A short October bimble in France - we have arrived!

[Grianan]

So, after a stop at Metal Bridge Inn and another at Canterbury Park-and-Ride (must revisit to explore Canterbury),

we hopped under the channel this morning and are now sitting enjoying our first baguette on the banks of the Seine at La Mailleraye …

 

[PJGWiltshire]

How many UK reg vans there. It's so popular that it may affiliate to the CMC

 

[Clarky]

How many UK reg vans there. It's so popular that it may affiliate to the CMC

Four U.K. vans, all next to each other and three out of four are Funsters.

Just met Grianan and had a nice chat.

 

[Oscar]

Make that 5 - we've recently arrived!

 

[Grianan]

How many UK reg vans there. It's so popular that it may affiliate to the CMC

Well I’m pretty unobservant but hubbie is more observant and says there are about 5 and another just arriving. Nice to meet Clarky - thanks for coming up to say hello!

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[Grianan]

Make that 5 - we've recently arrived!

Have you got the Écosse sticker on? Couldn’t post earlier was walking up the Seine to look at the tigers Clarky mentioned and got waylaid for a chat by a French couple and their dog called ‘Doggy’ .

 

[Oscar]

We're the N&B with the Angles Morts stickers on we're parked between the French vans

 

[Grianan]

We're the N&B with the Angles Morts stickers on we're parked between the French vans

Nice van that … you’re the first we’ve seen with the angles morts … you’d not get away with pretending you were under 3500kg would you

 

[Oscar]

Hopefully get to chat to Funsters tomorrow

 

[PJGWiltshire]

Four U.K. vans, all next to each other and three out of four are Funsters.

Just met Grianan and had a nice chat.

Well I should have guessed you were there, will you be applying to be the affiliate warden. Hope you had a nice trip. We are sitting down in Spain 26 today very nice

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[Grianan]

Decision made … we’re heading over to Coulon tomorrow for a wee cycle round the Marais Poitivan. 22 years ago was the last time we visited … wonder what it’s like now.

 

[deleted79651]

Decision made … we’re heading over to Coulon tomorrow for a wee cycle round the Marais Poitivan. 22 years ago was the last time we visited … wonder what it’s like now.

Our hovel is at Cheffois 85390, about 38 miles from where you're heading! We're still freezing our bits off in Fife, though ...

Steve & Elaine

 

[Grianan]

Our hovel is at Cheffois 85390, about 38 miles from where you're heading! We're still freezing our bits off in Fife, though ...

Steve & Elaine

From what I remember lovely area … bet you can’t wait to head back out!

 

[Grianan]

So we decided on Açais, about 10km from Coulon as it’s a pretty quiet aire in a small village. Plans to cycle to Coulon and Damvix tomorrow, last visited in caravan when daughter was 9 months old, now 23. Only 4 vans on the site and this couple have tried all the pitches - seriously, this is their 5th move - and ended up opposite our sliding door … I read all your posts guys and I’m sorry to say I laughed. But it’s true. The French just need to be up close.

 

[deleted79651]

So we decided on Açais, about 10km from Coulon as it’s a pretty quiet aire in a small village. Plans to cycle to Coulon and Damvix tomorrow, last visited in caravan when daughter was 9 months old, now 23. Only 4 vans on the site and this couple have tried all the pitches - seriously, this is their 5th move - and ended up opposite our sliding door … I read all your posts guys and I’m sorry to say I laughed. But it’s true. The French just need to be up close.

Put it down to a loss in translation. You said 'oil change' they heard 'ail change' and they've moved closer to improve the audio, breathing garlic through your Hab Door in the process ... Whatever you do, don't offer them Horlicks, lest you spark an International Incident ...

Steve

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[paddymcc]

So we decided on Açais, about 10km from Coulon as it’s a pretty quiet aire in a small village. Plans to cycle to Coulon and Damvix tomorrow, last visited in caravan when daughter was 9 months old, now 23. Only 4 vans on the site and this couple have tried all the pitches - seriously, this is their 5th move - and ended up opposite our sliding door … I read all your posts guys and I’m sorry to say I laughed. But it’s true. The French just need to be up close.

That's not close
You can open your door can't you!

 

[VXman]

Make that 5 - we've recently arrived!

We have done 1300 miles in France and Spain in the last 2 weeks and seen 4 Brits in the whole trip!


