Neufchatel-En-Bray, Camping St Claire, Welwyn Garden City, Commons Wood, and Finally, Home (April 17th - April 21st)

Friday, 17th April 2015

A leisurely start, to let the early morning traffic clear, all of those people going to some place called "work", I don't know what they see in it myself.

An easy 139 miles, negotiating Rouen like we have done it before (which of course we have), to our old regular, Camping St Claire, Neufchatel-en-Bray.

I know, I always sing the praises of this place, but, it really has a lot going for it.

The owner and his wife, keep the place pristine, it is only 14Euro (£10.50) a night, plus, it is an easy two hour drive from here to Calais.

Finally, if all that is not enough, for the dog owners, there is, I am told, a convenient vet in the town, who will do the necessary for travelling dogs, cheaper than the Vets in Calais.

First task is to book ourselves a ferry, for our return trip. Many people we have met on our travels swear by the Caravan Club. If my experience is anything to go by, I cannot endorse that. I first check on old favourite ferrysavers, and find a price of £69, Dunkirk->Dover, for van and trailer. Caravan Club come up with a price of £109! When I point out, I can get a better price myself, they come up with £63 for the same crossing I found on Ferrysavers. So, I have "saved" £6, but, I had to do all of the work, plus, I had to do the transaction via telephone, because their website cannot deal with booking for Campervans with Trailers. The last I find amazing, what is a car and caravan, except a car with a big trailer?

Moan over, time for a glass of Red!

For a blow by blow account, until the Camera runs out of memory:

Marboue to Neufchatel-en-Bray, Part 1 of 15
Marboue to Neufchatel-en-Bray, Part 2 of 15
Marboue to Neufchatel-en-Bray, Part 3 of 15
Marboue to Neufchatel-en-Bray, Part 4 of 15
Marboue to Neufchatel-en-Bray, Part 5 of 15
Marboue to Neufchatel-en-Bray, Part 6 of 15
Marboue to Neufchatel-en-Bray, Part 7 of 15
Marboue to Neufchatel-en-Bray, Part 8 of 15
Marboue to Neufchatel-en-Bray, Part 9 of 15
Marboue to Neufchatel-en-Bray, Part 10 of 15
Marboue to Neufchatel-en-Bray, Part 11 of 15
Marboue to Neufchatel-en-Bray, Part 12 of 15
Marboue to Neufchatel-en-Bray, Part 13 of 15
Marboue to Neufchatel-en-Bray, Part 14 of 15
Marboue to Neufchatel-en-Bray, Part 15 of 15

Saturday 18th April 2015

A sunny day, but, cool compared to what we have been used to at about 16C, the penalty of being so far north I suppose.

Once breakfast is over, and the debris from last nights pizzas and wine drinking is cleared away, I get the folding bicycles out, and we go cycling along the "Voie Vert", for a very pleasant 15 miles.

The cycle track here was always very good, but, it has been even further improved.

There is a better tarmac surface, a couple of new cafes (in restored trackside buildings from the railway days), and a new picnic area with toilets, picnic tables. There is even an undercover picnic table, in case it rains!.

These are all new additions, since our last visit here, approximately one year ago.

We cycle in the direction of "Forges des Eaux", which about 18 kilometres (11 miles)away, although, we don't actually go all of the way there ( we have done in the past, when the legs were younger).

One of the couples who are our neighbours, head off in the opposite direction, toward Dieppe, which is about 34 kilometers (20 miles) away. I have frequently tried to talk Kathleen into attempting this, but, without success.

Our neighbours, on their return, report that the cycle track does not actually go all of the way to Dieppe, the last few miles being on the road, so, perhaps it is not such a good idea after all.

I think, however, I will still keep working at getting Kathleen to cycle to the end of the cycle track!










 Sunday, 19th April 2015

Bright and sunny, but, with a brisk wind from the north, not very warm, only 16C.

Kathleen is off to church.

After three months of heavy relaxation, we decide to spend the day, taking it easy!

Monday, 20th April 2015

A leisurely drive to Dunkirk with a little last minute, wine shopping.

Kathleen cannot resist a final few bottles of her favourite Rose wine, but, the bottle are loose with no boxes.

Kathleen's solution, is to put them in the bed, to stop them rolling around and rattling.

At the ferry port, unusually, in our experience, they actually check the van for "stowaways". This involves a Security man searching the van, quite what he thinks of a British Pensioner who takes her wine to bed with her, he does not say.

Back in the UK, the M25 is actually moving, even the Dartford Crossing has only slow moving queues, thanks, presumably to the new toll system.

Once we are sure we can make it that far, Kathleen rings the Caravan Club Site, Commons Wood, at Welwyn Garden City. They are, as always, extremely helpful, and arrange to be available to check us in at our estimated arrival time of 08:00pm.

Tuesday, 21st April 2015

Except for a puncture, in one of the trailer tyres, an uneventful journey home. Fortunately, we carry a spare wheel for the trailer, so, other than the half hour delay, to change the wheel, no problem.

A very pleasant surprise on our return, daughter Claire has cut the lawns regularly, in our absence, so, we are not faced with the usual major grass cutting job!

For those who cannot resist, the journey from Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, then, Dover to Welwyn Garden City.

Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 1 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 2 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 3 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 4 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 5 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 6 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 7 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 8 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 9 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 10 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 11 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 12 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 13 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 14 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 15 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 16 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk Part 17 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 18 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 19 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 20 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 21 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 22 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 23 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 24 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 25 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 26 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 27 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 28 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 29 of 30
Neufchatel-en-Bray to Dunkirk, Part 30 of 30, boarding the ferry

Then Dover to Welwyn Garden City, or, until the memory runs out!

Dover towards Welwyn Garden City, Part 1 of 5
Dover towards Welwyn Garden City, Part 2 of 5
Dover towards Welwyn Garden City, Part 3 of 5
Dover towards Welwyn Garden City, Part 4 of 5
Dover towards Welwyn Garden City, Part 5 of 5