19th May 2010
Dear Diary,
The Opal Coast Tour starts tomorrow. Today we left home and travelled in bright sunshine and some clouds to Dover. Traffic was normal for a working weekday but no problem, top down and go with the flow , the Black Cat rumbled along enjoying the admiring glances of other motorists. Round the M25 and down the M20 a black E-Type flashed past with much waving of hands in greeting. Wimps! they've got the top up. Almost at Dover we caught up and passed a rather nice Mk 2. The vagaries of Sat Nav took over, taking us on what it thought was a shortcut through old Dover town, whilst the Mk 2 sailed blithely on, over the roundabout and out of sight. Maybe it was right for once, for the Mk2 arrived at the Ramada Hotel just after we did, crewed by John and Sue Burton. Judging by the assortment of Jaguars dotted around the crowded car park it seemed we were amongst the last to arrive, except for the black E-type which had apparently stopped for afternoon tea.

Drinks in the bar to call the "roll" followed by what can only be politely described as a "leisurely" but noisy dinner we retired to bed.

20th May 2010 - Day 1
Dear Diary,
Breakfasted early, checked out and headed for the dock for 9:00 a.m. to catch the ferry to Calais. On the dock our party was completed by the arrival of Derek and Ann Clark, Alan & Carole Matthews. Whilst waiting on the quay and on board, our collection of Jaguars attracted much interest, indeed one enterprising coach passenger appeared to be running a book on the relative value of each vehicle. The ferry crossing was as smooth as a mill pond and we were soon disembarking, 12 Jaguars & 23 members to be known hereafter as the OC's or Opal Coasters.

By the time we cleared customs and the port, we thought everyone else had disappeared. The ring road around Calais was its usual busy self. but guided by the route book we headed for the A16 and Boulogne. Dire warnings in the route book about NOT taking the tunnel road added to my caution of driving in a strange country on the "wrong" side of the road, since all roads seemed to lead to the tunnel. All became clear as the A16 and the Tunnel road separated. At this point I noticed Brian and Marion Hall's XK8 behind. Now it felt like we were responsible for navigating not just ourselves but Marion and Brian as well. My navigator did a super job guiding us through Peuplingue,. to Escalles and we were soon parking to the Restaurant L'Escale where we were due for lunch. Derek& Ann Clark were already there. Voicing my trepidation at being responsible for navigating for Marion and Brian produced the response "You were doing fine and in any case I had it on the SatNav"!!! We arrived in dribs and drabs with the notable exception of our leader and organiser of the trip, who also wrote the route book! He did eventually turn up having done a smallish detour described as "Halfway to Marseille" and paid the toll charge for those following him. Lunch tuned out to be another noisy affair largely at the expense of Phil and Sue Parkinson. The food good and the staff made us very welcome.

After lunch we headed our separate ways to the Hotel Cléry. We went via Cap Blanc Nez and the charming village or Wissant. On the outskirts of Boulogne we lost our way and found ourselves approaching the toll barrier on the A16. It didn't want to issue us with a ticket or raise the barrier. Nothing for it but to dive off down the slip road to the car park, whilst we pondered how a to get plastic low slung car to trigger the machine. A French police car turned up with "Douane" written on the side. Are they looking for us or is this a Drugs Bust that is about to go down, I explained the problem to an officer as best as I could in schoolboy French that is more than 50 yrs out of date. He answers in equally bad English and directs me the wrong way up a one way slip road back to the barrier. This time the bonnet is very, very close to the barrier when it decides to issue a ticket and raise itself. Lots of smiles of relief and thanks to the officer we are through. Less than a mile down the road we exited and paid the toll - 1 Euro! We picked up the route via the route book. Honestly Sue we didn't notice there was an extra roundabout. Hotel Cléry was a welcome site.

Dinner was another noisy affair. I have never been with a bunch of over 50's that make so much noise and laugh so much.

21st May 2010 - Day 2
Dear Diary,
After an excellent breakfast and morning briefing we headed to the fishing museum at Etaples. Motoring in France is fantastic. The "D" roads are a pleasure to drive at a modest pace, untroubled by traffic and able to enjoy the countryside. The weather absolutely marvelous, bright sunshine with a cool breeze, no hood or side screens we needed the sun block cream.

We parked in the car park opposite the Mareis much to the interest of the local gipsy's. The guided tour in French was ably translated by Phil Parkinson. Covering every aspect of fishing from the boats, nets, types of fish and crustaceans to the fish market.

The afternoon was "free time" with a selection of interesting places to visit. We headed to Jardin de Valloires for a leisurely lunch and walk through the gardens next to the Abbaye de Valloires.

