June 16th 2013

After a few lovely days away last week we are ready to go away again.

We had three nights at Higherwell Farm Stoke Gabriel before going to Totnes for two nights and staying on the Caravan Club site there. We bumped into two friends as we arrived and had an enjoyable afternoon in the sun catching up with each others news. Sunday saw us dining at the Steam Packet pub on the river where our good friend Ian had tied up on his boat.

Tomorrow should see us off again with plans for one night stopping at Meldon reservoir before heading off to Tintagel where we have booked a clifftop site for three nights. Hopefully it won't be too windy ! After that we plan to visit Padstow before heading down the coast towards Lands End.

This has been temporarily put on hold due to a less than favourable weather forecast (unusual isn't it)

With nothing better to do for a while I have added the map above showing where we have visited. I hope you find it useful

Well, I thought it was time that I updated this a little.

Since arriving home we have been trying to sort out our garden slippage and feel that we are now getting somewhere with it (hopefully). We have decorated the house, inside and out pretty much, had More Time serviced and MOT'd and today she has had new carpets and vinyl flooring fitted.

This weekend we are off to Manchester to visit our daughter Carly then next week we hope (weather permitting) to off for a few days in More Time. We have booked two nights at Totnes but other than that no fixed plans at present. Hopefully the weather will improve and we can call it summer.

Slippage to garden caused by exceptionally heavy rain washing away foot of bank in stream. 

18th April 2013

Sue and I are now home again. We had to cut our stay in Spain short to come home and sort out the garden which had partially vanished in the stream at the bottom of the garden. It was hanging over us and spoiling our time away so once our tenants vacated we decided to return and start to try and get the garden problem resolved.

Missing the warm sunshine already and don't like this wet stuff that accompanies the grey skies !

Sunday 3rd March

We have had a mixed bag of weather this last few days. A couple of days ago we suffered a terrific thunderstorm that rattled around us for a lot of the day bringing with it heavy rain and hale. In the distance now the mountains look white as if they have a covering of snow. Here though the temperature today is 15 degrees late morning.

Tuesday we move on again, this time to Playa Tropicana at Alcossebre (North of here). We are there for a month and meeting up with some friends that we saw at La Manga earlier. According to the weather forecast the weather is due to pick up again and they are talking of 23 degrees on Thursday, we shall see !

25th February

Moving on to a new site tomorrow, at Crevillente near to Alicante.

We've enjoyed our three months here but are ready now to move on. We should be at Marjal for a week then move on to Playa Trpicana at Alcossebre for a month.

No pictures now as when my laptop was repaired my photo editing software was wiped off and not replaced so file sizes are too large to attach to the blog - sorry.

30th January

I know that it has been a while since my last update but I had computer problems and being in Spain they took a little longer to get sorted than at home. After many days in the hands of the repairer I enquired if it was ready and was told ‘Manana’ but it was still a few days later until it was fixed.

We can’t believe where the time is going, about four weeks more only at this site before moving on. Last night we helped the Scots on the rally celebrate Burns Night complete with specially flown in haggis, it was a lovely night. It just happened to coincide with our 38^th wedding anniversary so very good timing. We had some friends round in the afternoon to help us drink a couple of bottles of champagne and eat some cake before getting ready for the evening which besides the meal had us Scottish Country Dancing interspersed with disco music, we went home rather tired.

A couple of weeks ago I sprained my ankle (I just wish I could remember how) and it has taken a while to get better although when first sprained I was ordered by Sue to rest it so was unable to do much, hardly a problem in the sunshine though. We have had some fairly strong winds since then but not too cold fortunately, certainly better than at home currently.

Some friends we met last winter out here have arrived now and it has been good to catch up with them and spend some time together.

This coming week is another busy one with a fairly strenuous bike ride on Friday to the Portman guns which are a relic of WW2 and sited to protect the entrance to Cartagena harbour but still in position apparently, sounds interesting.

