Day 1 draws to an end

We got back to the warehouse and helped to sort more boxes and eventually began to get the warehouse ready to close up for the night. It was about 7pm by then, I think, and everyone was beginning to feel shattered.

The longer term volunteers suggested that perhaps those who were also staying at the hostel might like to get a pizza and have some wine before falling into bed. This suggestion was agreed wholeheartedly!

We made our way with the convoy in tow to the hostel. As we drove past the jungle we noticed that there was lots of smoke from various part of the camp and we all panicked as we immediately thought the police has been using tear-gas again! As we slowly drove past there didn't appear to be any panic in the actual camp so we concluded that it was just their individual fires for warmth and cooking - breath again.

We weren't able to exit the dual carriageway via the most direct route to the hostel as the police had blocked it off so we were suddenly, unexpectedly, heading for the port :O After some hysterical laughter from everyone in the van we just kept heading for 'Sortie' / Exit and eventually the sat nav picked us up and took us on another route. Looking back, an aerial view would have looked hilarious as here was a van followed by at least three cars weaving in and out of back streets trying to get to the accommodation hahaha!!

Found the hostel, Auberge de Jeunesse - Calais and booked in. Rooms sparse but looked clean and the bed felt comfortable - result for 17 Euros a night including basic breakfast (I paid extra for a private room as my insomnia isn't much fun for others if in a shared dorm!).

We all met down in the bar area and the longer term volunteers kindly let us place our pizza order with theirs. We were starving by now and ready for a glass of wine, which Gayle and Louisa had bought from the supermarket across the way, just in time before they closed - well done girls, that wine went down a treat!!

Full of wine and pizza tiredness overcame us and most of us trekked up to bed.

We were meeting at 8.30am in the dining room and hoped to get to the warehouse at 9am for a meeting.