01/09/14 Clapham
(62785 £2 .00 bridge: Diesel enough to get us to France: Gas full:
put JW's 13kg bottle in for backup!)
JW
met me at Harpenden had dinner and then went up to Peters Green to
leave next day to swap stuff over from his to my van. We left for
Canterbury just after lunch and arrived about 5.30. Fortunately I'd
cooked several meals for the first few days which helped after long
journeys.
02/09/14 Canterbury
(62900:115 daily:£3.00 car park:£5.00 diesel: £50.00 diesel:)
Canterbury Car Park nearly full, cosmopolitan to say the least.
Still only £3.00 to park for the night.
03/04/14 Dover
(62927:27 daily)
Had
breakfast aboard ferry but it wasn't very good. It was cold and had
been sitting there for a while and everybody descended on the
restaurant at the same time. Not worth the £10 charged.
03/09/14 Calais
Uneventful
voyage, quick exit and glad to be back in France again.
03/09/14 Amiens
(63048:121:Free:N49-53-40 E2-17-14)
Public
Car park Free. Boulevard Du General Faidherbe. Short walk into city.
Spent next day at Cathedral. No services.
 |
| The Bell Tower, Amiens |
 |
| Very attractive clock in Amiens |
 |
| The Cathedral |
04/09/14 Amiens
(€75.77 diesel)
05/09/14 Giverny
(63138:90: Free:N49-04-24 E1-31-47) €19 for 2 Monet's garden.
Motor
home Parking. 25 coaches arrived before lunch, many before 9am;
didn't open till 9.30am.We decided to go in just before lunch. Loads
of lovely flowers, obviously different to the spring, but many, many
tourists. JW impression “Monet had lots of Monet!” Lily pond
was lovely, but Japanese still over posing with their photos. Saw
the ultimate: long telescopic pole with attachment for camera with
timer for selfies.
 |
| Monet's garden |
 |
| Monet's house |
 |
| JW very serious near lily pond! |
 |
| Round the corner from Monet's house with the Llamas or are they alpa | chas? |
06/09/14 Giverny
(Free)
Stayed again, nice
quiet site, no services.
07/09/14 Ruggles
(63198:Free)
07/10/14 Mont
St Michael (63326:128:€20.60
24 hrs car park:€24 for 2)
Motor
home Parking. In the main car park. As usual M/H parking furthest
from free bus service which runs quite late. We were allowed on the
first bus with Ollie, walked around the Mont at night, but the
Inspector wouldn't let John on with Ollie on the way back. It was
John's quickest walk of the holiday and got home minutes after my
arrival. Services by entrance gate.
 |
| Carpark at Mont St Michel €20.60 24 hours |
08/09/14 Fougeres (Free:N48-21-20
W1-12-39)
Had
lunch in the town, pizza and beer, did the walk around the main
tourist street, saw more than before, as usual. JW thought Cathedral
marvellous. Sun cleared mist and the views were spectacular from the
walls. Got back to van before the 24 hr time limit was up.
Fortunately it hadn't got too hot for Ollie. Left and went to
Fougeres, a little south and east. Several places to stay but
settled on last space at the GPS. Walked around town again at night.
It's a lovely time to explore so you can go back to special places
in the morning without the heat.
 |
| Fougeres |
 |
| The Four Watermills, found by chance |
09/09/14 Carnac
(63478:152:Free)
Had
a short walk around town and then left for Carnac. Fell over just
after we parked on a nasty tree root. Grazed elbow quite badly and
probably ricked my back at the same time. It was the last place left.
Cars had intermingled in between the motorhome spaces, naughty!
Services down the bottom, €2 water. Illertissen place. POI shown
on opposite side of road, not right!
 |
| Carnac Aire, tripped over tree root here! |
 |
| One of the alignments, nothing like Stonehenge, just different, smaller but lots of them |
 |
| Lovely cottage with picturesque garden |
10/09/14 Carnac
(Free)
Bike
ride to other alignments around stones. Lunch. Bike Ride to beach,
tea and walk.
11/09/14 Carnac
(Free) Diesel €89.16.
12/09/12 Muzilla
(N47-33-38 W2-30-42)
Had
lunch in here, found shade, getting hotter. Super U Parking for
motorhomes at GPS. Lots there.