New Years Eve - La Manga

It is now New Years Eve and we have been quite busy since my last update. Carly flew out to stay with us for a week over Christmas and we had a hire car (which we still have) to pick her up from Alicante Airport and to go out and about while she was here.

Sue and Carly enjoying the sunshine in Cartagena

Sue joining a local resident for a sit at Cartagena

We also rented a town house at Mar de Cristal (about a mile from our MH in a straight line) which was lovely. With three bedrooms and two en suites we each had a bathroom and Sue made full use of having a bath rather than a shower for the first time since we left home in September. Weather while Carly was here was kind to us except on Christmas Day when it remained overcast. We took her to Cartagena where after a day sightseeing we stayed until after dark to enjoy the Christmas lights in the streets and squares, very good they were too. We also took Carly into the Calblanque Regional Park, to Cabo de Palos and we drove the full length of the La Manga strip to the infamous hump back bridge at the top. Besides these trips we played Boules (Carly is a natural and beat us several times) and eating and drinking too much as you do at Christmas.

Part of the extensive lighting decorations at Cartagena

A dip in the Mar Menor on Boxing Day (Sue and I were not one of the participants)

All too soon Carly had to leave us but at least she had managed to get a well priced flight from San Javier airport which is quite nearby. With a flight on time she was very soon back in a grey and damp Manchester, missed by us already.

Tonight we intend to join a group of ten and go to a local Chinese Restaurant in Cabo de Palos for a meal then come back to the site and head to the beach to see in the New Year, munching our dozen grapes as the clock strikes twelve. Apparently this is an old Spanish custom and brings good luck to you. We actually got to celebrate the New Year twice, once at midnight Spanish time then again at midnight UK time. With fireworks and chinese lanterns going of where we were an looking across the still water of the Mar Menor to fireworks on the far shores it was quite a spectacular New Years Eve climax. We slept in well on New Years Day 

Seeing in the New Year on the beach at La Manga

Off now for a street BBQ in our Calle joining the other Winter residents in celebrating the New Years arrival.

Sunday 16th December

Friday 1st Dec

Today there was a guided cycle ride to Alcazares on the western side of the Mar Menor, a round trip of about 25 miles we were told. Fortunately the cold wind we had been experiencing dropped overnight and about twenty of us set of mid morning for the trip. Sue stayed on site and caught up with chores as she felt the distance was too much for her.

We arrived at Alcazares in time for lunch which I had sitting on the beach enjoying the sunshine, it was lovely looking out at the smooth blue sea. About an hour after arriving we turned back and the group gradually dwindled as some took different routes back. I decided to tag along with a couple who were heading back close to the shore although I didn't realise at the time it was all off road. A good distance into the route my bike decided to go in its own direction with me going in another one. It could have been worse, at least the fall was into nice soft, squidgy mud, the cause of the fall in the first place. No harm done (except to my pride) we continued on with all of us falling in turn although one was simply because the water he was going through was far deeper than he thought.

Not a bad spot for lunch on Alcazares beach

Sea monster at Los Nietos, beware if you are swimming !

A good ride though that turned out to be about 27 miles in total.

Saturday 2nd December

A quiet day for us simply doing some shopping after a coffee morning at the rally where we learned what was to take place over the following week. This is an average week and consists of :-

Monday.  Craft lessons at 10.30, Spanish lessons at 11.00, boules at 14.00 also line dancing at 14.00 and whist at 20.00

Tuesday a walk or cycle ride to Los Bellones the local village and market plus Bodega, boules at 14.00, quiz at 20.00

Wednesday  normally a good walk somewhere with boules at 14.00 for anyone not on the walk and a quiz at 20.00

Thursday  Spanish lessons at 11.00, boules at 14.00 and crib at 20.00

Friday  normally a long cycle ride somewhere plus boules at 14.00 and often a meal in the evening.

Saturday  a coffee morning at 11.00 followed by a street bbq at lunchtime that tends to extend until late afternoon.

Sunday   Day Off for all.

In addition to the above we have options of various things put on by the site and the site bar/restaurant so never a lack of things to do.

