This is my queue

 We're sat in the ferry queue which means that we, and more significantly, the car, made it. The car computer insists that the engine receives some attention but that can wait until we're home. It sounded happy enough all the way here and should make it to North Yorkshire. 

We are embarrassingly early. This was partly fuelled by wanting to see if the car made it but mostly because we are always embarrassingly early. We knew we wouldn't be first in the queue for the ferry though. And we're not. Many of those infront of us are towing caravans. They can now camp in their caravans which is a luxury for people in a queue. It makes us miss our caravan but possessing one solely to ease the pain of queuing does seem excessive. 

Caravanning was something we loved doing when we had kids and were young. Over the last three years, we have stayed in at least 60 hotels and bnb accommodations. I think it would be hard to go back to pulling a caravan around. And goodness knows how many of our cars were prematurely towed off to the knackers yard as a result of the strain. 

The caravanners infront of us have struck up quite a friendship. They're Geordies. Or at least, from the north east. North easterners are good at connecting with each other. In North Yorkshire, we 'keep a respectable distance', 'give people space' and 'keep ourselves to ourselves'. What a terrible indictment that is. What lack of humanity. 

The thing is, we don't need humans anymore. Electronic devices provide our every waking need. In fact, there are even apps which tell you how you slept. I was thinking on the way here, today (now there's a dangerous thing) about how utterly dependant I've been on my phone for the last three weeks. 

We have bought tickets etc online in the past but printed them out 'just to be sure'. We've done none of that this time. The only hard copies on us are our passports and driving licences. I don't suppose it will be long before we can do away with them, too. If my device went down, big style, I would have no proof of bookings for eleven accommodations, no means of communicating or being communicated with (shock horror) and, perhaps most significantly, I wouldn't have the faintest idea where I am or how to get where I need to go. I have no paper map. Unthinkable not many years ago. I just punch the destination into Google maps, and off we go. We know not where or how. 

Yes, I know I've got a thing about phones but I can't help feeling they're very bad. We can't live without them but are we living with them?

It's amazing what, sitting bored out of your brains in a ferry queue can do to a blog, isn't it. 

I'm now using my phone again to tell you that we are now on the ferry. We thought we'd go to Costa where we could have a drink and finish the sandwiches that we bought at a bakery this morning a few minutes from our hotel.

We are getting seriously old. Or grumpy. Or both. The music in Costa was so loud! The rest of the boat was playing music at an equal volume but different music, allowing for interesting 'fusions' if you stood in the right (wrong) place. We found a room called the Quiet Room. There are about ten comfy chairs in it. There is 'easy listening' music being piped in

We sat in it alone and listened to Hotel California etc. like two grumpy old people. Tutting at anything we could think of tutting about. When we grew bored of tutting, we explored further and found a deck right at the top of the boat called the sun deck. It was playing music but it was quieter. And it was very comfortable. What's more, it lead out on to the deck where we could watch the lorries driving on board and cars driving up quite a precarious looking ramp and popping through a hole high up in the side of the boat as we had done earlier. They are nearly all English cars. Full of retirees getting holidays in before the school holidays start. Surely a sweeter experience still, for retired teachers. 

We have had an extraordinary three weeks. We have visited parts of the world we have always wanted to see. We are both of the opinion that the very best way of seeing any country is by bike. (preferably tandem) Yes, I speak for Kate too. 

I think there's a reasonable chance that all the while we have sufficient use of our legs, we will always consider this type of holiday. 

Writing about our experiences in blogs is something I find useful. For a start, it means I have to remember what we have done, that day. An increasing challenge...

If anyone 'out there' finds it diverting in any way, well so much the better. I'm always amused yet pleased to see that my ramblings get a host of hits. 

Thank you for reading and any comments. You are now released from further blogage for the time being 🙂

Kate, tutting, quietly of course, in the quiet room.