France Tour. Spring 2017. Part 1.

April 22nd.

Left home, picked up Eevie, then to Canterbury Park & Ride to overnight before ferry in the morning. Had a pizza and chips in the pub before settling down.

April 24th.

Up and away 1930 hrs, straight to Dover for 0825hrs ferry. All went to plan and on time. Straight to Adinkirke for my tobacco. Then an easy quiet drive to Neufchâtel-en-Bray, arrived "Camping St Clair" 1500hrs. Booked one night, and set up.

Lovely warm sunshine so relaxed outside.

Had visits from friendly ducks. Then to bed.

April 24th.

Up and away 1000hrs, heading for Chartres. Easy drive in still pleasant weather. Arrived "Camping Bord de l'Eure 1300 hrs. Booked for 1 night. Took a walk into town via the river.

Found a lovely craft shop. Hazel got some of her favourite UHU glue, which we can't find in UK.

She uses a lot in her miniature creations for Teeny Weeny World. Weather was still warm, and we were a bit overdressed, so a cool down was in order.

Both like a cool Grimbergen.

It's always so much nicer when sitting outside. Then it was time to head back to Eevie. Least it was downhill back to the river. When we got to the river I spotted what at first, I thought was a rat.

Then realised it was a Coypu, there were quite a few of them. Had some lovely ribs for dinner.

April 25th.

Woke to grey and drizzly weather. Heading south, no planned stop as such. We wanted to be on the Dordogne for tomorrow. Rain and drizzle never let up, found a site, "Camping Le Futuriste" checked in 1500hrs. It overlooked Futurascope, but being up in the clouds, we saw nothing due to the mist. Looked a nice site but the bar and cafe were not yet open. Lots of Dutch overnighting too. Tomorrow we would head for Bergerac.

Regular. Trip

October 2nd. 2016.

Loaded Eevie and set off for Plymouth, left 1000hrs. The journey has become boring, due to how many times we've done it. Stopped at Solstice services for fuel and loos. Had a snack and a drink, then onward. Arrived Riverside 1600hrs, checked in for 2 nights and set up.

Had a cuppa, and I think I dozed. Hazel continued making her miniatures

for Teeny Weeny World. After dinner watched tv, had heater on too, summer has definately departed.

October 3rd. 2016.

Woke a bright but chilly morning.

After breakfast, 1000hrs set off to "Streets Ahead" our wholesaler. Spent 5 hours in there, and over £1000. Our biggest spend so far, although some of it was due to increases caused by the drop in sterlings value. On way back to site we called in Sainsburys for fuel and supplies. Back on site began pricing some of the bits we'd bought. Heater on again.

October 4th. 2016.

Packed up and left site 1015hrs. Headed for Sandy Balls. Weather still nice. Pleasant run and arrived 1500hrs.

After setting up went to the bar for a couple of beers. Then back to Eevie and more pricing. Quiet evening, tv and drinks.

October 5th. 2016.

Another lovely day, finished pricing in the morning. Then off to "The Fighting Cocks" for lunch.

Had a lovely meal as usual for this pub. Hazel got to say hello to her favourites,

she just loves donkeys.

Leisurely stroll back, and lazed the rest of the day away.

October 6th. 2016.

Lovely day again, and homeward bound. Left 0930hrs, used the coast road and arrived storage 1430hrs. Home 1500hrs.

France Tour. September 2016. Final Part

September 12th.

Very hot, packed up and left Condette 1000hrs. Easy drive, arrived "Camping St Louis", Autingues. Only 45 minutes from Calais so ideal for our last stop. We'd been before, it's run by 2 lovely young girls, and is spotlessly clean and tidy.

After setting up we just relaxed for the afternoon. Although there is a nice bar and cafe on site, it's seasonal, sadly for us its last day was Saturday.

 Didn't matter to much as we always have our own supply. After our showers we sat outside all evening, then in to bed.

September 13th.

Woke quite early, it was already hot. After breakfast we cycled into Ardres, about 2 mile away. Had a look round and bought some food for our evening meal. Then back to Eevie, decided we would do our laundry, so we wouldn't have to do it when we got home. We did it all, and hung it out to dry.

It was so hot, it was all dry in a couple of hours. I got chatting to a chap called Ray, we soon put the world to rights. We invited them to come for drinks in the evening. After a shower I cooked on the portable hob.

