day 22, saturday 21^st august 99

We're all ready for going-home type activities (Jeremy has been going on and on for days now about how he's "dying for a shag" and those of us with partners no doubt agree) and today's the day. I get up at 8:00.

I pack and load up Trixie. The oil conundrum is as yet un-sorted (how do I dispose of the old oil?) until martin, an Ixie we met for the first time yesterday, offers to dispose of it in the UK if I can make the container totally leak-proof. Top man! One application of gaffer tape and a NHS surgical waste bag later and the problem is solved. Many thanks, Martin!

All loaded, Jim, Jeremy and I leave at about 10:00. At this point, Andy and Iain have been out for a lap of the 'Ring in Adam's Scooby and when they accept the offer of a second lap have the privilege of watching & hearing the engine die in a most nasty manner. Bugger.

They have returned only to notice that they both have to go to the bank to get German money so they can pay the fierce Mrs. Merten. The rather substantial Mrs. Merten is hovering, marvin is looking frustrated, Iain's at the bank and Andy's yet to go. Oh dear.

We hit the main roads and aim firmly for Calais on a route recommended by Adamanda. Five and a half hours later, after two petrol stops and one meal, we arrive in Calais. Top route!

£70 each for the ferry. We wanted to go on the hovercraft, but the next one was actually going to be the catamaran and much later (expensive too), so that idea gets abandoned. The French crew secure our bikes with tiny bits of string and we're off to Blighty at about 4:45 – so only a quarter of an hour late, then.

Half way across (or thereabouts) there's an announcement that we are 10 minutes from British territorial waters and that the shop will stop selling tobacco and beer when we get into these waters. How very curious.

There's a long and boring queue for the British customs at Dover and then we're back onto British roads. A belt up to London, stopping only for fuel, and I'm home for 7:00 p.m.

It's over.

Mileage: 450-ish