First time in France in motorhome. Normandy coastline. (1 Viewer)

[James-Alex]

Today we are setting off from Newhaven to Dieppe, we leave at 2300 for a week wandering the Normandy coastline in our motorhome for a week. Nothing planned but lots of places we would like to visit on our route to Caen for the ferry home. Will be staying on the aire network. Will try to update as we go along but will be mainly updating via Polarsteps.


https://www.polarsteps.com/Jamesp987/5833304-a-week-in-normandy-nothing-planned-except-fun

 

[Realist]

Have fun.

 

[Brianmor]

We were over there 2 weeks ago and both Fecamp and Honfleur were great places to visit . The Fecamp aire was free, water and sewage facilities and a 5 mins walk to restaurants and bars. Honfleur was 12 euro but came with water, sewage and electricity with a 10 min walk to loads of restaurants and bars

 

[James-Alex]

We were over there 2 weeks ago and both Fecamp and Honfleur were great places to visit . The Fecamp aire was free, water and sewage facilities and a 5 mins walk to restaurants and bars. Honfleur was 12 euro but came with water, sewage and electricity with a 10 min walk to loads of restaurants and bars

Will hopefully visit both places. Have been on our list

 

[James-Alex]

Lovely start to the trip hopefully ferry will go as scheduled.

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[Spriddler]

I've sailed that crossing maybe a couple of dozen times with my wife and (then) toddler kids in my 23' and 27' yachts and been using the ferry since the early 60's.
'Imminent' means within 6 hours so the wind should be piping up now or very soon. It's calm along the coast a couple of miles inland where I am, 12 miles West of Newhaven.
Take comfort that if it sails it will get (relatively) calmer as you approach Dieppe since the coast along there and the port is a bit sheltered from a S. Westerly. Not so coming the other way as Newhaven harbour is 'open' to the South West. It has happened several times in the past that in a S. W'ly gale the ferry has had to stand off for 6 or 10 hours as Newhaven harbour was untenable, plus the approaches are rather shallow.
They may delay the ferry in really bad weather because the company relies heavily on profit from the shop, bar and cafeteria sales which would be very much reduced in gale force weather (quite apart from the need to consider passengers' comfort and safety). When I asked the booking staff why it was the same price for my motorbike as for up to 5 people in a car I was told that 5 people with a car would spend more and buy more stuff onboard than one or two on a motorbike which has limited baggage space which sounded logical to me.
Good luck.

 

[mart]

Have a great time,look forward to your posts.

 

[BobJayne]

Probably right over Newhaven now, hopefully would have gone over by the time you sail.

 

[Spriddler]

I'm about 12 miles West of Newhaven and constant brilliant lightning right overhead started 10 mins ago plus squalls and absolutely torrential rain. At least the rain will tend to flatten the waves.

 

[BobJayne]

Constant brilliant lightning right overhead started 10 mins ago plus squalls and torrential rain.

We had it in Dorset about an hour ago, the sun is out now though.

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[James-Alex]

We’ve just arrived at the local Sainsburys to fill up and are grabbing some food before we go to port at brewers fair. Drive was horrible, really bad rain. We dropped the kids at grandparents in Southsea on route.

Will let you know if we board and sail.

 

[James-Alex]

Checked in now sat on port waiting. Check in staff have advised to to extreme weather it will depart 45mins early.

 

[Jake Royd]

Le Treport is worth a visit.
We intended to get as far as Arromanche to see the new memorial (the one Harry Billinge fundraised for) but did not make it.

 

[Jo662]

Bon voyage. Looking forward to following your travels. Have a great time

 

[James-Alex]

Well what an adventure that crossing was. So rough we didn’t really sleep in our cabin. People being sick all around, sounding like the boat was going to snap in half. We don’t suffer any affects of sea sickness but it was next level noise. Thinking about what state we would find the van in at the end.

We decided to come straight of the port to the aire on the beach at Dieppe for a few hours of sleep. Lovely spot to stay, about to have a wander and find some breakfast.

Will update later as we plan a wander then a move on… who knows where This is the life and in the sunshine too

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[James-Alex]

Had a lovely wander around dieppe this morning. Stopped in a lovely bakery and had a wonderful baguette and espresso whilst watching the world go by. Such a lovely town and will spend more time there on other future trips.

We have driven to Fecamp and are currently parked up on the aire in the centre. Having a wander later so will update again

 

[Bonsaiman]

We did a similar trip in September

Honfleur already mentioned but Etretat and Deauville are worth a visit

Inland, Bolbec is nice

 

[James-Alex]

Had this beast pull up next to us at the aire in Fecamp. Said hello to the older lady. Alex then started to chat and found out she was born in Germany. Alex speaks fluent German as her mum is German.

We were just getting ready to go out and the lady knocked on the door to invite us to join them in the palace for a drink later.

Turns out they sold a house boat in Corsica and bought the motorhome and are living in it whilst travelling Europe.

Excited to go and have a look inside later.

 

[Figaro]

I've always hoped to get that invite but it's never arrived so far
Just watch out if they have a pampas plant on the table

 

[James-Alex]

I've always hoped to get that invite but it's never arrived so far
Just watch out if they have a pampas plant on the table

Should we take ours?

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[Wack]

Mont saint Michele is well worth a visit as is bayuex , there's a very nice market in bayuex, can't remember which day though , it's early, all done and dusted by 12

 

[Ingwe]

I've always hoped to get that invite but it's never arrived so far
Just watch out if they have a pampas plant on the table

Please let me in on the pampas plant reference….

 

[Figaro]

Please let me in on the pampas plant reference….

It's reputed to be used as a discreet signal for fellow swingers to make contact
I've no idea how true that is but others may know ?

 

[Ingwe]

It's reputed to be used as a discreet signal for fellow swingers to make contact
I've no idea how true that is but others may know ?

Thank you. I clearly must get out more. What a sheltered life I’ve led. Last wife swapping meet I went to I got a lawn mower for my better half. Good swap.