - our 9.00 am crossing eventually turning into a 10.00 am one which meant 11.45 drop off in France. |
| The proposition... |
| From Calais to Cocove |
| This was a lot later than planned for a comfortable arrival time at Cocove if lunch was to be on the cards! But Norman, as he had done on numerous other occasions, saved the day! (make a note of the drop off point shown on the map at the top of this page for a clue, and go to the next page for the details....) |