12/09/14 Bourgneuf
en Retz (63578:100:N46-14-33 W1-04-52)Aire,
Services
Lay
by, large space but parked by a green, good for a nap and rest.
Villedoux
 |
| Great Aire, very busy |
13/09/14 Ile
de Re: L'Ocean Camp site, 17670 La Couarde sur Mer, Ile de Re,
France. 33 5 46 29 87 70 (63707:129
€8 toll)
Camp
site for Camping Cheques (£14.95 bought in UK from CC + tax €5.50)
with full facilities. Good shade for Ollie. Good facilities and
games area, you could borrow rackets, boules and putting equipment.
We indulged each day in a new game. It was good fun. Didn't go to
the Restaurant someone said it wasn't much good and there were not a
lot of people there. The wifi was also a bit pitiful. Went on three
bike rides and really it was a bit too much. John decided to include
the climb to the top of the Lighthouse, I abstained pleading bad
back!
 |
| Ile de Re |
 |
| Lovely day, flat cycling |
 |
| JW up the lighthouse |
 |
| In the lighthouse |
14/09/14 ditto (camping
cheques)
Good
weather for washing, bike riding. Looked at several villages but we
thought we had seen much better elsewhere. Bike riding was flat, bit
windy but very enjoyable.
15/09/14 ditto
 |
| Coffee and Rumbaba and cream slice |
 |
| The Lighthouse John climbed |
16/09/14 ditto Diesel
€57.95
We
decided to go to Bordeaux the next day, heading for the Pyrennes
where JW wanted to go. However, travelling down it seemed to get
much hotter so having reached Saintes we made a quick decision to
turn left and go east towards Le Puy d'Dome, Clermond Ferrand.
17/09/14 Chabanais
(63861:154) Look
up Look up
Aire
on bridge near weir. Belgians drunk. We went to Bar opposite and
had a beer too. Walked round town went back for dinner. Old van
turned up and started to cook Pizza's for sale. (Les Saveurs Latinus)
Cables connected together for cooking. Closed up later and left. Had we known we'd have bought one instead of cooking. Forgot to take pictures at this Aire!
18/09/14 Oradour
Sur Glane (€19.60 entrance fee)
Visited
museum and village. Again left us feeling rather depressed but I
knew more about the place than the last time I had been there. Spent
a lot of time reading in the museum which fully explained the events
behind the massacre. We went to Mortemart a small very picturesque
village about 10km away, then Montrol Sénard.
 |
| Mortemart |
 |
| Montrol Senard |
|
 |
| One of the museum exhibits |
 |
| Should have put my feet up! |
 |
| Lovely colours |
18/09/14 Montrol
Sénard (63891:30:Free:N46-01-44 E0-57-39)
Lovely
village, old, about 12 houses had been set aside and made into museum
pieces. No guides, no fees just look around and enjoy. We had lunch
at Chez Madeline and then went back for dinner that evening. It was
wonderful. It rained that night but cleared the next morning. Spent
two nights here.
Restaurant:
La Table du Lavoir, Chez Madeleine, 6, place de l'ecole 87330 Montrol
Senard, France +33 5 55 60 24 88
19/09/14 Montrol
Sénard
Free,
no services except, a bit down the road, water in the field, but we
didn't get any.
20/09/14 Bellac
(Bellac Aire. Free)
Parked
up by a large green, looked like medieval city. Woken at 5am
everyone was arriving for a Car Boot sale. We did visit sale and had
lots of talks with English people who lived there. It appears lots
of them are having a hard time making a living. But we
did glean a lot of information regarding purchase of properties in
France.
 |
| The car boot sale in full swing, people arrived at 5am onwards |
21/09/14 Limoges
(63901:10)
Bourgeneuf
Aire /loo, water. D8 to Royerc de Vassiviere, Lac de Vassiviere.
22/09/14 Royers
de Vassiviere (63994:93:N45-46-09 E2-59-04)
 |
| Going up in the train Le Puy de'Dome |
22/09/14 Le
Puy d'Dome (64067:73)
Lovely
weather, a bit cloudy. Told JW the motorhome park (no night stops)
was the furthest from the station. Parked up and walked down to the
station and got the train. I got discount being OAP €10.50. JW
paid a bit more and also a charge for Ollie about €13.50 I think.
