Thursday, January 11, 2024 – Newton Abbot – Portsmouth.
Jan 15th, 2024 by rallyadmin
We’re up and having breakfast by 9’ish. There’s not any reason to rush. Clemo has to run a few errands. We’re into his little Citroen C1 and zipping around the rabbit warren of streets that make up downtown Newton Abbot.
Then over to Torquay to stop by a few of his properties, change the smoke alarm, check on some repairs, etc. Another stop at a travel agency to buy euros. Clemo turns on the charm and the woman getting the euros shaves of a couple of cents on the exchange rate. A quick description of the upcoming trip which results in a fair amount of head shaking. This isn’t the kind of trip that this agency usually delivers. Then back to the car.
A drive around the area showing me potential properties that Clemo is looking at or had bid on the way to stop at his parents house to drop off the keys to the tenant properties in the event that something needs immediate attention before he returns.
On the way down the walk to the door of his parents’ house, he warns me that his mum is likely to smother me, the exotic American. He knocks on the door, his mum opens it and immediately clutches my arm which will not be released until we leave.
His mum is a charming lady who loves America, “You know we went there once, to Los Angeles, to see Burt Reynolds.” “I’m sure that you had a wonderful time.” She certainly did.
Clemo’s dad was equally charming if not somewhat more reserved. It’s obvious where Clemo gets his charm gene. After 15 – 20 minutes we make our goodbyes and leave. “I warned you.”
Back to Clemo’s house. He has to get finished packing his Freelander and get the last paperwork and finances straightened out for the trip. While he’s doing that, I’m making various spreadsheet printouts of the team data for the Challenge.
We need to have various listings of the car data, the personal data and a separate sheet that shows who has paid what. Surprisingly, after all these past months there are a few teams that haven’t gotten current with the required fees. Actually, that’s shouldn’t be surprising. It was an effort to get some of the people to provide all of the necessary personal and vehicle data.
And a couple of teams have already dropped out. One team’s car gave up the ghost in France. Another was involved in an unrelated accident and they have had to cancel due to the injuries sustained in that incident. And there was one more late cancellation for unspecified reasons (possibly concerns about potential blowback from Muslims angered by the Isreali Gaza incursion.) In any event, we are down to 20 teams from 23, 19 car teams and 1 motorcycle team.
Shortly after 4PM, Pinky arrives, pretty much on time. Of course, his trip wasn’t without a bit of drama. He was intending to stop at his dad’s on the way to Newton Abbot and had left plenty of time for the visit. After leaving home, he realized that he had left a bag which had his passport and had to return to retrieve it. You can leave a lot home but passport, money and credit cards are required.
He arrived back at his home only to find that his wife was out and he had no way to get into his home. A short bit of drama while he coped with that issue and retrieved the missing bag and departure ver 2.
Unfortunately, in order to make it to Clemo’s more or less on schedule he had to abandon the plan to visit his dad. A phone call had to suffice. Ever punctual, there Pinky at Clemo’s more or less on time.
A last bit of packing, a quick, delicious lasagna meal whipped up at the last minute by Elaine. Into the vehicles for the 4 hour drive to the Portsmouth ferry.
No issues on the way to Portsmouth. Some good conversation with Pinky, catching up on what’s happened to the last trip together in Sri Lanka. Stop for a last fuel pickup before queuing for boarding the ferry.
The boarding starts soon and goes efficiently. The check in is surprisingly efficient. “May I see your passports, please.” Passports returned with cabin keys for the overnight crossing. Drive the car onto the ferry. Park. “Turn off your lights. Place it in park. Set the parking brake.” Make our way up to the passenger decks. Find the cabins. Drop our gear. Head for the bar.
Up a couple of decks to the bar, order drinks and immediately find Phillip Bergqvist, team 17. A few drinks and a nice with him. He’s meeting up with his co-driver in France somewhere. Then back to the cabin for some sleep.
Tomorrow the continent.
Obi-wan