Today we get up at 7am and are happy: It was a good idea to take a hotel here at Bluewater that is quite close to the Eurotunnel. On our last trip, it was so incredibly difficult to drive out of London. We first head to a Pret to get breakfast and some sandwiches, and make another stop at the Maidstone service station to buy Krispy Kreme donuts which are still not available in Switzerland. Although there are many long construction sites along the whole route with average speed cameras, we arrive at the Eurotunnel terminal with enough time left. Just a short trip to the toilet and we can already head to the waiting area and shorty afterwards to the train. That’s the way it should be: We are the first in the train again!

After a pleasant 35 minutes train ride, we arrive in France, and soon, we are on the motorway to Switzerland. We make good progress, but it is still quite a distance. The driving time from Calais to Berne is about 8 hours. We listen to radio shows again and continue with the audio book biography of Leonardo da Vinci. We make a second toilet stop before entering Strasbourg. A good decision. Because no matter what day and time: There is always a traffic jam in Strasbourg.

It is already getting dark when we turn before Mulhouse and drive towards Basel. As we cross the Swiss border, it’s already pitch black. But from here on we know the route by heart. At 8.30pm, we arrive back at home.

While unloading the luggage from the car I suddenly find a new friend – a cute and cuddly cat! But of course it has to stay downstairs.