The cloud started to roll in and it was very windy and even Ollie
decided it was cold. We went into the Temple of Mercury Museum to
get warm and we were allowed to take Ollie in there, amazing. He's
not allowed in a lot of the gardens that's why we were amazed.
They'd certainly had done a lot of archaeological rebuilding since I
was last there 2006? and it was amazing to think how marvellous it
would have been nearly 2000 years ago, no wonder they got a lot of
people making pilgrimages there back in 50AD or earlier. The French
had spent 284million €'s on the car parks and train, and they
certainly raked the money in.
23/09/14 Clermont
Ferrand (64086:14)
Serviced
vehicle and then proceeded to Massiac.
25/09/14 Gorge
du Tarn (64222:52:Free:N44-13-19 E3-13-21)
Mas
de la font, Vors, Mostuejouls. Layby and when we looked up there
were buildings built into the mountain right at the top. Free, not
really an aire just a quiet layby.
 |
| The houses above the layby where we stopped for the night |
26/09/14 Le
Rozier, Peyreleau
(64316:94:Free: Laundry 12: 3 Camping Cheques)
Camp
site. Did all the washing not many people there so we only booked
for one night. Met a guy called Dennis Spicer in Reylade. He was
travelling on his own and had unfortunately been broken into when he
went into Barcelona. He said he would have positioned his van in the
middle and not near to a hedge; they had cover.
27/09/14 camp
site Gorge de la Jonte
Saw
vultures Belvedere all along the gorge. Houses in cliffs on the
other side. Then we went to Millau, saw bridge, but needed the sun
behind us. Did Lidl shopping €51 a little bit over the top.
Another CC tonight.
|
| The houses above the layby we stopped at |
 |
| No Ollie, don't do it, very curious! |
 |
| John's great vulture pictures |
 |
| The little villages on the other side of the Gorge du Jonte |
 |
| Millau Bridge |
28/09/14 camp
site (64359::43))
Slobbed
out all day, weather cloudy. Tried to plan for the next day.
29/09/14 Carcasonne
came through Belmont
sur Ronce. Steeple and village 3321ft above sea level. Lacaune on
D32. Went on to Carcasonne. Did a lovely journey over the mountains,
got slightly lost went through a lot of small lanes and through farm
land, van got a bit dirty.
 |
| along the route |
 |
| JW playing silly bu....s! |
 |
| Restaurant inn Carcarsonne |
 |
| Loads of heads on the church |
 |
| Narrow streets and old architecture |
 |
| Rounds through the old roads |
 |
| Looking out from the walls at the town below |
 |
| Near by we had lunch |
 |
| So many different places where the walls had been patched up! |
29/09/14 Carcasonne
(64482:123: Diesel €65.49)
JW
walked town with Ollie during the evening when it was quieter. We
did town in the morning, had lunch Pizza and chips with lovely coffee
afterwards. Decided to pay and leave for somewhere else. Not going
into Spain, just too much now. Hope weather clears up a bit.
30/09/14 St
Pierre sur Mer (64535:53:
Parking €7 credit card)
Narbonne
Plage Aire, because of rain it was very muddy, and not very pleasant
we only stopped one night not very good atmosphere.
01/10/14 Villeneuve-Les-Beziers
(64552:17)
Camping
Les Berges Du Canal, Promenade des Vernets, 34420: €33 for two
nights ASCI €14 plus taxes. We had a really good time on this
site even though the rain had made it really messy.
02/10/14 ditto
Went
for walks into old town, lovely market with restaurants. We chose
and had a long lunch in the sunshine. Next day went for a bike ride
to the beach! Well, beach combers delight all drift wood sept up by
recent storms. He went in for a swim, big drop as he went in,
wouldn't have been good for me! JW's gears on his bike packed up on
way back, so it was late about 6.30pm. The Canal du Midi to the
Beaches. Did think of going to Beziers but we were all towned out!
Looked quite interesting, another time.
