Counting down to the off, yet again.
I am not sure when I was setting off on our first trip that it would be so good that we would want to do it again...and again. It was and we are. Mind you with the weather the way it is in Ireland we can't wait to find some sunshine.
It will be an easier trip this year, we are taking the Celtic Link ferry to France. Such a find as the price was about 440e compared to 900+ with Irish Ferries. We had been thinking of going via the UK but this was way way cheaper. So it is sunny (hopefully!) france for us. The van is half packed, funny thing about a small van and two long trips under our belts, we have seriously edited our stuff. When we packed for the first trip we thought we were bringing the bare minimum, but this time the van is mostly empty and half packed, Of course we have packed about 30 books and a box of craft materials, but we are leaving plenty of space to bring home some nice fizz from France. I am ceremoniously drinking the last bottle today. Have to make room for the new!
The van preparations were a bit of a pain in the ass this time. A twelve year old tester in the van center in athlone didn't listen to my pleas that we were only going to be driving in France for three weeks and failed it on a very minor issue. A minor issue (too much play in a joint that had been repaired.. 'sure and it will only go again in a few months'..) meant a much bigger repair to put it right, 200e and a retest later it was off to the motor tax office to get Rosita road legal. Three, yes Three visits to the tax office including a fire alarm and evacuation, she is legal and chomping at the bit ready to go.
If you have read some of the previous years blog entries, you will know we have a homicidal sat nav and a pretty crappy atlas of France, but since they both got us home safely...they are also packed...
Hope to hear from you on our travels.
Edel and Mollie XX
It will be an easier trip this year, we are taking the Celtic Link ferry to France. Such a find as the price was about 440e compared to 900+ with Irish Ferries. We had been thinking of going via the UK but this was way way cheaper. So it is sunny (hopefully!) france for us. The van is half packed, funny thing about a small van and two long trips under our belts, we have seriously edited our stuff. When we packed for the first trip we thought we were bringing the bare minimum, but this time the van is mostly empty and half packed, Of course we have packed about 30 books and a box of craft materials, but we are leaving plenty of space to bring home some nice fizz from France. I am ceremoniously drinking the last bottle today. Have to make room for the new!
The van preparations were a bit of a pain in the ass this time. A twelve year old tester in the van center in athlone didn't listen to my pleas that we were only going to be driving in France for three weeks and failed it on a very minor issue. A minor issue (too much play in a joint that had been repaired.. 'sure and it will only go again in a few months'..) meant a much bigger repair to put it right, 200e and a retest later it was off to the motor tax office to get Rosita road legal. Three, yes Three visits to the tax office including a fire alarm and evacuation, she is legal and chomping at the bit ready to go.
If you have read some of the previous years blog entries, you will know we have a homicidal sat nav and a pretty crappy atlas of France, but since they both got us home safely...they are also packed...
Hope to hear from you on our travels.
Edel and Mollie XX