Bonjour Summer holiday (1 Viewer)

[GAVLAD]

Did I tell you that we've set off?
If I hadn't, you'll have known it anyway as England has peace & quiet now we've gone.
After an uneventful crossing from Hull to Zeebrugge, we disembarked the ferry and were waved over to park up dockside.
Whilst The other half was probably wishing for a strip search, I was trying to say that we'd just arrived and please don't send us back!
So, after sat on the docks until nearly every vehicle had cleared passport control, we were waved on to proceed through - the last vehicle of the ship.
Anyway, a saunter through Belgium, I thought I'd fill up.
Not happy with Autoroute prices, I trusted 'Gary Garmin' our satnav to direct us to a village petrol station.
Turns out, it was a canal barge fuel site - lovely setting but not ideal for reversing and turning around - especially with 'I told you so' in my ear.
Anyway, refuelled just outside De Panne just as the low fuel light came on, so all turned out well.
We've stopped for some supplies at Cite Europe. Plenty of vans here but it's raining and cold.
Setting off to further down the coast for an overnight. Will keep you posted of our travels - I'm sure our inevitable misfortune will brighten up your week!

Ps diesel was EUR1.17 in De Panne

 

[Gaston aires]

Bon voyage. Sadly the fuel savings in Europe are dwindling fast these days. Not far off UK prices now. Luxembourg still the cheapest.
Phil

 

[Riverbankannie]

Have a great trip and I hope you find the sun.

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[hilldweller]

Hull - Zeebrugge then City Europe, that seems a strange expensive way to do it.

Hull Dover 258, Zeebrugge Calais 128 saving just 130 miles.

 

[DavidG58]

enjoy your travels, photos and details always much appreciated

 

[DavidG58]

Hull - Zeebrugge then City Europe, that seems a strange expensive way to do it.

Hull Dover 258, Zeebrugge Calais 128 saving just 130 miles.

but what price your sanity, M25 and M20 or M62 I know which would be my choice

its not just about the money

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[FIDGET]

Where are you headed , or is it a surprise !!!

 

[deleted-member02]

Nice Euramobil

 

[GAVLAD]

Sorry for not replying but when I asked the other half to charge my iPhone whilst I was driving, I did expect her to connect the phone to the cable and the cable to the charger! (I got phone to cable and a flat battery)

We prefer the Hull route over travelling down to Dover or Portsmouth.
We find the driving on the other side much less stressful.

So yesterday, we drove down to Le Touquet. Due to a horsey event on, diversions were in place with security guards on many a corner.
Eventually, Gary Garmin stopped having a fit and directed us to the Aire by the yacht club. Surprisingly, it was quieter than previous trips and we got parked up with no problems.
We decided to walk the beach into town to satisfy our 4yr old. We got P'd wet through as it sheeted down once we got half way. Town was quiet.
This morning, we went back into town via the more sensible pavement route and wandered around the very busy market. Unfortunately due to no phone, I missed some great photo opportunities. Sorry!
A jazz band entertained us with Mack the knife and my way plus various other tunes whilst we enjoyed an ice cream to die for.
Back at the motorhome, we've noticed that our freezer compartment has started to defrost.
Had it on auto setting and all lights showed correct. No problems with gas as water has been hot and oven & hob fine. Will keep an eye on it.
After lunch, we drove to Deauville.
Unfortunately, the Aire was full and parking over spilt so didn't want to risk just parking anywhere. A shame as the centre looked really nice. We decided to miss Hornfleur this year and headed to Ouistreham. I've only drove through it before do looking forward to taking a look around. Quite fancy the concrete block museum.
Bad news was the barrier wouldn't open from using my debit card.
Good news was the telephone number for the tourist office was answered and they put me onto the Aire services who opened the barrier for us. Looks like we've got a freebie!
Either that or I have 20 x charges on my account when I get home.
Weather has brightened up and my frenchy neighbours all seem friendly enough. No doubt it will turn to shrug & tuts when they realise we're the fun bus from hell.
Photos due in the next install.