( Dozens of NL though)

 

[Nirvanauk]

So we decided on Açais, about 10km from Coulon as it’s a pretty quiet aire in a small village. Plans to cycle to Coulon and Damvix tomorrow, last visited in caravan when daughter was 9 months old, now 23. Only 4 vans on the site and this couple have tried all the pitches - seriously, this is their 5th move - and ended up opposite our sliding door … I read all your posts guys and I’m sorry to say I laughed. But it’s true. The French just need to be up close.

You could get another couple of vans in that space, that is if the English couple would put their tables and chairs away.

 

[Grianan]

You could get another couple of vans in that space, that is if the English couple would put their tables and chairs away.

Ha ha … Scots … but true …,

 

[cookie]

Don't forget hand brake . It slopes a bit.

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[Marty Gilly and Pup]

We have done 1300 miles in France and Spain in the last 2 weeks and seen 4 Brits in the whole trip!


( Dozens of NL though)

6 spaces here in Epernay. 4 occupied. 2 brits =50%. Lovely new purpose built barrier entry parking spot in town. €12 though for the tight among us. (Inc ehu and all the trimmings)

 

[Grianan]

Today we’re staying a second night in Arçais and, just now, have this lovely grassy aire to ourselves. Our gardeners are kindly cutting the grass and clipping the hedges as I type . The Marais Poitevin is as beautiful as I remember it. We cycled to the beautiful village of Damvix by road then crossed the Sevre and headed towards Coulon on the small riverside road. Lunch menu was interesting for a non meat eater (eel, perch, snails or frogs legs) and totally delicious. The route back was along the canals and conches (small reservoirs) that drain the marshes. Some of the track was gravel but large parts were wooden (and rotten) which made for a bumpy ride. 21 miles is longer than I’ve done for a while and I’m feeling it. Time for a glass of wine to recuperate!
Where to tomorrow? A bit further south i think - can’t decide whether to stay in the west or head for Med.

 

[Grianan]

So we took @Clarky’s advice and headed for Gruissan, arriving to a spectacular sunset over the étangs. Lucky to get a space facing the water … though in the furthest away part of the aire.

We visited the lovely village of Auvillar on the way here …

Having seen a baguette vending machine in a very rural village this morning we were not entirely surprised to see the Amazon box type set up in the up market épicerie.

 

[Just smiffy]

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/attachments/7c40a0bd-6c33-4f9d-a359-98919b1f2e6c-jpeg.547806/

That’s a beautiful picture…

 

[Grianan]

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/attachments/7c40a0bd-6c33-4f9d-a359-98919b1f2e6c-jpeg.547806/

That’s a beautiful picture…

Thanks … that was out of the car window on the autoroute .. lorry overtaking us kindly slowed down to let me get it!

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[Grianan]

Last night we went for a late night walk … that was interesting. As we walked up one of the quays an 80s Bentley on factory number plates drove up, quickly offloaded 3 merry folk and drove off at high doors. 5 minutes late thé gendarmes paid a visit …
As we returned to the van I caught movement in the sky. My initial thought was a shooting star but the giant feathery wings suggested a firebird. It was a flamingo illuminated by the lights of the port. I didn’t realise they flew at night, by preference.
On today’s cycle ride around the étang we saw Great Cormorants, coots, egret, grey heron and flamingos - some must have been young as they were white.

 

[Grianan]

Today we retraced our steps (? wheels) by cycling along the Canal de la Robine into Narbonne. The forecast was for cloud all day but we seemed to avoid that. Narbonne was as beautiful as I remembered it. My body has

still not adapted to 24 miles in the saddle though .

 

[deleted79651]

Today we retraced our steps (? wheels) by cycling along the Canal de la Robine into Narbonne. The forecast was for cloud all day but we seemed to avoid that. Narbonne was as beautiful as I remembered it. My body has View attachment 548399View attachment 548400View attachment 548401View attachment 548402View attachment 548403View attachment 548404still not adapted to 24 miles in the saddle though .

Did you begin the ride with a Raleigh but returned with a BSA?

Steve

 

[Grianan]

Only one photo today … we were going to try the restaurant in the village but hadn’t realised it was market day and the village was hoaching so we thought we’d have a wee cycle to the chalets and then back to the van for bread snd cheese. Then we found La Perle Gruissanaise. That was a totally unexpected surprise!
Tomorrow we’re heading for Provence - to a campsite. Just checked and it doesn’t accept ACSI. Good thing we only paid €27 in total for our 4 nights here.

 

[Grianan]

Yesterday we left Gruissan and headed for St Rémy de Provence. Every time we try Maps app with ‘no motorways’ we say never again. St Rémy seems much busier … tomorrow we will venture out on bikes and visit Glanum but, for now, a few snaps of the town.

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