Day 1, Folkstone to Reims, distater stricks on day one!

We departed from the Boys hall hotel just outside Folkstone at 07:45 promised the most delicious bacon buns. The objective was to make sure we were on the 09:36 LeShuttle. All cars started on the first piston and the journey to Folkstone went without any problems apart from Nigel and Bumble struggling with the navigation as we left the hotel and the lack of a bacon bun. However despite this early rookie error we made it well in time. Flossie used her croissant as an indicator and we all evenutually navigated our way to the Eurotunnel. Sadly the best laid plans don't always survive contact, Charlie, Nellie, Ham and Flos were on the 08:34 but Nigel, Bumble, Chris and Sophie ended up on the later train. We hadn't gone 20 miles and we were already spread out like strawberry jam!

Chris and Charlie were short of fuel whilst the Lagondas were ready for the long and rather steady haul across the flat lands of France.  We all settled in to rendevous about 65km from Calais which we did sucesssfully.

Chris and Ham set off steadily cruising towards  Soissons and then on towards our final destination of Dormans and really nice AirBNB booked by Chris. At 13:45 Bumble sent the following message "We need to stop at the next services - we've got a problem". Fortunately they were with Charlie and Nellie and they all pulled over. Chris and Ham pulled over some 10 minutes ahead to wait for them assuming that there was some minor adjustment required. At 14:51 Bumble confirmed that it wasn't good news. Nigel's car had blown it's head gasket. Unfortunately this wasn't a one off and was infact the fourth head gasket that Nigel's car had blown in the last 4 months. Everyone had thought that the problem was solved but unfortunately it clearly wasn't. Nigel's car is on a transporter back to the UK. Everyone hopes and prays that Nigel will be back in the rally and we are all working tirelessly to make sure that this is the case.

Chris and Ham arrived at their AirBNB in Dormans in the Champagne district. It is a truely delightful little house and we all settled in as a second home. Cars fettled, showers had and off into town for supper. I have to say I have never come across  a town that littreally dies at 18:00. All the Google and Tripadvisor restaurents were closed and we ended up in a small cafe eating literally what they had left in the kitchen. I honestly have eaten worse many time so I mustn't complain, but really in France one does expect better!

 We set off tomorrow for Nancy a much deminished team. Moral must be maintained and this is when we all pull together to move forwards.

Every finger is crossed that Nigel finds a way of repairing his car and rejoining us somewhere in eastern Europe. Rally's are about resileance and there is no one better equipped to deal with adversity  than Nigel.