I didn’t
sleep well at all – knowing we had to get up and hearing people leave early was
quite unsettling. We realised that the
woman who re-arranged our ticket actually put us on an earlier crossing than we
asked for so we had to move quicker than we wanted.
Flo spluttered to a start (a relief) and we
drove around to check in – it always takes longer than we have patience for
thanks to idiots working on booths and the people in front who didn’t have pet
clearances etc.. we got around to the queue ready to get onto the boat – as per
the other stages in the queues every other queue seems to be boarding before us
and we’re just beginning to get very impatient . Finally we were waved forward; Chris had left
the engine running all the time to help charge the battery, but when he put her
into gear she just died!!! PANIC!!! We were holding the whole queue behind us up
and the little Frenchman was waving his orange flags at us frantically!!! It was so embarrassing, everyone had to
overtake us and nothing we did could
jump start her!!!
We told the P&O guy and he said it wasn’t a worry as they could tow us onto the boat but 1st he called the French Calais workers who arrived with a super battery to try jump starting us, the kid who was with him nearly electrocuted the old guy with it first before putting it on Flo!!! Thankfully it started her so we drove up the ramp and we got onto the boat they closed the door behind us – we were the VERY last vehicle on!! The P&O worker joked that we should tie ourselves to the lorry in front!! We jumped out of Flo and went up the stairs into the lounge – as we walked in the captain was apologising on the tanoy for the delay in departure that we’d caused!! It was SO stressful, we just could not believe that Flo had had the last laugh – and it wasn’t over yet!!
We told the P&O guy and he said it wasn’t a worry as they could tow us onto the boat but 1st he called the French Calais workers who arrived with a super battery to try jump starting us, the kid who was with him nearly electrocuted the old guy with it first before putting it on Flo!!! Thankfully it started her so we drove up the ramp and we got onto the boat they closed the door behind us – we were the VERY last vehicle on!! The P&O worker joked that we should tie ourselves to the lorry in front!! We jumped out of Flo and went up the stairs into the lounge – as we walked in the captain was apologising on the tanoy for the delay in departure that we’d caused!! It was SO stressful, we just could not believe that Flo had had the last laugh – and it wasn’t over yet!!
The
crossing was quiet, we went back down into the hold and Flo was once again as
dead as a dodo!!! Not a big surprise but
still pretty frustrating!! We told the
P&O guy so he suggested we try push starting, he called over some cyclists,
told them to ‘put down their push bikes and get pushing’!!!!! they gave him a filthy look but did as he
said – it didn’t work though so he called the Port mechanics. By this time the whole load had driven off
and new lorries were starting to drive on!!!
The pickup arrived and tried jump starting us again but this time the
battery was gone so he gave us a tow and we jump started!! At least that meant we could drive off, he
said that he thought our starter motor had gone so advised us not to turn the
engine off as it wouldn’t start again….not a huge problem when considering 1st
gear was still playing up so stalling was a very real reality and the fact that
that we only had enough petrol to get us half way round the M25!!!
Traffic
was ok, we researched the risks of filling up petrol and LPG with the engine
running and although we knew it can be done we couldn’t risk it with the kids
in the car so we pulled into the service station halfway round the M25 , filled
up and prayed it would re-start – it didn’t!!! so, I called the AA and we
waited for him to sort us out – he took ages checking everything but at least
we were safe ie not on the edge of the motorway; and we could use the loos, buy
cold drinks and lunch etc. eventually he
gave us a tow and we jump started again, praying for good fuel economy and no
traffic we set off – unfortunately the M6 at Birmingham was bumper-to-bumper
for about 10 miles, another very stressful hour as Chris is desperately trying
not to stall without 1st gear!! After hours and hours we eventually got home!!!! HORAY!!!! We pulled into our drive but this time Flo wouldn’t go into reverse!! So not for the first time I jumped out and pushed her back onto the drive!!!
We left her running and emptied everything we needed into the hall and immediately drove her around to Ellesmere garage and left her there…………………….
Gad to be home? Yes!! BUT what another amazing holiday we have had in Fantastic Flo!!! - and although it wasn't the holiday we had planned we have made some super memories and were blessed hugely the whole time!!!
What will we do next year?!!!!
