Morag’s journey down in November was shared with two friends (it was to have been three, but illness intervened). This was a route based on the fact that there were still Ryanair flights between Gerona and Beauvais (or as Ryanair calls it, Paris!). A ferry crossing for the car, and flights between Beauvais and Gerona, were booked, allowing for some sightseeing time in northern France on the way. This was an interesting journey for several reasons – starting with an email received before leaving London, indicating that the ferry company (Seafrance) was in administration and no longer operating its vessels. We were assured that an alternative crossing would be arranged, and instructed to report to the port as originally planned... but nonetheless worried (at the back of the mind) all the time until we were actually issued with boarding passes for a DFDS ferry going to Dunkirk (instead of Calais as planned). Arriving at the Dunkirk ferry port we decided to go into the town for a walk as the others had not been there before and it was years since Morag’s last visit.
After our walk we began the southward journey towards Beauvais, with the intention of doing some more sightseeing on the way, but nasty weather conditions meant that apart from short comfort stops we headed directly to the town. Fortunately by this time the weather had improved and we were able to go for another walk – though by then it was dark. Heading out towards the airport we thought we had plenty of time before checking in – but were unpleasantly surprised when we got there to find (a) it had two terminals, and we didn't know which one we needed, and (b) the long-stay car park was the furthest away from both.... The car parked and backpacks shouldered we set out on a power walk to reach the terminals in time for our flight. Of course the terminal we needed was the more distant one... but luckily there was no queue to get through the security checks - we were in time! Sadly, the flight wasn't, so having rushed in, we spent the best part of an hour sitting on the terminal floor, and subsequently in a queue, waiting. Luckily we had not rushed to join the boarding queue and were nearly at the end of it – this meant we were still in the warmth of the terminal building whilst the priority boarders were at the front – out in the cold night air. Eventually the aircraft arrived and we were on almost the last stage of the journey. Mike was waiting for us with the car at Gerona airport – it was too late for the last bus.
The return journey saw us rising before dawn to catch a very early flight out of Gerona (again there was no early bus, so Mike drove us). The early flight got us to Beauvais at breakfast time, and we decided (despite its being Sunday) to try to get breakfast in town. Half an hour or so walking around the town led us to believe we'd made a mistake – even McDonald's wasn't yet open! - but finally, right outside the cathedral, we found a cafe open for breakfast. We had all day to sightsee as the ferry was not until evening – and managed to walk around Beauvais, Gerberoy and Amiens (where we found an excellent restaurant for lunch). Reporting to the Calais ferry terminal as instructed, we were then sent on to Dunkirk. Sadly there was an accident slowing motorway traffic almost to a standstill between Calais and Dunkirk, which meant that we missed the ferry check-in we'd been hoping for – probably by not more than 10 minutes or so! So we then had a couple of hours to kill at the ferry port – not long enough to go and do anything else, just long enough to be thoroughly bored – before finally leaving for Dover, and returning home in the early hours.
Transport: car, DFDS ferry Dover/Dunkirk, car, Ryanair BVA/GRO, car
Door-to-door (southbound): 19 hours
Door-to-door (northbound): 20 hours
Cost (for 3, return): £229.30