On a walk along the Med coast in the Calblanque Regional park a short walk from our site.

Sunday 2nd Dec

A lazy day just going for a walk in the sunshine followed by paella cooked by me followed later in the day with a bbq. It's a hard life !

Monday 3rd

Sue went off to craft lessons where they were to make pigs (plant containers) out of empty water containers, I went to Spanish lessons where Sue met up later. After a quick lunch Sue went line dancing while I went to boules. Back to the van for some grub then off to play whist in the evening. For Spanish we were able to hold it in the sunshine next to the pool bar, something that hopefully we can repeat for some time to come. We also bought a poinsettia plant to go in the pig and very nice it looks too.

We are now on the 16th December.

I know that is quite a spell since the last post but our internet access has been rubbish but we have now sourced another supplier and have our own little aerial hanging up in a nearby tree to get the signal from an aerial about two miles away. It seems to work well, even good enough to use Skype for video calls.

Since the third of December we have settled into a routine around the above activities although we have had walks and other things to do also. On one day a cycled 42 miles (I miscalculated the distance) as I needed to get a new hinge for a cupboard on board then had to go to San Javier airport to sort car hire) Although my route looked OK on a map in reality what was shown as a road soon expired in a field of artichokes and after riding through a drainage culvert to get to another road I ended up on a dry river bed for a mile to get to the road.

A sore bum by the end of the day.

Our weather has been mixed with warm sunny days interspersed with windy cooler days, on the whole though not bad so far. 

Sue texting at the beach near our site (on a dull day).

Thursday 29th November

We have now arrived at La Manga having left the site at Almafra on the 27th. We had a lovely trip down via Murcia with sunshine the whole way. This morning we have woken to quite a breeze but still a blue sky and sun. A whole lot better than the UK has been having if the news we have picked up on the TV is right with the SW of England suffering again from flooding etc.

Wednesday, we are off on a walk headed up 'Mar Menor beaches and the Mediterranean' so should be quite interesting. A quiz this evening means we need to raise a few other people to form a team.

A breezy day on the Mar Menor beach

We had a lovely walk in the sunshine but the breeze kept the edge off the temperature. we got together with some other people for the quiz and managed to come third out of eleven teams so no disgrace there for us.

Thursday saw us have our first Spanish lesson followed by a game or two of Boules. Thirty or so people turned up so all six pitches were in use. It's funny how much we have missed the spirit that everyone has around the boules area and a good enjoyment for the game. Perhaps with practise we may even get better at it, who knows.

Thursday 22nd November

Well, the good weather is still with us and today we have had sunshine from when we got up until it got dark a short while ago. I went off on a led cycle ride to Altea along the coast a little way, returning via Albir where we walked to visit a market on Sunday. Tonight we have a quiz on site so we are to go to that and see how we get on. As we are spending more time at this site it is growing on us so I am sure we will return to the area at some time, who knows when.

We came joint second at the quiz and won 3 Euros which, split between the six in the team didn't cover the beer but helped a little.

Thursday saw us on a walk to the Faro (lighthouse) at Albir. Situated on a headland overlooking the bay at 112m above the sea it gives commanding views across the water which was a lovely turquoise colour in the sunshine that we experienced. Although we had been told beforehand that the walk was about three miles each way someone had a GPS on their phone which told them we had covered four and a half miles when we reached the Faros so probably about ten miles by the time we returned via a meandering route. A lovely walk though. 

Walking to the Faros D'Albir (at summit)

View across the bay at Albir

Dave resting part way on the walk

Sue celebrating arriving at the Faros

Thursday night has a whist drive on site that we intend to go on and try our luck. Hopefully there won't be too many serious players there otherwise we may just upset them with our play.

Sunday 18th November

From Brockenhurst we had a very easy journey to board our ferry at Portsmouth. We left the site just after 18.00 and were at Portsmouth about an hour later, having put some fuel in at a Morrisons on the way. Despite being told that we were being boarded straight away on our arrival it was some two and a half hours later that we embarked and the ferry left port nearly an hour late.