03/10/14 Remoulins (64586:34:Free:
loads of people first night)
Up
the road via Montpelliar and Nimes to see Pont du Gard.
 |
| Large blue balls hanging on trees, can't remember where! |
 |
| Rather splendid bridge along route |
 |
| Picnic spot looking out over mussel beds |
 |
| Remoulins |
 |
| The old bridge |
 |
| Looking across the river from the Aire on bridge car park |
 |
| Pont du Gard |
04/10/14 ditto
Diesel €62.93
No
cycle shop in village, we eventually went out and found a Carrefour
who had a replacement inner tube for John and he managed to find a
gear which stayed put! We found out that it was €18 for motorhome
in Pont du Gard, so not staying there, anyway you couldn't overnight.
We decided to ride our bikes from the Aire to bridge about 5.30pm.
JW rode straight in but I was summoned by the gate keeper and asked
for my ticket? Didn't have one and it was €15 for two? Then he
said if you wait till 6.00pm you can go in for free, well that's a
bargain. It was beautifully laid out, and you couldn't see the
bridge from any vantage point except going into the very expensive
park. Wish we could have waited till dusk because the floodlights
come on, but we had to get back for Ollie. I suppose it was about
4km from Aire. We are so lucky in UK that we don't have to pay large
fees for an historic monument. The French certainly know how to
spend money on their historic places and charge you for it!
 |
| Otters |
 |
| About 4 of them |
 |
| Taken about 6pm |
05/10/14 Avignon
Camping Bagatelle, 25 allee Antoine Pinay - Ile de la Barthelasse,
84000 Avidnon +33 4 90 86 30 39 www.campingbagatelle.com
camping.bagatelle@wanadoo.fr (64688:102)
I think it was ACSI €16.10 + €1 tax:laundry €14.50 +€2 wifi)
Did
the washing and had a corner plot. Washing machine OK but the dryer
just to finish off the towels was abysmal. We cycled to the Palais de
Papes early €25.00 + 2 audio's which were very good. To get on the
old Avignon bridge you had to use another entrance and we went
straight past it the first time. It was a bit extra, included in
price above, but it was well worth it. We thought we might be able to
stretch the departure time just a bit, but when we got back to the
site someone had just that minute turned up to use the pitch. Bit
embarrassing but a quick getaway because we had packed everything
that morning. The site was a bit old, showers not good but they
certainly had a lot of clients The Municipal site next door, hardly
had anybody there and we felt we would go there next time, just to
even things out a bit. The municipal site really wasn't advertised
enough and not very prominent signposting which was sad because the
private site was practically full.
 |
| Avignon |
 |
| Palais de Papes |
 |
| original paintings under plaster |
 |
| Not sure about all this modern stuff displayed |
 |
| Map showing bridge linking with Villeneuve, it's a bit further than depicted! |
06/10/14 Viviers
Aire (64692:4:N44-29-09
E4-41-35)
Found
this aire right beside the Rhone. It was the port for the big boats
bringing tourists to view the lovely old town. Again we didn't know
about it, and we went up there at night. What an amazing place. Met
one of the tour guides who came out and talked to us, what, where
were we from, etc. She was born in Viviers and was excited that we
had found it quite by chance. The old Aire is now the boat yard, but
where we parked it was at least hard standing. Several boats turned
up and in the morning the coaches started arriving too, we couldn't
make out if they were dropping people off for the town or for the
boats. Very pleasant place, walked up there again in the morning,
got the usual baguette or flute, had lunch and then proceeded to
Cornas Aire.
 |
| The port at Viviers |
 |
| Viviers high above river |
 |
| Lovely town, many surprises |
 |
| Couldn't see any more of this garden! |
 |
| Our van in distance by river |
 |
| Close up of aire |
 |
| Some strange but ancient architecture |
 |
| Shall I go, or shall I stay? |
 |
| Medieval roofs |
 |
| Oops boat is a big long! |
07/10/14 Cornas
Aire (64775:83:N44-57-36 E4-50-51) Free water etc., on route
to Touron to see Chausson factory to see whether I can have a look
around and find out about spare parts.
07/10/14 Tournon
Found
Chausson factory, no couldn't go round but he gave me the name of the
lady dealing with it, but she wouldn't be there the next day so we
set off again.
07/10/14 Villardde
Lans (64849:74)
Arrived
late, windy night.
08/10/14 Sessange (64867:18:
diesel €45.10)
Diesel
in Carrefour, very warm wind seemed very strange. We thought as we
were going north to the Alps it would be getting a lot colder, no!
