Home (16.6.2026, 15:00) to my hotel room opposite the station in Clermont Ferrand in 26 hours. Lots of pictures, lots of stories already but forgive me banking those for the book I'll be writing. The ferry docks at 05:00 (french time) which is 04:00 UK time, so not a long night's sleep though the chairs are comfy enough.  I need a few minutes break before I head out to look around and see what impression I get in about an hour.

I tell people that travelling by train / bus / ferry is easy. And apart from the odd little challenges, it is. But I should probably not recommend quite such an intensive trip to newcomers.  I travelled by train except where noted:
to Melksham Station (walk)
to Westbury
to Fareham
to Brighton
to Lewes
to Newhaven Town
to ferry check in (walk)
to ferry (bus)
to Dieppe (ferry)
to customs hall (bus)
to Dieppe Gare (bus)
to Rouen Rive Droite
to Paris St Lazare
to Gare de Lyon (metro)
to Gare d'Austerlitz (walk)
to Bourges
to St Germain de Fosse
to Clermont Ferrand

 
1.  I remember my pruning back some of that foliage, where it was approaching the pavement, a couple of weeks ago. Now, if only I could recall where I was at the time ... 

2.  Isn't Taunton, obviously - even to me. 

CfN.