Forget Paris-Dakar, here is Cowlinge-Saillagol

So why travel from England to France? Pa has deep attachments to both places. He has lived in Cowlinge Suffolk (http://www.cowlinge.suffolk.gov.uk/) for nearly 30 years, but over the last 10 years has spent increasingly longer periods of time in France, first near Djion, and more recently refurbishing a house in Saillgol and its attached Moulin (http://www.viamichelin.fr/web/Cartes-plans/Carte_plan-Saillagol-82160-Tarn_et_Garonne-France). The tractor is needed over in France for various agricultural projects, what better way to get it there than to drive?

Who can question this desire, roll on London Bridge.

Travel in the slow lane

Having spent many years toying with exceedingly fast cars, streaming past other commuters in a streak of colour, such that their oaths once uttered were so far behind as to be in another time, he has now decided to join the ranks of the slow and ponderous aged daytrippers: realistically I suppose his reactions are not what they used to be and his desire to stay alive seems to have increased in direct proportion to his age. So it gives him great pleasure now to be one of those irritating buggers, who used to so annoy him, who toodle along at 20mph, oblivious to or perhaps enjoying, the mounting queue of traffic behind. Except no Fiat Uno or Nissan Micra for Dad and so no zipping along at the hypertensive speed of 40mph, but a Ferguson tractor, lovingly restored by himself, and a thrilling maximum speed of 15mph. And no days trips to Brighton, but a 717 mile trip from Suffolk to Saillagol, Midi-Pyrenees France (http://www.viamichelin.fr/web/Cartes-plans/Carte_plan-Saillagol-82160-Tarn_et_Garonne-France). I am sure Pa will explain the route later, but the plan is to avoid major roads and motorways (and I am fairly sure the fear of the law does not come into this), cross London Bridge early one Sunday morning and collect the ferry for France and proceed along paths suitable for French velos.