08/10/14 Annecy
(64936:69:N45-53-33 E6-07-34)
Parked
in the Avenue De La Visitation which is the church on the hill
looking down over Annecy. We didn't stay long as the clock bells
were very loud! Been there before, but can't remember where! Didn't
sleep all night! Two of the Aires by the lake were no where to be
found, only for coaches and signs saying “No Camping Cars".
We eventually found one.
 |
| On Lake Annecy whilst JW swimming |
 |
| Later that evening |
 |
| Full moon walking through the yatch club |
 |
| Annecy the next morning after the loud music! |
 |
| Magic day |
 |
| Beautiful scenery |
 |
| roundabout somewhere on route! |
 |
| JW negotiating Lake Annecy |
 |
| Coffee time! |
 |
| Dove cote near to children's playground |
08/10/14 Cheminde
Colmyr, Rue Des Marquisats Aire (N45-53-25 E6-08-20:Free)
Space
for 10 vans and services. 24 hours only. Some of the vans we know
had been there for several days, no way should they abuse the
facility like that, it's not fair on other people. We walked down to
the beach on the lake. JW went swimming he had a good time, I didn't
one of my phobias, if I can't see the bottom then I don't swim!
However, having disliked the bells at the church we didn't bargain
for the very loud house music which was being played right near us at
2am in the morning and went on for hours eventually got back to
sleep, but very grumpy next morning!
09/10/14 Lac
de Roselend (N45-41-26 E6-37-45:Free: Diesel €61.86)
We
parked right on the edge of this marvellous lake and we could just
see Mont Blanc through a gap in the mountains. It was a straight
line NNE to it. Ollie was able to run off the lead for the first
time for a while and JW had a good walk along the road and saw the
dam just a bit further on. I got out my handheld GPS (used in the
Australian Bush whilst hunting for gold!) and found we were 5246ft
above sea level. JW laughed because I chocked all the wheels.
Another phobia falling off the cliff! He shouldn't laugh he gets
vertigo!
 |
| Decided not to go down to Aire stayed at the top of the road |
 |
| Mont Blanc in the distance with think! |
 |
| Lale Roselend |
 |
| The dam to the right of where we had parked for the night. |
 |
| Ollie not too sure about these winding roads |
 |
| Looking over to where we had parked for the night |
10/10/14 Macot
(65019:83:Free)
Again
we went down the mountain road and were followed by an horrendously
big lorry. Many remarks about him loosing his brakes we wouldn't
stand a chance. So we found a parking place and let him go in front.
Wise move. Did some shopping in Bourge St Maurice at Carrefour.
Lovely vegetables, really fresh, huge store bought some salopettes
when I was last there. Went up to Mont Chauvin so that JW could look
at the ski resort. Of course it was all a bit desolate but we could
study the plans for the lifts and ski school and have a good look at
the camp site. I'd been there in January, 2004 for my second skiing
experience! Had lunch made our way down to Macot for a shower etc
and get ready to meet up with Liz and Simon in La Côte D'Aime
(pronounced Emme!). Time to go, only 3.5 km up the mountain.
 |
| On route to Bourg St Maurice |
 |
| Bourg St Maurice |
 |
| Mont Chavin |
 |
| The Camp site |
 |
| Me working out the campsite charges |
 |
| Looking down towards Bourg St Maurice |
10/10/14 La
Côte D'Aime (65023:4:Free
night in their drive!)
We
arrived at the right road but I didn't recognise the place. In 2004
theirs was the only house on the road, now there were at least 10 and
we drove straight past. I saw Simon walking down the road to bring
us back and park in his drive. I was warmly welcomed by Liz, Simon
and their spaniel Cola and Ollie barked a bit at Liz, oops! Their
house is amazing, Simon has built on several rooms and is now
reorganising the kitchen into the new one. He took us for a tour of
the house, wow, changes! Liz poured out some Prosecco, cooked us a
lovely dinner Salmon in filo pastry, with asparagus wrapped in bacon
and chips from her new toy, the name escapes me now. Talked until
12.30am found out a lot about skiing and their interest in buying a
motorhome. They'll keep me updated on that. We changed our minds
about going skiing in January they said it would be at least -15°C
hmmmm so we are going in March. They would help in any way they
could. We met Freya and Jude two lively bilingual children. Simon
is referred to as the King of the Jacuzzies for the region and he
does very well. Hard work especially in the winter months when all
the skiing is going on.