We woke to a bright sunny morning for our arrival at Roscoff where we docked for about an hour to allow the change of crew, fuelling and restocking with food etc. Off we went on yet another flat calm crossing of the Bay of Biscay. After a second night on board we arrived at Santander as the sun came up and were quickly unloaded. We headed to Zaragoza for our first night in Spain as it almost exactly split our journey to the Mediterranean coast in half. We had lovely weather and the autumn colours of the vines as we crossed both the Rioja and Navarra wine regions we emphasised by the glorious blue sky.

Caravan in Zaragoza whose owner was taking no chances with their awning in any winds

A night at Zaragoza brought us to Sunday morning and more sunshine. This was not to last however and as we headed south on the road to Valencia it clouded over and started to rain, not what we expected. This was not the main thing on our minds as we had forgotten that most businesses do not open on a Sunday in Spain and that included garages and filling stations. With the needle of the fuel gauge getting ever closer to the red section we were getting concerned to say the least. Eventually we saw a sign for fuel and pulled off the road to find that we had been directed to an automatic fuel pump on a garage forecourt with instructions on how to operate only in Spanish...... As I finally got a message stating 'transaction complete' (at least the Spanish equivalent) a Spanish driver came to use the adjoining pump and asked if I was OK, a shame he hadn't come in five minutes earlier..

We continued on our way and after crossing a most barren and empty part of Spain took a turning that lead to our destination at Benicassim, just North of Valencia. Rain continued on and off for the rest of the day but we managed a walk along the seafront and back through the town, a delightful unspoiled area that retains a lot of old Spain charm.

Monday we had chores to do like shopping, washing, cleaning the van etc but I did manage to cycle along the coast (a Via Verde) for a few miles enjoying the sunshine that has returned and the beautiful turquoise waters of Mediterranean here.

BBQ'd  Tuna steaks with salad washed down with a glass of wine followed by coconut ice cream in a coconut shell while sitting in the sun  reminded us of why we have come to Spain for the winter.

For a couple of days now the weather has been wet with occasional sunshine. It's saving grace is the fact that the temperature is still very comfortable so a T shirt is ample when out and about. Reading, cycling, walking, cooking have been our pastimes and it has been lovely just to chill out and do nothing in particular. We have discovered a delicious pineapple ice cream that comes served in hollowed out half pineapples/ This is an alternative to the coconut ice cream contained in coconut shells we discovered last time we were here. Sometimes it's just too difficult to decide which is the most delicious.

Saturday saw us leaving Benicassim and what a day to pack up and travel. Rain was coming down in copious quantities and I eventually gave up trying to keep dry and just came to the decision that I would change all my clothes once we were all packed up. Water was flowing down the roads on the site and if you chose to cross it was at your own risk as crocks disappeared beneath the torrent called a road.

We left site and headed towards Alicante and within ten minutes the sun had come out. You just can't win 'em all.  After taking one wrong turning we arrived at our next site called Almafra at the back of Benidorm but far enough away not to be tarred with that towns reputation. Where we are is actually quite nice, situated between the sea and the mountains. Sue is quite happy today as we also have a satellite tv link that allows BBC1 so she can catch up on the Strictly Come Dancing results. Weather today has been much better, mid 20s and sun with clear blue skies.

It can't last of course.

More Time on her pitch near Benidorm with mountains in background

Wednesday 7th November

Since my last entry on here we have been quite busy. While staying on the farm at Rockbeare I had my Flu jab before moving the MH on to Cofton Park site at Dawlish. Unfortunately the farm was full on several days that we had intended staying so we booked into the Dawlish site as a plan B. While here I had my final hospital appointment before heading off to Spain and my blood levels were all OK so the consultant was quite happy for the extended period to the next appointment in May 2013. In the evening after the hospital we visited Teignmouth to meet up with friends who were having an evening bbq before watching the firework display at the local Rugby club. It was too cold for us so we left before the fireworks started after saying farewell to our mates.

