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Sunday 16 June. 200 miles to Cambrai, France, Ibis Hotel.
Left Hemel Hempstead early, drove 100 miles and got to Folkestone in time for the 10:50 am train through the channel tunnel, a 30 mile trip.
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On the train.
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The first of many fuel stops. No further comment will be made.
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Spent the night in Cambrai, France, at a more than acceptable Ibis hotel, with a good restaurant next door, although if it hadn’t been closed on a Sunday, the hotel restaurant would have been fine.
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Monday 17 June. 216 miles to Nancy, France. Grand Hotel de la Reine.
We had stopped for fuel at a Carrefour Market, as we would many times in the trip, and heard thunder nearby. Colin and I took shelter in the forecourt of the market; Ghostie-O had to weather it out alone. We had no more heavy rain on the rest of the trip. You’ll hear about the snow later.
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If you ever find yourself travelling in the eastern part of France, please include the lovely Art Nouveau city of Nancy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We stayed right on Place de Stanislaus at the Grand Hotel de la Reine. It meant putting 2442 into a nearby parking garage for the night, but that was okay. I had stayed there before on the trip to the 2003 Alpine.
Ghostie-O wished he could drive right into the square, but typical dripping oil would make a real mess on the lovely stone surface.
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Colin’s pic of the same corner, including the hotel and one of the churches.
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Window shopping.
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We were very tired, and it had been a very, very hot day. We wanted nothing but to have something to eat and then go to sleep. But the desk clerk at the hotel told us of the nightly Son et Lumiére right in the square. She convinced us to stay up for it, and we wouldn’t have missed it for anything. These still pics don’t do it justice.
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The Hotel de Ville provided the main surface for the Son et Lumiére. Two other sides of the square were part of it, too.
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Leonardo’s Vitruvian Man is said to illustrate his belief that man is the measure of all things.
Here's a link to my iPhone video. You might have to copy and paste it into your browser. Don't forget the sound. There's a familiar voice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH5iCPNZnFw
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Tuesday 18 June. 128 miles to St. Louis, France. Berlioz Hotel
We spent some time in the morning in the parking garage sorting out some tricks that Ghostie-O was playing. One involved an investigation of the magneto points. The other required resetting the points on the battery ignition. Off we went.
Colin pic.
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The starter motor had not worked in the morning either, other than to make a discouraging clunk. Colin was certain it was due to a very low battery charge. I had talked with Dick Frawley, my mentor, who said to make certain the starter motor bolts were tight. With battery charged overnight and bolt tightened, Ghostie-O started right up.
Colin pic.
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Wednesday 19 June. 182 miles to St. Moritz, Switzerland. The Kempinski Hotel and the start of the rally.
Our first view of the high Alps.
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Shortly after arrival at Kempinski’s Hotel. My shirt is still clean (except for the sleeve, perhaps).
Dudley pic.
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