While downing some Pelforth Brune.

 Then Ray and his wife Alison arrived, and we spent a pleasant evening, chatting, drinking and eating nibbles. It made a nice finale to our trip.

September 14th.

Up and away, left site 1015hrs. Cite Europe for some bits, and lunch. Then the 1420hrs P&O ferry to Dover. Arrived storage 1530hrs and unloaded, home 1615hrs. It had been a nice trip.

France Tour. September 2016. Part 3.

September 9th.

Left Jargeau 1030hrs. Headed towards Normandy. Mostly pleasant rural roads until the N road north, still pleasant enough but with lots of trucks. Drove through the village of Marcilly-sur-Eure, about 1 1/2 miles we arrived at Domaine de Marcilly 1300hrs. Checked in for the night and set up.

It was a beautiful site, very big, but quiet for us. The pitches are in a circular pattern around a central facilities building, a nice layout, all hedged and plenty of space. The site has a large area of holiday homes too. After a cuppa we had a stroll around. When I saw the pool, 

a dip seemed to be in order. It was still hot and apart from the couple sunning themselves we had it to ourselves. Hazel didn't swim in the end as it was to deep for her, but I did and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Then we returned to Eevie, had our meal and a few drinks before bed. 

September 10th.

Left Marcilly 0930hrs, headed for Condette. Journey was ok, some heavy traffic around Rouen but otherwise ok. Had a couple of comfort stops, arrived Condette 1500hrs. We'd been here before, a nice small site with a really friendly couple running it. picked our pitch and set up.

Then on the bikes to Hardelot Plage. Visited the poissonaire and bought moules, prawns, and scallops  for the evening meal. Then had a couple of beers.

Cycled back to Eevie , had a shower then set up the equipment to cook and eat outside. I did Moule Marinere while Hazel cooked the scallops and prawns.

A lovely evening and lovely food.

Then to bed, it had been a long day.

September 11th.

Awoke to yet another hot sunny day. After breakfast we saw a small food market on the green opposite the site. 

Took a stroll around it, bought some fruit and veg and took it back to Eevie. Weather to nice to do nothing so I suggested we cycled to Hardelot again. Hazel said, "no point, it's Sunday, always dead".  I I said we could get an ice cream, so off we went. On approaching the town we could see lots of activity, banners over the road, tannoys going. Then we arrived in the middle of a Porche rally.

So much for it being dead, I've never seen so many Porches in one place.

It explained the engine noises we'd heard in the morning, we thought it was boy racers. We had delicious ice creams, and strolled around, looking at the cars.

Then we cycled back to Condette. Relaxed for the rest of the day.

 

France Tour. September 2016. Part 2.

September 6th.

Really hot morning, we decided to stay another day and have a look round town. As seen yesterday, there are many old tudorish buildings. There was a great fire in 1524 ( long before the Fire of London) which destroyed much of the city, but many buildings in the centre survived, dating back to that time.

Nice that they did as it gives the city a unique character.

We had a look round the old streets then into the centre for lunch. We had lovely ham and cheese crepes in the cafe we'd had beer yesterday. Had a browse in the shops before returning to Eevie. 4pm it was still hot so I had a swim in the pool, the water was really cold, but refreshing. Then a quiet evening before moving on in the morning.

September 7th.

Left Troyes 1000hrs, heading for the Loire. Leisurely drive and plenty stops before arriving "Giens" 1450hrs. Checked into site "Touristique du Giens". And set up.

After a cuppa, we rode our bikes across the bridge and along the river to a Carrefour for some supplies. Still hot so on the return run a refreshment stop was in order.

The buildings you can see opposite is the campsite. Returned to Eevie, freshened up. Rounded off the day with a lovely salad.

Moving on tomorrow.

September 8th.

Left Gien 1030hrs, slow drive along the river to Jargeau, arriving 1150hrs. On arriving at the site, L'isle aux Moulins we realised we'd been here in 2013, but got fed up waiting for reception to open and moved on, it was raining at the time. No such problem this time, checked straight in and it was still hot.

Then off on the bikes for a look round. 

Very small centre, with the usual cafes shops etc. Cycling on one residential road we saw a garage sale, so stopped for a look. Big mistake, the little old lady was on our case big time, sadly it was mostly a pile of junk. Stopped on the way back for a beer.