Tuesday saw us on the move again and we are now at a Caravan Club site at Brockenhurst in the New Forest. We had a walk into the village this morning across the heathland surrounding the site, very pleasant. In the village we bought supplies for a couple of days meals. In the butchers we could have had (besides the usual) pheasant, pigeon, partridge, quail, rabbit and many others. we decided on venison and now have the slow cooker on with dinner in it.

New Forest ponies just a few steps from our pitch

Tempting invite at a thatched restaurant in Brockenhurst

Tomorrow (Thursday) we are staying on the site until early evening before heading off to Portsmouth for the ferrys 22.00 departure. Fingers crossed for a smooth crossing.

Wednesday 31st October 2012

After leaving Knighthayes Court at Tiverton we headed for Bristol where we had booked two nights at the Caravan Club site at Baltic Wharf. From the site a gate lead straight onto the quayside and then after a short walk to the many attractions of the Bristol Harbour, one of which was Isambard Kingdom Brunel's SS Great Britain.

Propellor (replica of original design) and rudder of SS Great Britain

Stern above the waterline showing the glazed panels that keep the rain from the rest of the lower hull

Detail of stern port quarter showing decoration details

Interior of hull towards the bow showing some of the many rust holes in the wrought iron hull.

We visited this vessel on the Thursday and were fascinated by the story that unfolded about it and its long life. A lot of work had gone into reconstructing the interior to what it looked like before the ship was scuttled in the Falkland Islands in the 1930s and it was very graphic the way that the story was told.

After touring the ship we had a walk into Bristol along the dockside then returned to the van before going to a nearby pub on the quayside by the site for an evening meal.

On the next day we returned to Whimple where we went to a site on a farm about one and a half miles from where our home used to be and we had a peaceful night there before exchanging our motorhome for our car.

We took More Time back to the compound and got into the car before driving to Eastbourne to visit my Mum as it was the last chance we had to see her before going to Spain. She is 96 at the end of November so any visits mean a lot to her and we spent several days with her before driving to visit Sues sister in London. 

After a night in a Travel Lodge in Basingstoke we came back to the farm after collecting the motorhome so we have both vehicles for a while which makes visiting people a bit easier without moving the MH.

One thing we have noticed while travelling around the country recently is the changing nature of the trees. When driving from Stafford to Shrewsbury we were amazed at the brilliance of the Autumn colours on the trees. In Sussex they were very dull and quite bare in places yet heading over Salisbury Plain the colours were back and brightened up a rather dull day nicely.

Colours of Autumn

When next Wednesday arrives ( I try to update the Blog once a week on a Wednesday) we will be just one day before leaving for Spain. It is currently 7degrees here and 26 degrees where we are heading to on the Mediterranean coast.

Wednesday 24th October

Weather at Slimbridge was kind to us and we spent a couple of pleasant days there exploring the Sharpness to Gloucester Canal and the next village of Frampton on Severn, a delightful village that has the longest village green in England. It certainly seemed it as we walked from one end to the other and back. Fortunately it had a pub at the far end and we sat in the autumn sunshine and enjoyed a leisurely drink while there.

Ready for Winter at Frampton on Severn

Tithe Barn at Frampton on Severn with unusual wooden, woven wall at far end

Swing Bridge over the Sharpness to Gloucester Canal, still operated by hand

Sunset at Slimbridge

After   a couple of days we moved on to Dulverton on Exmoor driving there via Dunster then across the moor. Not a route I would drive again in the motorhome but pleasant scenery, what we could see through the mist. Our friends Dave and Louise joined us at Dulverton and we spent most of our two days together chatting and catching up. We did manage to fit in a lovely circular walk from the town, arriving back by walking along the side of the River Barle, lovely. We enjoyed a meal out at the local Thai restaurant also. 

Altogether a really enjoyable couple of days in their company which we concluded by stopping off at the National Trust Knightshayes Court at Tiverton for a final coffee and cake.

