The route is north of Paris, and via Beauvais - at least to try and drive past the Cathederal. Boat sails at 17:20, so really need to be targeting 16:00 at Dieppe.
My host at Casteland still taking pictures as I prepare to leave. There is Sun, but its back to long sleaves and jacket. The days of short sleves and sunburn are behind me now - time to get used to northern European weather again.
Beauvais
18 or 19 years ago I first visited the Cathederal at Beauvais; sort of half a building & it remains one of my favourite places. Never finished due to the over ambitious design and moving foundations. Only the Choir to the Crossing exists - but the buildings aim - the 48m height and light inside is awe inspiring...
SatNav showed I had about an hour to spare, didn't need any other excuse to stop for a while.
SatNav showed I had about an hour to spare, didn't need any other excuse to stop for a while.
Cathedrals impress me, just the nature of the scale of them and the building method based on massiveness of stone producing such impressive interior spaces. They also just feel calm - especially after a noisy blustery drive - not even really a religious thing - they are just peaceful.
Where the nave should be is blanked off, and made visible are the flying buttresses supporting flying buttresses...
Inside the stone columns are supported with wooden props..
This is where you stop, crane your head back and - I am moved by this space - the height, glass, columns and vaulting, the silence, the sheer ambition of builders in 13th century...
To give an idea of the scale - the scaffolding tower on the right is around 14 stories high!
To give an idea of the scale - the scaffolding tower on the right is around 14 stories high!
I think the wooden supports add something - something fallible and human...
Wow... - refreshed, back to the car, the final leg to the Ferry
The Boat Home
A roads lead me around the north of Paris and then back cross country towards the coast on the typical French 'star' road patterns to the ferry terminal at Dieppe
Made it around 16:00 as planned, and within 20 minutes rolling on to the boat.
Sailed on time, arrived in the UK around 21:30 and then the drive back to Maidstone for around 23:00. That last bit home was a challenge, remembering to drive on the correct side of the road, pitch darkness and a fair share of drivers out late speeding - seemed to go on for ever.
Amazing... we did it - GN13 and one very tired driver.
Summary
- 11 days in total, of which 8 were driving & 3 working in Barcelona
- Roof down all the way
- Crossing 3 countries - UK, France and Catalonia (Spain)
- Sunny and dry from day 2 onwards, downright tropical south of the Pyrenees
- About 2,000 miles on the clock
- Around £300 spent in Fuel
- Highest point - 2,115 metres over Col du Tourmalet
- Lowest point - pretty much sea level boarding the ferry
Damage - one rattly silencer which needs a rivet in just the right spot to fix it.
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