exit from brexit

AS THE TSUNAMI OF BREXIT approaches strong believers in the EU like ourselves are being battered and harassed by the realisation that things will never be the same again and that the UK is set to become that potty little fiefdom off the coast of where it's at, its nose in the air and its economy down the toilet. More or less.

We've had it up to here with the stupidity of it all; we are therefore bent on ensuring that if Article 50 is imposed on 29 March (and at the time of writing it just might get delayed a month or two) we at least will have exited and be on the other side of the ditch, even if it leaves us holding the wrong travel insurance, invalid driving licences, whatever. I may run to a GB sticker for the motor, just in case (we've updated our breathalyser).

We are expecting to meet up with our chums of similar disposition on the Sablet circuit thereat to wring our hands collectively a bit more, no doubt – then continue once more as if nothing has happened. Anyway, we always planned to make this spring voyage to the light and joy of Vaucluse and are determined not to let a 'democratic' national death wish by a so called majority in the shires call time on us – just yet.

You will be keen to familiarise yourself with our route out, I am sure:

OK so you couldn't give a toss, but there it is anyway: Gorges & Bourges  –and such is our nervousness at what chaos may ensue after 'the divorce' we have booked the hotels and ferry back again, to ensure we can deliver the son-and-heir back to the satanic shelves of Bath by due date, not that there is likely to be much to stack by that time as the food shortages take hold, as the trucks back up forlornly at ferry ports in their attempt to bring in the provender that heretofore flowed seamlessly into the motherland as well as out…

Keen observers will note that we are utilising the Poole crossing this spring (after an absence of a year or two) and not overnighting either, whilst on the high seas. This means an early start from the homestead, oh dear, but in recognition of our growing maturity we have secured a day cabin so that we can take our repose, recover lost hours of slumber and disembark refreshed, with some energy in the tank for the drive to our first overnighter. I am sure you will be reassured by this, thank you for your concern.

As ever, we are investing in another variation: roads not altogether unfamiliar to Mrs Melling and self (are there any such left?) but in a new arrangement and order, resurrecting  the approach to Vaucluse down the Rhône Valley in part as well as probable passage through some of the gorges of the Loire. A chance to revisit a favourite cathedral at Bourges is included (double aisles right round the ambulatory, as you are probably aware).
But not in that order.

The northbound, Bullsmead-bound journey concluding the spring fixture in this darkling year, incorporates some aspects of the west coast and runs to no less than a four hotel extravagance. It affords an opportunity to take a closer look at Bayonne (avoiding the acquisition of a warning parking ticket this time, I trust) and, if the cards fall right, we should get ourselves up to the top of the St Martin (Biarritz) lighthouse!! Joy! – not written in to the itinerary but politely understood between the party members as a desirable target feature.

 Here it our return routlet, subject to the usual caviats, namely whims and fancies on route:

Yes, of course, there is always a lighthouse; I make no apology (it was Mrs Melling who sussed out that it might be possible to get in and up the Pointe St Martin light this time): fermé when we visited in 2017. Built (well, designed) by Fresnel himself, y'know. Fresnel? Only the father of lighthouse optics, that's all – look him up, I've prompted you before about  Freznel! The king of optics.

We also anticipate introducing the offspring to the wonders of the Contis paint-job en route (see last spring!), and taking a half day concluding dawdle round a bit of the north coast of Brittany… So we will almost certainly mop up the odd harbour light and salute one or two previously scored phares before we trudge off to Roscoff for the debatable pleasures of a daytime ferry back to Plymouth. Then, no doubt, after a return to the old-time drag of trying to get through post brexit customs without losing the will to live, we should get back to Bullsmead Towers before May 14 comes to an end.

Questions concerning these progresses may be forwarded to me at any time between now and then; you will already be completely familiar with my desire to make all as transparent as possible to my public whoever he or she may be. The Atlas Michelin 2014 has not been replaced with an update as it still has all its pages; although worn, it is still serviceable, and smells rather nice.


Sadly I have to report that this return has had to be put on hold. We hope to do it now in the autumn; we have to get back sooner than originally planned, without the son-and-heir coming out to do it with us, all due to a very significant family bereavement. 
Stuff happens… but not Brexit… we will return as we left, i.e, as EU citizens still!