Sunday 16 August 2009

France August 2009





Sunday 2nd August,

After leaving the Nomad meet in York we set off on our way to Dover, but first we thought we would pop into a local Home Bargain's in York to get a small table and a small camping cooker. We looked all over the shop to find nowt, then this geezer shouted over he's one. Yes Tanky had found what we were looking for (nice bods them Yarkies). So we were now set, cheapo cooker and new table bound for France.

Nee idea where we were gannin' yet though, other that I wanted to get to La Rochelle as we did not make it last year

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We set of the next morning after having next to no sleep at Calais docks as the only places left were right near to where the trucks are moving about all night. We had planned on going to Honfleur but the kids constant “are we there yet” was getting on my nerves, so we stopped North of Honfleur at Etretat. We had no change for the aire so Gill went into the Municiple site beside the Aire to get some change and came out with us booked in there, she said that is what I had said. Usual Husband and wife communications then, we haven’t got a clue what each other want’s.

The site was nice and not to bad for my wallet at 19 Euro thingies. Etretat is a nice place with the site only being 10 mins walk to the beach and town area. There are some very nice cliff walks as well. Defo worth a visit, but take some change to get into the Aire or you might end up on the site…LOL











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The next morning we thought we would at least drive past Honfleur and stop a Deauville. Honflur was very busy and so was Deauville, the Habour area has now been blocked off with big rocks in Deauville leaving us with nowhere to sneek in with our little van. So after a family crisis meeting we decided to have a fast drive down to Mont St Michel. We were crusing down the A84 at a nice 75ish until an Italian in a low Profile got along side us on a long hill and ran out of power. I could have done the decent thing and slowed down but I was bored. So we went over the top of the hill together and off he went, I was following him and he was going faster and faster, me thinks he was trying to loose me but I just kept behind him like a good lad. This went on for a few miles until I got bored and then on a long down hill I mashed me right foot right down (the speed limiter was a sleep in the back) The 3.0 Fiat did the business and the Italian was gone never to be seen again. But I got grassed up by Sarah, then I got wrong. Very, very wrong of Gill. (us men never admit to being wrong, but she was right this time so I will be a good lad from now on honest)

We eventually got to Mont St.Michel and stopped on the proper Aire for 2 nights, 8.50 Euro a night with free leccy and a proper full sized pitch. Very nice it was too, the weather was brill, sun all day.Only problem was the Bl*** midges. They must have had a pint of me blood.



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We had our first encounter with a Born thingy as we left Mont. I was very nervous waiting in the busy Queue as I hate making a pratt of myself, Gill said that I should be used to it by now. We got to the front of the Queue and surprisingly we seemed to manage ok, but I did have a hand from Gill for the first time ever!

We had planned to make our way South to the coast towards St Nazaire. We eventually found a nice Aire just North of Piriac Sur Mer. The weather had turned to rain through the day but it did get out so I could take a picture of the sun set from the van window, Steph and me went for a run along the lovely cliff top path towards Quimiac . Nice quiet place 5 Euros a night with free water etc.


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We travelled a bit further South but could not be bothered to travel far and we ended up in a place called Saint Michael Chef Chef, funny name but ok Aire and not a bad place.






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The next morning the weather was lovely again and we set off south down the coast. We ended south of Pornic and all the sites we had tried were either grotty of full and the same with the Aires. We had been told the whole of the cost was very busy and the further South we went it would get worse. After another family crisis meeting we were East bound up the Loire heading for an Aire in Bouchemaine near Angers. When we got there we were so relieved to find some nice places left and it was a lovely Aire. We had an added bonus of parking next to a mega big motorhome as we were sick of all the French pointing a staring at our van so some camouflage was nice for once. We had 2 great nights here, 7.50 Euros but 50 cents for water, some of the French used the toilet rinse to fill the vans up! (and you thought I was tight Bob) No one went on the pitch next to us either (duno why) so we had plenty of space.



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We were now over half way through our jollies so we had to travel North, I always hate having to start the journey North. But we went back to Monty St Mich. for a night. We gave our posh new out door cooker another session, might even get a proper stand for it once I sell our Cadac. Gill and me got bit by midges again, why do we never learn?

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Sick of the Midges at the Mont. we moved on the next day, I wanted to stop at Granville Aire but it was chocker. So we went back to the Aire at Saint Pair Sur Mer. Nice place and we were close to the beach. You could get a lovely view of Granville from the beach close to the Aire, so I took another sunset piccy












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The kids had picked a leaflet for a Zoo near Caen and were nagging me to go. So I emptied out me wallet and just about managed to find the ransom to get in. I suppose it was a canny day out and the kids enjoyed it. We then went up to Honfleur for the night. The Aire was very busy and we ended up where it was a bit scruffy. But we had a bod around Honfleur and though it was a nice place, didn’t buy owt though as it is a bit on the pricy side for us and me not liking parting with cash escpecially after the shock of the Zoo.












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Sad day, back in Calais and to top it off Gill and the Girl's had spent even more Euro thingys in Cite Europe.

But we can start planning our next French trip on how not to get to La Rochelle


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But at least we had a race with a Sea France Ferry, but lost!


Italy= 0
France =1
Geordies = 1











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Out take pictures



The end