After an enjoyable drive back to Hotel Cléry We stopped for petrol at the local Intermarché. We failed miserably to get the automatic pump to work.. Back at the Hotel Sue Parkinson offered to come back to petrol station and see if she could make it work. This time it worked perfectly. Sue's magic touch? No just put the card in the machine the right way up! Not important but they say confession is good for the soul and it may just head off the jokes at my expense.

We met in the bar to share our experiences of the different places we had visited. Dinner followed the format of earlier days, with much laughter and Nimal recounting more stories of "There was this 90 year old Man........

22nd May 2010 - Day 3
Dear Dairy,
Nothing was formally organised for today but there was a wide selection of suggested visits around St Omer. We found ourselves heading for La Coupole the site of the giant WWII bunker used for the manufacture of V2 Rockets in the company of Derek and Ann Clark. Using an audio Guide we toured the site for about 3 hours. Whilst very interesting the site pulls no punches on the inhuman treatment of individuals working, in slave labour conditions, Which can have a depressing effect as you ask yourself the question of, "How can one human being treat another like this?"

After lunch Derek and I had originally planned to go to Blockhaus d' Eperlecques, the V1 launch site. Looking at the faces of Mary and Ann after La Coupole we decided discretion was the better part of valour and headed for St Josef's Craft Village. It seemed everyone else had the same idea as we all met in the car park. St Josef's in a mini version of the Downland and Weald museum in Sussex. A collection of buildings fully kitted out and restored. Not always accurately according to Tony Eades who spotted a diaphragm clutch and an alternator of the spares shelf of the garage.

Another great days driving in fine weather, capped by an excellent dinner and another story of a 90 year old Man.... I wonder if I'll be like that at 90?

23rd May 2010 - Day 4
Dear Diary,
The fine weather continues. We can't believe our luck, though we hear that the UK is sweltering too. Today we visited Azincourt (Agincourt), the site and museum of the mediaeval battle between the English and the French. Immortalsied in English History and by Shakespeare's Henry V. The crux of the battle was the weather and the superiority of the English Archers with their long bow. The English could fire 10 arrows a minute whereas the French could only fire 2 from their crossbows. The museum excellently done, though a tad jingoistic praising the English, considering the French lost. For me, the most graphic exhibit in the museum was the exhibit of the weight on a rope. Pulling on the rope with one hand to lift the weight represented the force required to draw a long bow. 10 times a minute? These guy's were seriously fit.

After lunch we took a drive around the battlefield and another great dive through the French country side back to the hotel.

This evening Nimal gave a very interesting presentation on his ideas and work changing the face of business thinking. Particularly how the mind is conditioned in to thinking a certain way from an early age and this relates to business. By illustration we are asked to place two figures on horseback without cutting tearing or folding the figures. the solution simple when you know how. If you solved it on your own the well done!

24th May 2010 - The Final Day
Dear Diary,
The tour is almost over. Nimal left early to visit Le Mans. He left a lovely note to us all, in appreciation of our company. We have to say we have never met anyone who so quickly became a welcome part of our group we will miss him. After Breakfast and our goodbyes to the staff that have looked after us so well we headed for Boulogne and the Naussicaa Aquarium and Marine centre. By special permission we were allowed to park in front of Naussicca our row of cars attracting many admirers and photographers. Inside Naussica is a brilliant display of every aspect of marine life, habitat, ecological conservation and environmental protection. Stunning examples of fish both large and small from Sharks to Sardines. We spent a very pleasant 3 hours there. There was just time to grab some lunch before heading for Calais and the boat.

The crossing to Dover was once again smooth and in bright sunshine. On board we had one last surprise. Nimal had left us a couple of large cakes to be divided between us. Afternoon Coffee / Tea and cake was just what was needed to pass away the time. Arriving in Dover we went our separate ways home with Opal Coast Tour slogan echoing in our ears. "Don't follow me, I'm lost too" - Prof. Nimal Jayaratna PhD. - Hesdain l'Abbé 2010.

The Opal Coasters were:
Phil & Sue Parkinson
Mick & Jean Resteghini
John & Sue Burton
Alan & Carole Matthews
Geoff & Pam Harrison
David & Mary East

XK140 (green)
E-type (black)
Mk2 (grey)
XK8 (green)
E-type FHC (brown)
XK120 Replica (black)

Tony & Sue Eades
Don & Beryl Bray
Derek & Ann Clark
Ray & Carol Taylor
Brian & Marion Hall
Nimal Jayaratna

E-type (silver)
S-type (blue)
E-type (yellow)
XJS (grey)
XK8 (red)
E-type (blue)