A seriously early departure from Llantrisant - 02:00, which meant leaving home around 01:00. Normally I’m just about going to bed at 1am!!! Still… it’s so easy when the cases went in the car 12 hours earlier!

We managed it, departing on time for Dover to catch the ferry to Dunkirque. Not done that before. We managed to arrive just in time to board the earlier DFDS 08:00 departure (which paid dividends later). A two hour crossing on a mill-pond English Channel in the comfortable Club lounge (free food vouchers gifted to a random family with children).

The route from Dunkirque to Deventer took us through Belgium, via Antwerp. Over time we’ve seen some spectacular traffic jams, but the roads around Antwerp beggared belief. I would guess that a 40km-ish section the traffic chaos must have added at least 2 hour to the travel-time. And if it had been through scenic countryside instead of grubby industrial areas… Oh well! It would be fair to say sleep deprivation wasn’t improving tolerance levels either, but, fortunately there’s whiskey available on the coach!!!

We arrived at the Postillion Hotel on the outskirts of Deventer around 17:45. It’s a very good, top-of-the-range business hotel. Comfortable, well equipped room (with kettle 😀).

Dinner at 19:00; just about time to settle in.

It was a buffet table (exclusive to our group), and, for someone who usually dislikes buffets to say, “Brilliant,” tells it all. Just right for the circumstances; too tired to phaff with waiters, eat at your own pace, portion size you feel like. And when everything’s well cooked and richly flavoured…