Oh and so far, Je sui camping car has changed every toll from class 4 to class 3 & 2.

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[GAVLAD]

Phone charged. Thought I'd show our view from the Aire.
Excuse daughters fringe - I left her alone for 5 mins and she decided to do a Toni & Guy - hair everywhere! Mrs Gavlad wasn't happy with me as it was on my watch.

Think I may have cured the defrosting freezer. Glad I brought the library of manuals with me. Think it may have been trapped air. Will see if we have a pool of water tomorrow.

 

[Carol]

Sounds as if you are getting into the holiday mood.

 

[GAVLAD]

Bonjour Funsters, today's instalment took us to Le Grande Bunker at Ouistreham. Well me, whilst Mrs & mini Gavlad looked around the shops.
The bunker was built higher than usual to take advantage of the flat land surrounding the area and looking down the river (towards Pegasus Bridge).
Fortunately it was taken out by a ship's gun and then over-run by the Royal Engineers later on.
Plenty of war relics to view plus the landing craft used in Saving Private Ryan.
Then calmness over, I met up with the tribe down the high street - which had plenty of shops & cafe bars.
We then did a flying visit to Pegasus Bridge - we've been before but I just wanted a new cap as mine has faded with the sun - unfortunately not from this holiday! So as we were passing I called in. Sold out of caps! Haha must have had the summer before we arrived!
We then drove down to Le Mans.
Mrs Gavlad in charge of the tolls purse got a shock with a EUR32.90 fee - reduced down to 20-odd as JeSui camping car. This was exiting the autoroute to Le Mans.
As the Aire was closed, we parked up in the coach park by the Roman Wall on Quai Louis Blanc. As per tourist office instructions.
Both of us couldn't see us spending the night here but we decided to have a walk into the centre.
I thought the centre was nice but did see lots of groups of African males hanging around.
After a monumental tantrum from our 4yr old, this was our cue to head back to the MH and we decided to move on.
We are now on a fabulous Aire in La Suze sur sarthe - taken out of the All the Aires book. Photos to follow, but here's some from earlier today of Ouistreham and Le Mans (car park)

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[Four of us]

La Suze is one of our favourite aires. A lovely spot and good shops just over the bridge. Enjoy it.

 

[scousebird]

Have a great holiday, loving it so far

 

[Anthea M]

Thanks for posting photos we should have been there now! Loving the patisserie window!!!
Enjoy and safe travels .

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[GAVLAD]

Bonsoir Funsters
A few pics of the Aire at La Suze.
Had a walk into town and had to pay homage to the patisserie - good job we're in a tag axle!

Today we've had an horrendous journey traffic wise. Every road we seem to have taken has been chocka block.
Two of the pics are the view of the Toll which took over an hour to get through. 18 booths with only one closed.
To make matters worse, I got in the wrong lane thinking it accepted cash and it didnt. We had a frantic wait looking for the wallet with my card in and then to run salt in, was charged handsomely for the privilege.
The othe pic was the free for all with everyone jostling to get into the two lane carriageway. Another 30mins!
We arrived in Noirmoutier very hot & tired around 6pm and found a choice of places. A quick mooch around the shops. Obligatory ride on the carrousel to keep everyone happy and now back at the van.
Think we will move on to the next Aire in the morning as mini G wants to go on the beach.
I did try booking Clare Matin campsite for a week but they never replied, despite numerous attempts. So will be interesting to see what it's like when we head that way. Ille de Re now has our booking.

 

[GAVLAD]

Can never seem to upload the photos in the right order. Sorry

 

[Riverbankannie]

I'm not sure I can take daily patisserie photos

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[Anthea M]

Looks good the aire at suze la Sartre used to be the campsite last year that's new!

 

[DavidG58]

hovered on the options to recognise your post. I don't like the bad bits, and first of all put a love it, like the updates

 

[Anthea M]

I'm not sure I can take daily patisserie photos

I can!!! Yummy!!

