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 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.

France Tour. September 2015. Part 1.

The September 5th.

Left home 1900 hrs for Canterbury Park and Ride,

not far from home but enables an early start for the ferry. Went into the Gate Inn for a meal which was not very good. A disappointing start.

September 6th.

Left at 0550hrs for Dover. Got the 0640 P&O sailing to Calais, breakfast in the Brasserie, disembarked in Calais 0915 local time. Drove straight to Adinkirke for my tobacco, then deciding to take advantage of the quiet Sunday roads drove to Camping les Illettes in Charly-sur-Marne just East of Paris. Arrived 1530 hrs, the lady owner was trying to explain something to me, her limited English and my limited French made it difficult. Eventually using an app on her phone she was telling me there could be some noise from the pickers. What it was, was a lot of Poles were in tents on site with vans, they were picking grapes locally. They were fine, there was some noise in the morning at 0700hrs as they set off for work. it wasn't a problem for us as we were hitting the road anyhow. We had spent a nice evening outside enjoying the warmth.

And we both enjoyed a good sleep.

September 6th.

Left at 0900hrs, we had picked Nevers as our next stopover. As is usual progarammed sat-nav to avoid tolls and off we went. Had a very pleasant drive in the most part. Arrived Camping de Nevers 1400hrs. A very nice site by the river.

Checked in for 1 night and set up.

Had a cuppa, as you do, then talk a walk across the bridge for a look round. 

As can be seen the weather was lovely, quite hot in town. Sadly almost everywhere was closed, nowhere for a beer, and couldn't even find a boulangerie to get bread and cakes. The Cathedral is quite imposing,

but even this we couldn't go in. So back to the site, relaxing in the sun and enjoying the surroundings.

Hazel did some miniature weaving for Teeny Weeny World, with a glass of Pinot Grigio, me I just had a beer and did nothing.

The hoody was because the breeze off the river was quite cool. In the evening Hazel had a 1st go at "Toad in the Hole" cooked in the Remoska.

An outstanding success. Decided that tomorrow we would do a long run and go to Millau. Then to bed.

Tour of Germany. Spring 2015. Part 1.

April 25th.

Did our day at the "Malthouse" finishing at 1700hrs. Quick shower then off to get Eevie, which we had pre loaded so was ready to roll. Left Hawkinge 1840hrs for the short drive to Canterbury Park and Ride. The Dover Road one has motorhome parking similar to a French Aire.

The "Gate Inn" is just outside, so we spent the evening there with a very good meal and wine.

April 26th.

Set off for Dover at 0610, short drive, checked in and boarded. Had breakfast on board, disembarked in Calais at 1000hrs local time. Short run to "Adinkirke", Belgium for my tobacco. Left there at 1200hrs and headed for our first overnight stop, "Camping du Lac des Vielles Forges" arriving at 1500hrs. Checked in using ACSI card and set up.

Quite generous size pitches and faciities are good. We took a stroll to the lake,

Doesn't show in the photo, but it was quite busy as it was a Sunday and there is a watersports centre just along the road. A nice bar next to the site entrance, so a couple of beers before settling in for the evening.

April 27th.

Left site 0950hrs heading for the Alsace region. Dull miserable day which spoilt the drive, as many places worth a look were shrouded in mist. Arrived at Saverne 1430hrs, looked a nice town so decided to overnight here. Found a site "Les Portes D'Alsace. Nice site, cheap with ACSI card. Covered swimming pool and good facilities. By the time we'd set up and having a cuppa the heavens opened.

As it didn't let up the walk to town was abandoned. Even the equestrian centre in the photo became deserted.

Our view by 1700hrs. Such is the joy of the open road. We had dinner watched a DVD then bed. Tomorrow we would cross into Germany.