A light hearted and (I hope) amusing record of some of our Campervan Trips.
It is mainly intended to inform friends and family where we are, plus, to keep our children updated on what is happening to their inheritance.
I do try to include details of Camp Sites and Aires, we visit. Checkout the "labels" listed in the right margin,
Please comment if you feel inclined, at least then I know I am not talking to myself (again).
This is not going to be a very exciting post, for the next few days we are going to be travelling almost continually. Our last day in the UK, for a couple of months starts with a wet morning but, eventually "improves" to be bloody freezing, with only occasional rain.
We leave Chertsey C&CC site and make our way along the southern M25 to Canterbury, New Dover Road Park and Ride. Being the dutiful husband, I have checked out the Mass times in Canterbury, so, that is Kathleen occupied for the evening. If there is anything in this Religion "game", and or course, assuming the Catholics are the "chosen ones", then I should be sitting pretty, having ensured Kathleen can always attended Mass. The route from Canterbury to the Channel Tunnel check-in is, shall we say, "interesting", a real cross country route. But, as usual the check-in is slick, and, we are soon on the 11:30, heading for Calais. Out of the tunnel and 65 miles to the Aire at Baie de Somme. The Aire is on the Toll section, so, we have to pay the toll (6Euro) for that section to stay there. For once, the place is deserted, we are the only ones there. We are too tired to care about that, (well I am), and I at least have a sound few hours sleep. Sunday morning, drizzle, dry after Rouen, then, a little sunshine, followed by more drizzle, but, a mild 12C
300 miles to Poitiers Futurscope (N46 39.813' : E0 22.094'), not exactly palatial, water, electricity are extra (by the hour and litre, 2euro/hour for Electric and 2Euro/100Litre for the water), at least it is secure I suppose, and, not far off the main road. A pretty exhausting day for me, driving almost none stop from 8:00 until 16:30, but, Kathleen does the dutiful wife act and produces a Chicken Curry, a can of beer and a bottle of wine!
Not a good start to our trip, doubtful weather and "Storm Doris" means gale force winds, but, reasonably mild, and not too much rain. There is plenty of evidence of small branches blown down from the trees, and, overnight, the noise of the wind blowing through the trees on the campsite is quite loud, enough to keep Kathleen awake, although, I cannot say I noticed it, until Kathleen woke me up to tell me about it! I am not sure about this new fangled naming of storms, before, we just used to have the odd windy day, now, we have storms, and News Presenters staggering about Blackpool seafront in the wind and rain.
These few days are spent visiting Gary, Susana, Gabriel and Salma, for "Grandchildren bonding" time. Gabriel of course is at school, but, we see him in the evening and take him to his Karate Class. Salma, is coming along wonderfully, hair has grown, some teeth are there with more coming, and she is mobile (a combination of crawling and shuffling along on her bottom).
We get to check out the (soon to be, we hope) new house, and, meet new neighbours to be. Plenty of work to do, but, I am sure it will be beautiful when it is all finished! Finally Kathleen and Salma have a joint, slightly delayed birthday party, a 1st birthday and a 70th birthday.
Saturday, 11th February 2017 We exchanged our "Tesco Vouchers" for a Tunnel voucher, some weeks ago, ready to book a crossing. Then, the dreaded "medication review" for Kathleen threw a spanner in the works. Changes of medication, blood pressure monitoring, blood samples combine to mean, no booking can be made. But, today, we bite the bullet and book, given the minimum 14 day notice period, we are on for 25th February 2017, Spain, and sunshine (we hope), here we come. Previously, we have always been light on planning, ie, we did not really do any, but, this trip, with only one driver, I feel a bit more "pressured" and therefore inclined to have at least a vague plan. First, a four day stop-over to see grandchildren Gabriel and Salma, and their parents (Gary and Susana) of course. We cannot get into our "usual" stop over (Queens Acre, Oakley Green, Windsor), so, we will be staying at Chertsey Camping and Caravan Club site.
We are booked on the tunnel, 12:30am Saturday, ie, just after midnight, so the plan is, after exiting tunnel, drive to Baie-de-Somme Aire on the A16, about 60 miles, then sleep. So, if all goes as planned, the map on the right is the first leg of our journey, with a stop-over to visit Gary and Susana and do some grandchildren bonding of course. Next, head for the Somport Tunnel (weather permitting), hopefully two overnight stops should do it, before the tunnel. Somport Tunnel Route, perhaps, I will not show this to Kathleen in advance?
We have the obligatory "Garden Photograph" to give Claire something to aspire to in her "looking after the garden" role, during our absence. Tuesday, 21st February 2017.
We get away pretty much on time, ie 9:40, so far, nothing of significance appears to have been left behind. So far the only thing we are aware of leaving behind is a loaf of bread, it's absence was discovered at our lunch stop. For once, an easy drive south to Chertsey, not one traffic hold up, well, not until we reach the M3 junction on the M25, so, 290 easy miles, to arrive at Chertsey, Camping and Caravan Club Site at approximately 17:00.
