Blog 1.4: Nope!

As I think I might've mentioned, we were due to head off darn sarf today, well, south-east, to Harwich for our crossing early tomorrow morning to Rotterdam-Hoek.

Well... it ain't happening. Yet.

Lots has gone on since I last put pen to paper, so to speak, not the least of which was my mother's funeral which took place in her birth village yesterday morning.

Naively, it transpires, we had once considered the trip as still being viable just one day after such an emotional, draining event, but several days ago, sat in a field in Herefordshire, the realization came to us that it just wasn't doable.

We'd already put plans to travel back by at least a week when mum passed as it was going to be impossible to arrange the funeral any earlier due to a few considerations - mainly my daughter being away on holiday and obviously she didn't want to miss the chance to say goodbye to her Grandmother.

On reflection, one week's postponement wasn't nearly enough, so we took the decision to cancel the ferry crossing, lick our wounds for a couple of weeks, and book another crossing then.

It's probably the best decision we've taken in a long time in all honesty. The thought of trying to pack the van today, travel the 150 miles (?) to somewhere near Harwich, and find a park-up/Britstop/campsite nearby is one that gives me the heebie-jeebies to be perfectly honest.

Neither of us feel up to it. Both of us are somewhat mentally drained after all that's happened over the last few weeks, and my back has decided to come out in sympathy. Or is it defiance? Whatever, it's been extremely painful for nearly three weeks, so I need to give it time to heal - or at least settle a bit.

What does all this mean? Well, it means that we need to re-evaluate the whole trip.

The original plan included spending a good chunk of time in Germany - something we've wanted to do for a good many years as we both really miss the place. We also wanted to include lesser stays in France and the very north of Spain, with quick dips into the Netherlands, Belgium, Lux, Austria, etc. This was all predicated on a reasonably early start to the sojourn (originally during the last week of August) bearing in mind the tendency for the weather to cool fairly rapidly and become far more unsettled over the next couple of months or so. Obviously, starting three or maybe even four weeks later than originally planned eats into the best weather window - all things being equal - quite considerably, particularly with such a 'northern' itinerary.

So, here's the thing. That whole shebang is now 'off'.

Instead, and this is still to be firmed up (see the bit about being mentally drained) we will be choosing a more southerly crossing - likely Newhaven-Dieppe - and battering our way through France fairly quickly to get into Spain as soon as possible. We won't be staying in the very northern part of Spain neither. Oh no; we're going to be the typical Brits abroad* and head for warmer climes - cos we need warmer climes at the moment. Still TBC where exactly, and maybe not as far as the deep south/Andalucia or whatever, but seeking the sun as far as possible. Wish us luck!

Germany, though, still pulls hard. Next Spring could well see us reprising the Rotterdam run, with a couple or three months' trip to The Fatherland as the weather hopefully improves.

Who knows - we may even look further north too. is Estonia too far?

Planning for that is all in the mind at the mo. But we're both excited to do it.

*Not that typical. We certainly won't be going to Benidorm...