It was only when checking the photos later I noticed the out of place feature. I'll let you work it out, but, no prizes I'm afraid. Then back to Eevie. In the evening we cooked a nice BBQ on the Cobb.

It's days like these that make it all worthwhile.

Going to head North tomorrow.

France Tour. September 2016. Part 1.

September 4th.

Having decide on a short 10 day tour we set off for France. Left storage 0800hrs for the 0925 P&O Dover/Calais. On board headed straight to the Brasserie for breakfast, bit dearer but more relaxed. Lots of people had the same idea, it was quite busy. Enjoyed our meal, then the on board shop for my rum. Soon after that we arrived in Calais. Straight to Adinkirke for my tobacco, then toll free to "Port Plaissance" in Peronne. Pleasant drive, though weather was damp, arrived 1600hrs and booked in for 1 night.

It began to rain for real, so we just chilled out in Eevie.

September 5th.

Left at 0900hrs. This date is the anniversary of our first date, so needed a fair sized town for our traditional evening restaurant meal. Monday's can be tricky for this in the villages etc. Decided to head for Troyes. Arrived "Camping de Troyes" at 1300hrs. Booked in for 2 nights, and set up.

The sun was now out, and it became quite hot. After a cuppa and a rest we walked into town. About a mile and a half. There are many old buildings, similar to our Tudor style.

On arriving at the main square, we found it quite stunning.

Many beautiful buildings and an abundance of cafes and restaurants. We had a  couple of beers then strolled around. Some nice shops, of course we had to check them out, at least Hazel did. Most of them are in streets off of the square. Around 18800hrs we started to check menus in the restaurants for our meal. Eventually settling on this one,

beneath the XXl sign on the right. Chose a table outside and ordered our meal and a nice bottle of Merlot. We were not disappointed, a superb meal.

I had Escargots followed by fillet steak, Hazel salad followed by pizza. My steak was the largest I'd ever had in a restaurant. About 2100 we made our way wearily back to Eevie and a nightcap. Moving on tomorrow.

Leighton Buzzard

August 21st.

Decided on a trip to "Grove Lock Marina", hopefully for a meet with my daughter Fiona and Grandson Toby. Left storage 1100hrs. Usual delay at Dartford Crossing, otherwise trouble free, arrived on site 1430hrs and set up.

We were in the CL a small site of 5 pitches, all grass but very nice. Then to reception to pay the fees,

It is also the Marina office. The 50 metres along the canal to the pub, "Grove Lock". Where we enjoyed liquid refreshments.

Being a warm Sunday afternoon it was very busy. Then back to Eevie, shower and relax.

August 22nd.

Up bright and early, Fiona and Toby visiting today. We cycled into town as we needed to post a package for Teeny Weeny World, our first online sale. Then back to site to await the visitors. They arrived at noon, Toby didn't want to get in Eevie, a bit strange for him. I finally lifted him in, then he was fine. Had nibbles and gave him his birthday present, it's the 26th but we wouldn't be around for that. Fiona had a go on Hazels E-bike and was well impressed, Toby enjoyed it too. We all took a walk along the canal, well Toby in his buggy. At the nature reserve he had a go at a couple of the balancing poles. Then back to site, spent a while playing before they had to leave.

It was really nice to spend time together and hopefully there'll be many more. About 1900hrs Hazel and I went to the pub for a meal. It was very good. Then off to bed at the end of a lovely day.

August 23rd.

Another lovely day, so after breakfast we cycled into town for a look round. Nice ride as its all towpath, so traffic free. Did a bit of shopping for a BBQ later, then a coffee.

Checked out the charity shops without finding anything exciting, then back to the bikes.

Once loaded up we cycled back to the canal, then along the towpath to see "Wyvern Shipping", a Narrowboat company with whom we have had 2 great boating holidays in the past.

Then back to the site, unpacked the shopping, secured the bikes, then to the pub for well earned refreshments.

Such an idyllic spot to while away an hour. Then back to Eevie. After a 40 winks we had our showers. The block is reall nice, and at one end is a covered area with a large fireplace, plentiful supply of logs, available free to campers.

We rounded off our day with BBQ'd food done on our Cobb. Then an hours TV before bed.

August 24th.

Time to go home, packed up and left site 1000hrs, trouble free journey, and back in Hawkinge 1230hrs. Unloaded and home 1330hrs, it had been a lovely break.