Check in at Dover for P&O Ferry 15:10 and initially journey went well but by the time we'd suffered delay with roadworks and slow down due to torrential rain, the final straw was a slow M25. GPS was reading arrival time as 15:08 with over 100 miles to go and I was sure we'd miss it. However, after leaving the M25 behind, we made excellent time even gaining a few minutes (no cameras I hope). We drew up to check in after 6h30m trip with a couple of minutes to spare stressed and relieved to be told they were running 20mins late!
Great crossing with good timing. Fortunately we had eaten sandwiches before boarding because the queues on board for anything to eat were horrendous.
Arrived in Calais and drove 10 min to the ibis hotel just outside the town. Had a nice meal in their own restaurant before retiring. Room was comfortable though quilt was too warm and we failed to open the window so didn't sleep too well.
A long day's drive from Calais to Bourg en Bresse, 450miles. We used the autoroute all the way and were doing around 125kph most of the time but were still very glad to arrive. We found the Logis de Breu hotel easily and delighted in it being very French including decor and colours which would be seen as eccentric at home. The room was homely and we had a balcony with a view across the rooftops of the town.
The hotel is located just across from the Abbey, the prime touring spot which has an extraordinary multicoloured patterned tiles roof. The white stone glowed in the evening light and the carvings around the entrance were detailed and beautiful.
It is clearly dead season and only one restaurant of a row remained open. We sat outside next to a quiet road looking at the Abbey as we ate, something which the guidebooks infer is rare as the place is normally so busy.
After eating, we walked around the Abbey then ambled through the streets of the town itself which has many really old buildings as well as smart shops. Again, virtually deserted by restful and enjoyable.
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