222 To Toulouse

Try saying that quickly but honestly, that was on a signpost on the way here! I reckon the guys who do motorway signage have a knowledge of English and a superb sense of humour. I wish I had been quick enough to catch a photo of it!

That is the first leg of the marathon journey to Calais complete and we are comfortably settled in our Crowne Plaza Hotel room for the night. The only tough part of the journey was the last bit when the satnav sent us round in the same circle three times and kept asking us to go down a street that is closed. We found a car park that is pretty near and decided to walk. While Garrath farted about endlessly with the satnav’s walking mode that couldn’t cope with the narrow streets and high buildings, I did the sensible thing and using my forty years out of date school French, I asked two very helpful French ladies who gave us directions. Sometimes you just can’t beat low tech!

We have just had a splendid meal at Grade Cafe Le Florida. I got the usual,

“Madam, c’est cru,” (madam, it is raw) when I ordered Tartare de Boef (steak tartare) but we quickly got over that and I enjoyed probably the best steak tartare I have ever had. It was unctuous in texture, perfectly balanced and perfectly seasoned. Yum! The red wine was delicious, but I didn’t have much of it as I am suffering really badly with infected sinuses and I am popping paracetamol for fun. That’s why we were in the king size bed playing iPads by 22.00.

Garrath did all the driving while I did a lot of snoozing. Pain makes me very sleepy. I guess I’d rather be unconscious while my body deals with it. I did take lots of photographs though (TV setting, 1/1600th). We shall see now they turn out.

Speaking of sleepy, I’m shattered so off to the land of nod I go before the final push to Calais tomorrow.