Dave, Louise and Sue with our two Motorhomes at Knighthayes Court, Tiverton

Wednesday 17th October

From Leek we headed off to Shrewsbury where we had booked a site for two nights. As the site was right by the Park and Ride into town we took advantage of its reasonable price and headed into the city to explore a little and see how it had changed. We had lived in Shropshire back in the 1980s so had visited Shrewsbury frequently then, it was good to see how little the city centre had changed in the intervening years. We also said hello to some friends (Hi Mark and Misako) from Wellington who had opened a shop selling Japanese food and culinary items back then and still trading in what used to be the Shrewsbury Infirmary, since converted to apartments and shops. Setonaikai is the name if you are ever in area. Mark loves Lotus cars and is proud owner of a 1968 Lotus Elan and a 2006 Lotus Europa, not that I am envious at all.

After two nights at Shrewsbury we headed to Malvern and returned to the site there, well, actually the one next door as the Caravan Club and the Camping and Caravan Club sites back onto each other. With a visit into Worcester by bus and some walking around the area our four nights here passed quickly and we are off to Slimbridge in Gloucestershire tomorrow for two nights before heading to deepest Exmoor to meet a couple of friends at the Dulverton Caravan Club site. Hopefully the weather will be kind to us there.

Hanley Swan village centre with duck pond and pub beyond

It's remarkable how quickly this month is going. Although we are only passing the time until we head off to Spain on 8th November we can't believe that we have already been away for nearly three weeks and although we haven't done anything particularly exciting we have enjoyed our time immensely. 

Thursday 11th October

Four nights at Stoke Gabriel saw us ready to move on and we headed to a site just outside Malvern in Worcestershire in a village called Hanley Swan. Not a very big village but a lovely situation just a couple of miles from the Malvern Hills. Unfortunately the weather didn't co-operate so we were unable to explore much but a walk into the village found a good butchers, pub and Post Office cum stores, all you need really.

From here we went to Bury where we had arranged for our daughter Carly to meet up with us. She came and we had a few good days together culminating in a visit into Manchester where we all went to the Manchester City Museum and Art Gallery. I was most surprised in the museum as it is the only one I have ever visited with live exhibits such a Iguanas, Lizards and Tree Frogs, all alongside Fossils, stuffed animals and many other exhibits. Worth visiting though.

Properly named now so easily recognisable

Home for the next 7 months, here in sunshine at Bury

From Bury we have now come to Leek in Staffordshire for two nights as we have arranged to meet some friends we met in Spain. They came today and we had a lovely meal in the local pub (The Three Horseshoes) followed by a walk round Rudyard Lake, a large reservoir not far away that was created to supply water to a local canal. It was visited by a couple in the 1800's that were enchanted by it. So much so that they names their son after it......Rudyard Kipling. Unfortunately the narrow gauge railway that runs along the lakeside was not in steam at the time of our visit.

Rudyard Lake near Leek in Staffordshire

Tuesday 2nd October

Tuesday 2nd October

We are now officially homeless.

We moved out of our home at The Paddock on Saturday morning after spending our last night there in More Time parked outside the front door. No real regrets at leaving the home, possibly because we know we will be returning there next year, it is only a temporary departure. We handed the keys over to the agent and drove down to Dartmouth to spend the evening with our friends who had gone there on a sailing rally. With six boats afloat and More Time ashore  we had a good evening eating and chatting at the Floating Bridge, just by the Higher Ferry. We retired to More Time as the others left for their boats and had a good nights sleep on the side of the road (and free).

After a quick visit to M&S (Dine in for a tenner) we headed to Stoke Gabriel to the site we have visited before. We quickly got the awning up and sat waiting for the expected rain to make it's appearance. It never arrived but today (Tuesday) we woke to fairly heavy rain and the ground now squelches as you walk across the grass.

However, the sun as just come out so things are looking up !

Winter Plans go live !

Well, that's it.

