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Wednesday, 21st August 2019 - Sunday 25th August 2019
Preparations begin.
To be honest, preparation did begin a little sooner, updating Maps in Sat-Nav, checking tyre pressures, checking gas bottles, converting our Tesco points to Tunnel Vouchers (£99 discount, not bad!), etc.
But, today, Wednesday, Kathleen begins "the packing". I am little or no help, since my attitude is "if we have forgotten something, we will either, do without it, or, buy one", after all, France is a civilised Country, with shops etc.
By Saturday, lawns are cut, weeding done, garden is tidy.
The "standard" before photographs of the garden are taken, ready for the judging, on our return, have the "kids" earned their inheritance?
A final cycle ride, this morning, around our regular Washington Circuit, before packing the bicycles in the Motorhome Garage. Hopefully, we are going to get many miles of pleasant cycling, in the coming weeks.
Monday, 26th August 2019
An early start, well, 09:00.
Three hundred and twenty miles, with minimal hold ups, for a sunny Bank Holiday.
A sticky 30C, not ideal for travelling.
A meal stop at Maidstone, then on to the Tunnel Terminal.
Our most slick crossing ever, we are offered an earlier crossing, for no charge (19:06 instead of 20:20), we are straight on the shuttle, in pole position, to be first off.
By 21:00 French time, we are parked in Cite Europe, N50 55' 57" E1 48'48", and drinking a cool beer!
Wednesday, 9th May 2018
Mild and sunny, well, as mild and sunny as it can be, in Calais at 06:00 in the morning, in early May!
The Motorhome area has filled up somewhat overnight, at Cite Europe, but, we have no difficulty in getting out.
We arrive at the Tunnel Terminal in plenty of time and are put on an earlier shuttle, at no extra charge.
All goes smoothly and we arrive at Ashford at 07:30, UK time.
Amazingly, a clear ride along the M25, heavy traffic, but, no actual hold-ups, a stop for lunch, and, we are home by 15:30, 380 miles later.
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"!).
