The alarm clock is ringing. 4.30am. Latest check-in for the ferry: Apparently 120 minutes before departure. 8:00 a.m. departure. Okay, with packing things, getting ready etc. very early - I think. Once I've stowed everything away, brushed my teeth and loaded my backpack, I head to check-in. The people at the harbor are all very nice. Some are French, some are British. With tired and sleepy eyes, I open all the car doors several times, show my passport and answer questions like: "No marijuana? No cocaine? No immigrants?". I first want to ask: "Why? Do you want to buy some?", but I know that that probably wouldn't have worked out so well in the situation. So I act like the shy and innocent one and can get onto the ferry unhindered. Line 23. Deck 4. Red Stairs. Up. Sit down. Breakfast. I refrain from buying any of the (possibly) overpriced food on board. There are exactly two things that concern me the most: my seasickness and pound banknotes. The first one I'm surprised where it comes from and the second one I don't know where it should come from. So two different things with unknown sources. I was finally able to find the source of my nausea: clearly the incredible rocking of the ferry - although I had thought that it would never be so bad on such large ships. The crispbread, apple and banana hardly help either. I pass the two-hour crossing by asking at the duty-free shop for a money exchange facility, walking around a bit and taking a power nap. That feels good. Actually, I didn't have to get up so early. I caught the ferry at 6:00 a.m. Apparently if you booked for 8am you can take the ferries from 6am to 10am inclusive. So you don't actually have to be in a hurry. 

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When I arrived in Dover, my nausea problems resolved very quickly - but I still don't have any pound notes. In addition, I have great respect for the left-hand traffic that awaits me. I look for a change booth on Google and let it navigate me there. Closed. Such a crap. The ATM at a supermarket isn't promising either because there's something wrong with my debit card. Finally, a nice saleswoman in a supermarket helps me and sends me to ANOTHER supermarket, where I have to wait until 9:50 a.m. (!!) until the exchange booth is occupied. But then everything works. I now have almost 1000 pounds. That should be more than enough for my trip. I'll just change the rest back when I leave. So it can finally start. I have already chosen the campsite for today. Tomorrow I want to climb Pen Y Fan (highest mountain in the Brecon Beacons) and so the place shouldn't be too far from there. 

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There is an incredible amount of traffic on British/English "motorways" and there are hardly any rest areas. Only shortly before Wales there are one or more pee options. I grab a pre-packaged sandwich and a coffee at a rest stop and off we go. 

Just driving straight ahead is really good, but roundabouts are so terrible! Several times I am overwhelmed by the combination of poor road markings, left-hand traffic and multi-lane roundabouts. Luckily I have a German license plate and shout accordingly: "Be careful! Driver on the right!" 

I drive forever and reach the Pwylln Farm Camping campsite very tired. As I drive into the area I have to open a gate and I am immediately overcome by a sense of calm and serenity. I'm here. 

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The yard or farm is huge and more than just a farm. It is obviously important to the owners to protect against insects and birds, because the grass in the middle of each tent meadow remains unmowed. Everything is designed with an incredible attention to detail. I'm glad I took the time to drive up here, especially when I see the fantastic view of Pen Y Fan. It sits majestically in the background of the warm, green-yellow panorama. Clearly visible, but still surrounded by a light haze, although the bright blue sky is not obscured by any cloud. 

I park my van so that I can enjoy the panorama from the open door. I don't do anything for the rest of the evening. I relax from the drive, sit in the sun, shower and make myself a delicious broth with carrots, tomatoes and peppers. Since the long journey has exhausted me, I go to sleep before it's really dark.