Set off early, yet again. Always darkest just before the dawn.
Martin drove for a while, but the engine was definitely missing, sounded like it was running on 5 or maybe even 4 cylinders. Eventually we pulled off and found a garage, where I asked them in my best school boy French whether there was anywhere we could find some cover to work on the car. Luckily they were generous (must have been the car) and they invited us to use their workshop. We quickly traced the problem to one of the leads had come out of the distributor, and one of the leads was quite oily, so that was quickly fixed, and we were back on our way.After lunch I took over driving, but as we came into Rouen, we managed to take a wrong turning, so after much discussion about just where we were, I took back the navigation, and Martin took back the driving. Which was quite beneficial in a way, because then the heavens opened, and the rains just poured down. Really couldnt see where the road went, but the traffic was tearing along anyway at a tremendous speed, for what I could see
Eventually got to Abbeville, our destination. Stayed at an Etap hotel, which was no better than an F1, but more expensive. Had to walk 1/2 mile to the nearest restaurant, which was a Baked Potato type of place, but most enjoyable.