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[GAVLAD]

Afternoon funsters
Couldn't post yesterday as battery low and signal was poor.
We arrived at St Jean de Monts and parked in the Aire nearest the centre.
It was full but on the turning circle at the end, there was space to reverse the MH into a gap. No sooner had I done my 46 point turn complete with local gawpers all stood pulling faces and scratching their chins, when a space became vacant. I decided to move.
Only trouble was that the ground slopes up at the rear. I managed to bulldoze it flat with my tow bar! (By accident) fortunately it was soft ground so no damage. It gave the next 4 van owners something to look at on their hands and knees before opening another bottle.
I just told myself that they were worshipping a Yorkshireman's arrival and were honoured for me to park next to them.
We wandered into town which was packed and offered mostly commercialised tat.
We had a few hours on the beach shivering from the wind - only to realise the strength of the sun when getting in the shower later on.
Disturbingly was the number of cars parked up between the Aire and the beach front that had been broken into with smashed windows.
We had a noisy night. Lots of youths on bikes hanging around chatting and then the bin men had caught up with us from Noirmoutier and emptied the aires bins at 430am.
We left for La Rochelle first thing.
More on that later on but in the meantime, I've substituted the buns for the ice creams photos.

 

[chaser]

@GAVLAD , your posts have just brought home to me why we go in September and not in the holidays, not trying to be funny and if you have to go in the holiday season it's what you have to do but all your photos of crowded streets and roads will be just a thing of the past in four weeks.

 

[Baileysbus]

You'll love La Rochelle. We parked up in the P+R just outside town and stayed there the night. €12 a night as I recall which included the bus fare down town for the two of us and dog

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[Riverbankannie]

Yum, salted caramel for me please!

 

[GAVLAD]

Unfortunately, we have holidays dictated by the fire service which roll on 10days year on year so this year, my leave group fell in August. Next year, we face being fined as I've manage to swap to a June leave but this will clash with mini G starting school in September and not being off in June.(someone else needed my next year dates)
So I envy you going in quieter times. Those were the days haha. (No bloody kids nattering!)

Back to La Rochelle, we arrived at Aire no.4 in the all the aires book and found that they don't allow motorhome to park for the night. This is the one by the marina. After clarification from a French chap and checking a sign we thought we best move on. Fortunately a friendly chap in an Autotrail with a Welsh accent came to the rescue and said to follow him to the park & ride Aire. Parked up and a free bus into town, I wish I'd have come here the first time. La Rochelle is a beautiful place and well worth a few days in itself.
We only have one night here before Ille de Re so we may sneek a few hours in there tomorrow morning. But in order to keep all you bun lovers satisfied, I managed to pass a lovely display.
(There's a new Aire but it looked further out than the park & ride Aire)
Bon nuit funsters!

 

[magicsurfbus]

We head straight to Ave Jean Moulin P+R every time we visit La Rochelle.

There's some very high quality graffiti to be seen in the parking area just beyond the old tower to the right of the fourth photo. If that sort of thing floats your boat, of course.

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[Anthea M]

Love that area last time we crossed to the Isle de Re it was 16€ but free lo come back!!
Thanks for the Patesserie fix!!

 

[GAVLAD]

We've been charged class 2 €16 to cross - happy with that. Thought we'd be arguing down from €40.
But, monumental cock up by yours truly.
We've arrived at our campsite a day early! And they're full along with nearby sites.
So, we've drove up to the top end Les Portes de Re? Think it is and had to pay €25 for the night in an Aire.
€25!! I'm sickened.
The sign says €12 per night plus €3 for water but someone has wrote over it €25.
So I've paid it rather than trail round looking elsewhere. Someone's obviously cashing in on the summer season.
Anyway, I'm taking my own beers to the beach now and will dip my toes in the water. All that ends well.

 

[magicsurfbus]

For future reference, if the MH compound/aire at Camping Amis de la Plage at Bois Plage en Re has spaces, you'd get in there for a fair bit less.

There's a north-facing beach just down the road from where you are which is quite a nice one - La Plage de la Conche. They filmed The Longest Day there.

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