We have got tenants for the house who are moving in on the 1st October when we move into the motorhome. As soon as I have had my hospital checkup on 5th November we will head off to Portsmouth to catch a ferry to Santander on the 7th.

On arrival in Spain we will drive to Haro (in the Rioja region) for our first night then on to Zaragoza for the second. From there we go to Bennicassim on the Mediterranean coast for a week then on to Almafra, outside Benidorm for a couple of weeks.

We then head South to La Manga del Mar Menor for three months before heading North again in early March to Alcossebre and finally to Vilanova i la Geltru, just South of Barcelona for a month before driving back to Santander for the ferry home in early May 2013.

I can't wait to get on that ferry now.

Monday 30th July

We have now been home  while since returning from France but have managed to fit in a short trip West Devon, staying at a campsite just West of Okehampton on the edge of Dartmoor.

Although there is road noise from the nearby A30 we like this site as it gives easy access (via a gate in the fence) onto The Granite Way a cycle path running along the edge of the moor. One way takes you via the Meldon Viaduct that used to carry railway trains to Okehampton while the opposite direction takes you towards Tavistock but much of this is on roads.

Sometimes the loveliest places are on your doorstep, Meldon Reservoir in the sun.

Looking the opposite way from the dam with Meldon Viaduct in the distance

We made the most of the excellent weather and got on our bikes each day to explore the area and even getting to the Meldon Reservoir to look at a wild camping possibility.

On leaving rtghe site finally we headed to Plymouth to visit out grand daughter then headed to Wembury just east of the city for a night at a lovely quiet site before visiting the National Trust property at Saltram House before heading home to do some serious garden tidying up and hard landscaping in preparation for hopefully renting our house for the winter. We also needed to be home for a check up for me at the hospital which was today and all was looking OK.

July 18th update

Our time at Dinan passed all too quickly. We walked into town along the towpath and explored on one day then spent another cycling around the area, both along the R. Rance and on cycle tracks away from it. All surrounded by lovely countryside and old traditional buildings.

On the cycle path alongside the R. Rance

Thursday 5th July

Stopped on a municipal site just north of Meyenne. A basic site but located at the side of a park with eated swimming pool (free access for campers) a boules pitch and crazy golf etc. Although only basic facilities we were only stopping one night so this wasn't a problem.

Friday 6th July

We headed off to Orleans where I had identified an Aire on the banks of the R Loire. When we arrived access was via a barrier that needed 5 euros paying to operate it. We thought, OK €5 won't break the bank for a nights stop so imagine our surprise when we discovered that it included electric hookup as well. Nicely landscaped and maintained it was an example that some campsites could look at and benefit from.

Saturday 7th July

One of a few 'black Saturdays' on French roads when half the country goes on holiday. Fortunately it all seemed to going in the opposite direction to us and we had an uneventful journey until our speedometer stopped working about half way to our destination near Romilly sur Seine. We arrived at the campsite then after booking in and finding a pitch (not easy) I phoned our breakdown cover which is part of our motorhome insurance. When they returned my call (much cheaper on a mobile) , although they could not get a breakdown van out as the MH was still driveable they contacted a garage not far away who said they could take a look at it on Monday for us. A full address was texted to me and a call back to check I had received it OK. Our site was OK but nothing special and if we had not have had sunshine I think we might have been disappointed as it was the most expensive site to date at €23.50 but it was handy.

Sunday 8th July

We woke to grey skies and light drizzle so decided that we would look for a different site in the area. My Autoroute program showed me a municipal site about the same distance beyond where the garage was so we upped sticks and moved on, what a contrast. A lovely little village (Mery sur Seine) on the banks of the R Seine and a very welcoming lady in reception. For €9.70 we got exactly the same as we had had on the previous site but much nicer surroundings. If any parts we may need for the MH repair take time to be delivered we would be quite content to remain here for a while I think.