11/10/14 (65141:118)
Diesel.
11/10/14 Poligny
(65182:41:N46-50-02 E5-42-16) Aire
in town.
 |
| Large wooden building JW never seen anything like it! |
 |
| Lovely houses on route, didn't get name of town! |
 |
| The Cranes |
 |
| Perfect V shape formation on route |
 |
| Lovely photo of Cranes from www |
 |
| Travelling around 4 on map |
12/10/14 Bruyeres
Et Montberault (N49-31-31 E3-39-37)
13/10/14 Cassel (65445:263:
diesel €77.07)
Pulled
into Aire which we'd visited previously and had lunch because there
were no pull in's along the route.
 |
| Hoonschoote | |
13/10/14 Hondschoote
(65596:151:N50-58-32 E2-34-51)
Walked
around the town, visited the Church, which I couldn't get in last
time because there was a wedding. We moved to the other side of the
aire because of the road noise and it was a good move. No-one else
joined us that night.
14/10/14 Dunkirk (N51-02-35 E2-23-27)
Dunkirk vet Dr Elsa Marcand.
3rd
time we've been here and Ollie wouldn't eat the worming tablet until
it had been put in some food. At least he ate it! Charged JW €38.60
for treatment, signed passport.
14/10/14 Oye
Plage (
65652:56:N50-59-49 E2-02-32)
Found
Lidl and did last minute shopping. Decided to go to Carrefour in
Calais also for last minute shopping, wine etc. Couldn't believe how
many dark skinned people were milling around the ports of Dunkirk and
Calais. We decided we wouldn't stay in the port after all and went
back to Oye Plage for a walk and overnight stay. Campercontact. Rue
de la Mer Oye Plage Nature Reserve. Guy turned up in really old
rusty van, windows blanked out and proceeded to light a fire to cook
his food! Oh well it takes all sorts. He didn't stay the night.
 |
| Oye Plage |
 |
| Man, Dog and Van cooking on open fire, out of site! |
 |
| Whoops what a shadow |
15/10/14 Oye
Plage
Another
vet 0321008363
Lawrence
Mariez, Roland Peuchot www: cliniqueveterinaireflorentine.com
21
Rue Paul Machy, (Route National) 62215 Oye Plage
15/10/14 Calais
Docks (65665:13) 13.05
Ferry
Lots
of immigrants again. Strict guidelines re van not left unattended
etc. Much tighter than ever before. Got on ferry we weren't with all
the motorhomes without dogs, so we actually got to the front of the
queue. Upstairs we were given an onslaught by some really drunken
English men, very rude and loud so we moved elsewhere and then there
were the gaming machines as soon as we set sale. I bought some Si,
Georgio Amani which had two tubes shampoo and body lotion. Wow,
treated myself. We took lunch with us this time because we paid a
lot of money for the English breakfast before and it was cold and not
good at all.
15/10/14 Clapham,
Bedfordshire (65812:147) Dartford Tunnel £2 still old system.
Arrived
about 5pm had warned Jackie we would be late, but it was OK. Swapped
most of the stuff from my van to John's and he tried to sort his
lights. We went into Halfords for some 5amp small fuses. He got me
2 for £2 and bought 80 for £6.99. However they still only had a
small number of 5amp fuses. Got to Sally's house Ollie went bananas
he could smell Sally's new cat Pip on my clothes. Needless to say he
didn't go in to Sally's. Cooked large meal and had some wine.
Didn't get to sleep till very late. JW just couldn't get his Orange
account on his Ipad or Computer. Since found out that when JW had
his rear panels done on the insurance, they had not fitted the number
plate lights properly, and when he reorganised it all, with the
connections actually inside the van, the lights worked perfectly; so
much yet again for British Workmanship. The insurance job came to
£3,500 complete rip-off.
16/10/14 Sandy,
Bedforshire John's van (14:14
plus 350 miles to Cornwall)
John
left about 9.30am, texted from M3 Burger-king lunch. Got down there
safely just after 5pm, staying on layby near Paula's for a couple of
days. Will talk later.
Total
mileage Start 62785: Finish 65812 Total:3027 plus 14 = 3041 and
350 miles for John back to Cornwall.
APS
France 9-2014
