Having had Dec's neighbour round last night saying he can make it to the chunnel in 50 minutes from here, the challenge was on and Michael took the first stint of what would be a very long day. 1 and a half hours later we rolled into the chunnel queue.....
As Michael had done all the booking for the trip it was no surprise that we breezed through customs and through the queues and in a matter of minutes we were on the train ready for the 7.50 crossing. Swopping drivers with Dec taking the first French stint the Sat Nav was programmed with Megeve as we couldn't get St Gervais in and it said 8 hours 524 miles to go Happy days! we'd be there for just after 5pm in time to register and have a nice early tea. Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Stopping to change drivers after 180 miles, we stopped at the busiest service station I have ever seen so after 20 mins driving round looking for a space, we squeezed into the smallest of gaps but the bikes stuck out, so Michael used the off roading ability of the Landrover to jump up the kerb! Being used to a somewhat smaller car and it being my turn to drive, I politely asked Michael to back it out for me.......
As the miles ticked by with only the hourly call by the tracking company telling Michael that his car was in France and making him going through security, followed by Susan his wife phoning up saying that they had just rung her as well, we decided to try and get St Gervais in the Sat Nav to ensure we knew exactly how long we had left to go and although we found the town it wouldn't take the street. "Never mind" we said, "it can't be that big we'll find it when we get there......"
Another stop with just 180 miles to go at around 2.30 and all was good. Mark took the wheel for what we thought would be the last leg and "Dec's Disco" was up and running. Name that tune in one, guess the intro, guess the cover version the miles flew by he even put a bit of Proclaimers on for me bless him! The alps appeared on the horizon in there breath-taking beauty and it was all laughs and smiles in the car as we peeled off the paege with the Sat Nav showing 7 miles, a lone southern voice in the back piped up...."Ermmmm chaps, unless I'm very much mistaken or the scale of this map is massively wrong, we may have a problem......."
We had managed to direct ourselves to the other St Gervais in the Alps near Grenoble. Who knew there would be 2....... We put the right the St Gervais in the Sat-Nav....3 hours and 89 miles away.....
Directing us staright through Grenoble during the rush hour, Mark did a fantastic job with Michael co-driving of not getting us further lost as we made our way back onto the paege we had just spent 20 euros coming down!
As it was obvious that Mark's would not be the last stint a quick coffee stop and Michael was back in the drivers seat, the Sat-Nav now saying 8.20. We'd miss the registration for today, but we should get there in time for tea at least...
At least the scenery was spectacular, with Michael making steady progress as we drove higher and higher through Alberville and finally on to Udine just 20 miles from Megeve. And then the road to Megeve was closed at Udine. by this time our sense of humour was failing somewhat, Dec's Disco had resorted to Glen Campbell and the driving was becoming difficult. The diversion took us over a very spectacular pass but it was very tight and the Discovery is a big car. I was glad I wasn't driving!
With the Sat Nav adding miles instead of taking them off as it constantly told us to turn around we finally re-joined the road and the sign for Megeve said 7 km! With Mark giving us a tour of the peaks as he's been skiing here in the past we cruised into Megeve at just after 9pm. Dec arranged the accommodation with one of his friends who has an apartment only 6 miles from Megeve and it is only a "little hill" up to it as it was described to us all. As we plummeted out of Megeve down a massive mountain pass, we could see a town right at the bottom of the valley as a spec in the distance. it couldn't be.........It was! as we have to get up this to get TO THE START before we even take part on Sunday, Declan was getting pelters!
The apartment has more than made up for it though. It may be bejou but there's not many places with Mount Blanc as view out of the balcony! It was a quick unpack of the car, and in to town to try and get some tea, but Dec had a shortcut. This meant a 300 foot clamber down to the village and grappling hooks and ropes needed to get us up the other side! it was going to be fun coming back in the dark! we stopped at the first place we saw, had swordfish with some veg and then the most amazing pud, and even though we said we wouldn't we had to have a beer!
Overall we'd done 1049 miles to get here and it had taken 19 hours......it'll all be worth it though! Up early tomorrow to ride up that massive hill to register and then we might do the mountain time trail route which is stage 17 of this years tour, but we'll see how the legs are......
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