Mery sur Seine just by the campsite

After finding the garage (they had moved 3km) it turned out to be a Renault agency who could not help with a problem on a Fiat chassis based motorhome. As we were already on the road we continued on to Epernay where we were heading to next anyway. On the way there Sues arm and ankles began really swelling up from insect bites  so on arrival we stopped at a pharmacy to see what could ease it. She came out with a carrier bag of goodies that although extreme seemed to work after a day or two. Because of this we did not stay more than one night there as it was not comfortable for Sue to walk at that stage. We could have stayed until Sue felt better but the site was quite noisy so we did not linger.

Tuesday 10th July

We drove on to Pierrefonds which is the setting of the castle used to film BBC TVs Merlin series. We hoped that it as spectacular as the TV series suggested it was........we were not disappointed. As we drove along the road to Pierrefonds we came over the brow of a hill about two miles out and there was the castle infront of us - spectacular. We found the site in town easily and after setting up the MH we walked into the village to explore. As we walked towards the castle we got glimpses of it between buildings then in the main square we saw it in all it's glory. We walked on and went round the castle which was really quite interesting and very different to a normal grand house or castle as there was virtually no furniture at all in it. It was very impressive though all the same.

Pierrefonds chateau

Wednesday saw light rain when we woke so we decided to head on to our next planned destination at Peronne in the Somme valley. Out campsite there was right on the edge of the Canal de la Somme which carries a very large number (or so it seems ) of large commercial barges, probably 200ft long and some pushing another of the same size. Manouvering those must be rather interesting. Peronne itself is quite a pleasant town despite being 90% destroyed in WW1. Wherever you look anywhere in this area there are memorials or cemeteries to do with this period of history. We had two nights here and could have stayed longer but the weather had turned by now to rain, rain and more rain so we moved on, this time to Ypres in Belgium.

Don't fancy manoeuvring one of these - barges at Peronne on the Canal de la Somme

Friday 13th July

Travelling on this day was not as relaxing as it had been up to then as we were coming up to a French Bank Holiday weekend (Bastille Day) so the roads were rather busy, especially around Lille that we had to navigate around. We managed though and drove in to Ypres and found our campsite. Once access was gained to it (it had an automatic barrier that would only operate once you had the card issued when you complete the automatic checkin, all very high tech but it worked. We set up the van, had a coffee then went exploring. About a ten minute walk found us in the centre of Ypres in the main square, very picturesque with building very much Dutch in style rather than the French style we had been used to. Sue found a chocolate shop (we were in Belgium after all) but resisted all temptations to buy and left empty handed. With the Menin Gate * at the end of the road we realised how compact the centre of this town was. We walked back to the van for dinner before coming back to the gate for the 20.00 Last Post Ceremony. This is carried out every night of the year at 20.00 in memory of those who lost their lives in the fighting of the Ypres Salient in the First World War. On the Friday night with several hundred other people watching besides us, as well as the four buglers sounding the last post  there was in attendance the Reading Bach Choir who sang three items, culminating in the British National Anthem. I don't mind admitting that my eyes were moist at the end of the ceremony, very, very moving.

Menin Gate at Ypres, very moving

* The Menin Gate is a War Memorial, constructed after the First World War in memory of approximately 75000 personnel who had died in the hostilities for whom there were no identifiable remains to be buried. Their names appear on plaques on virtually every surface of the gate which got its name from the fact that it bridges the Menin Road out of the town.

Saturday was a lazy day and we did a bit of shopping (yes the chocolates won) and a bit more exploring. We returned again to the Menin Gate for the evening ceremony surprised to see even more people than the previous evening, but then it was Saturday night.

Sunday 15th July

As the weather had turned wet and the forecast for the next week was awful we had decided to change our ferry booking and head home earlier. We drove to Dunkerque and boarded the 12.00 ferry to Dover. On arrival in Dover after a flat calm crossing again we headed to Eastbourne for a night at my mothers before heading on home arriving mid afternoon.

Leaving Dunkerque - the blue skies did not last

Wednesday 18th July

We have now been home a couple of nights and are already thinking about where we can go next........time will tell !