And We're Off...

It's always a relief once we get going. If I haven't remembered to pack it, well it will still be at home when we get back. Strasbourg is our first destination. Home of the European Parliament no less and much to Nik and Gemma's delight, it isn't in Germany. Close but not quite Germany. 

A few teams it seems had issues in the week leading up to departure. Flo, of Team 13 fame, had manifold issues. All good now though. 

Milly on the journey to Dorchester lost a bit of wing mirror and had a seatbelt malfunction as Jim screwed it to the door post. I'm not sure if this was an accident or a very poor attempted murder. 

Jezebel, not wishing to be left out, caused me serious concern on my way to work in Sunday. Complete lack of power on a dual carriageway. 

Assuming it was the clutch, I was trying to work out where I could find a few hundred quid. Thankfully it wasn't a new clutch. More thankfully I hadn't bought a replacement clutch immediately. It was the drive shaft. In fact it was two missing bolts in the driveshaft. All fixed and no charge !

And so to the start in Dorchester. A slight change of scene from the home of English football, the Bob Lucas Stadium but crucially it was closer to Dover by one whole traffic jam. 

Ten of the seventeen Windy vehicles were there. Ian and Anne arrived just as we had left. Another four should join us before Dover, one sets off from Inverness on Sunday to link up with us on our third night away, and finally team 116, our newlywed Swedish contingent are already well on route to the first stop, somewhere in Germany apparently. 

So , we are currently trying to put some miles on the clock and vying for last place with Team 50, Ian and Ann in their more modern double decker T25. Hoping to link up in Maidstone for a Windy convoy, traffic permitting. 

Boy, it's good to be on the open road again. Bonnie Tyler on the stereo, fridge full of cider and 3500 miles ahead of us.