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Friday 4th May 2018
Sunny and dry in Versailles, but, we have seen everything we want to see here, and, we are not really "city people", so, we decide to head for our old favourite Camping St Claire, Neufchatel-en-Bray (N49 44'14" E1 25' 40").
It is approximately 95 miles, and an easy drive on a combination of free motorway and excellent quality "N" and "D" roads. The only tricky bit was joining the A13, where the sat-nav called it exactly right, telling me to get in left hand lane and turn left to join the A13 toward Rouen. Even although the visible direction signs were saying right hand lane for A13! the sat-nav was right, there was a very small sign, not visible until you were making the actual turn, saying "A13 Rouen". Definitely a junction you would not have got right, if working from a map!
We arrive at Neufchatel-en-Bray to brilliant sunshine, Kathleen is soon in full "relaxing" mode.
Saturday 5th May 2018
An absolutely beautiful day, 9C at 08:00 and 22C by lunch time, full sunshine and blue skies.
We go cycling, 20 miles along the Cycle Track towards Dieppe, as far as the village of Saint Vaast-d'EquiqueVille.
We see two large groups of English cyclists, presumably, off the ferry at Dieppe.
Two villages along the cycle track, only about two miles from Neufchatel-en-Bray is a village called Mesniers-en-Bray, with a magnificently restored chateau, now, an Agricultural College, if my schoolboy French is correct.
Can't resist a few of Camping St Claire, the owner keeps it absolutely pristine.
We (well Kathleen) manages a little relaxation, eventually, after waiting on Kathleen, I manage a little sit down too.
Sunday, 6th May 2018
Even hotter than yesterday, blue skies and 27C !
Kathleen does here Sunday Church session, while I sit in the square, in the sun, and people watch.
It is too hot for cycling today, sitting in the sun, eating ice-cream, drinking cold beer and reading a book.
Barbecue in the evening, Kathleen is very adventurous and eats some French sausages (as well as some steaks).
Monday, 7th May 2018
Another 27C, blue sky day.
We get out to do our cycling, before the heat builds up, 8.5 miles, along the cycle track, to Beaubec-la-Roserie, which appears to be a beautiful village, but, without a bar!.
So, 17 miles, for the round trip.
This being our last night here, we treat ourselves (or, to be more precise, I treat Kathleen) to an evening meal at the site Bistro.
They have an indoor section, incase the weather is poor, or an outdoor terrace.
Given the excellent weather, we opt for the terrace, and have an excellent meal, including dessert and a bottle of wine for 40Euro, which I think is pretty reasonable.
Tuesday, 8th May 2018
Looks like another scorching 27C day at Neufchatel-en-Bray, and it is still sunny 24C when we arrive at Cite Europe, Coquelles, Calais.
Kathleen does the hair care routine, so, that takes up half the morning.
In the meantime, I pack up "the gear", and we have a leisurely morning of sitting in the sun, drinking coffee.
Checkout time is 12:00, and we leave just before that to drive the 100 miles approximately to Cite Europe (N50 55' 57" E1 48'48").
It is the first time we have used Cite Europe as a stopover before the Tunnel (we normally use Gravelines).
Cite Europe has the advantage that we do not need to drive the 15 or so miles north, to Gravelines, and it is only a very short distance to the Tunnel Terminal.
There is a large Shopping Mall, with shops, restaurants, and, if required toilets. Parking is free, and, security appears good (will confirm that in the morning, if we are still "intact"!).
Wednesday, 2nd May 2018.
Despite what the weather forecast said, it is a dry and sunny day.
There is a cool breeze, which turns out to be a blessing.
We are not normally into "tourist attractions", but, you cannot come to Versailles, and not visit the famous Palace of Versailles.
The Site Reception sell tickets, but, when we go there, they have none left for today. Instead, we obtain two day passes at the Tourist Information Office, a short distance from the Palace. It costs 2.5Euro extra, per person, in "commission", but, saves us standing in a long queue.
