On June 4th, my french adventure, my first adventure with Wanda alone, begins. To make things easier, Mario and Yvonne let me join their drive to Reims. Being a little worried if I will be able to manage Wanda, having some company for the first few hours, calms me. My dear friends are on their way to Ireland, so we drive in a mini-convoy. Wanda being a heavy girl makes me drive in circles in roundabouts until i find out where I am allowed to drive, gaining me a few suspicious looks. Something I will get used to in the following weeks.
First we try to catch a few square meters on a designated parking space. But it’s full, to our surprise. Next try is a campsite, which also is full. Mario suggests to park beside a factory with huge silos that looks closed or abandoned. The weather is lovely and we park beside a kind of channel. Not being sure people will come and work there the next day, I go to bed pretty nervous. What if the staff asks us to leave immediately early in the morning? Will I be able to tidy up Wanda as quick as needed? So i wake up very early, even before Mario and Yvonne who want to start driving to the ferry in time. The water is still, the birds have just startet to sing and I am excited for what lies ahead of me. So, after a heartfelt good-bye-hug from my friends, they take off to their ferry and I start driving towards Dunkirk.
After I was encouraged by the drive the day before, I decide that it makes sense to fill gas right away, so that I can concentrate on the route. Embarrassingly I feel nervous. I drive to the first gas station, find the diesel pump, park Wanda and get out of the driver seat. The moment I set my foot on the floor – Wanda is pretty high – I immediately slip under the car. The moment I am laying there, literally under my own car, I think: what a beginning! I really wonder if somebody saw me? Because diesel is oily and often gets spilled at gas stations the floor had gotten very slippery. But no worries. I only hurt my knee a bit. I survived ;-)! The drive to Dunkirk, after I crawl out form under the car, goes without any further special events.
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