The young lady who sells us the tickets advises us not to do the Chateau/Palace that day, since there are already enormous queues (1.5hours!), but rather to "do" the gardens, park, Trianon and Marie-Antoinettes Estate on day 1, and arrive early (09:00) on day 2 to "do" the Palace.
This Kathleen looking fresh, at this point, we have cycled only about 2.5 miles
I think this is probably good advice, the Estate is enormous. We cycle there from the campsite on our bicycles, which means we
have the bicycles to cycle around the grounds and between the various sections. We cycle and walk 15 miles on day 1, I would estimate 12 miles of that was within the Estate of Versailles!.
We manage to "do":
- significant area of the Park
- the Gardens
- The Grand Canal
- The Trianon
- Le Petite Trianon
- Marie-Antoinettes Estate
Of then all, personally, I preferred Marie-Antoinette's Estate, it was more "human scale" than the grandiose Gardens etc.
Thursday, 3rd May 2018
Sunny, dry and mild.
Following the advice of the young lady in Tourist Information, we are up early, and have a rather hair raising cycle ride, through rush hour traffic, to the Palace of Versailles by 09:00.
There is already a queue, but, not too long, and, it would appear only one tour bus has arrived this early in the morning.
We are in the Palace within 15 minutes, which even impatient Kathleen is happy with.
Perhaps, I am a Philistine, but, I find it rather disappointing.
It is of course impressively huge, and, no doubt, it must have created a skills shortage throughout Europe, when it was under construction, there are so many Paintings, Statues, Painted Frescoes, items of furniture and so on and so on.
Personally, I find the outside more impressive than the inside, particularly the Gardens and Water "features".
Shortly before lunch time we have had our fill of walking through the endless rooms of Versailles Palace, but, I am sure it would be possible to spend a whole day in there, if you actually know and understand what you are looking at.
We spot a sign to Cathederal de St Louis, and head for that, but, when we get there, there is a funeral in progress, so, Kathleen does not feel it right to wander around the church, whilst the funeral service was in progress.
Next, we head for the Market de Notre Dame.
Our map makes it look pretty easy, but, we do not find it so and have an unintentional extended cycling tour of the suburbs of Versailles.
Eventually, we find our way to the market, and, more importantly, to a restaurant for lunch.
It is a quaint little place, just off the market square, up a narrow staircase, in a tiny room with only five tables. The whole enterprise seems to be run (ie chef, waiter, etc etc) by two pleasant young ladies.
We have an very pleasant lunch, which Kathleen declares was worth the effort we have had to get here, so, it must have been good!
Sunday, 29th April 2018
Substantial thunder storm overnight, with heavy rain. Bright and sunny by 10:00, this morning.
After our cycling exertions of the previous two days, we have a day of doing little today.
A short walk along the Canal du Nivernais, for two or so miles, more thunderstorms by 16:00.
Monday, 30th April 2018
Dreadful weather this morning, strong wind, heavy rain, and cold at only 9C. It does not get much better, as the day progresses. There will be no outdoor activities today, I fear.
Tuesday, 1st May 2018
Dry and sunny as we pack up to leave.
A hundred and twenty five miles, mostly on excellent roads, mostly D606 and N6, then a free bit of motorway (A6) as we approach the outer edge of Paris.
Today (1st May) is a Public Holiday in France, and, it would appear just about everything is closed, only a few foreign registered trucks on the road, all of the French ones are parked in in Services, which are stacked out with them.
Our problem is, we need a few "essentials" and every supermarket we pass is closed. Eventually detour into a small village, and find a bread shop open.
Even the Palace of Versailles is closed today, one of the very days people may wish to visit, you would have thought?
Camping Huttopia Versailles (N48 47'39" E2 9'40") is an ACSI site. Fairly typical "city site" not perfect, but, useful to visit which ever major attraction it is near. We are first of all allocated a pitch which is rather waterlogged (it has clearly rained here a lot recently), but, Kathleen is quickly on the job to get us moved to a better and dryer pitch.
It is certainly well located for visiting the Palace of Versailles, it is perhaps 40 minutes walk from Campsite, or quite cyclable, or, there are buses.
