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).
Wednesday 1st March 2017 A bright and sunny day, 19C. Key tasks are completed in the morning:
A little shopping for essentials (wine and beer)
The inevitable visit to the "bargain" Chinese Bazaar, new Crocks purchased, at only 4.50Euro for two pairs, I suspect they are not genuine Crocks
A visit to the Catholic Church so Kathleen can determine if there are any services/celebrations for Ash Wednesday. No is the answer.
The afternoon is spent lying in the sun, recovering from the journey. Thursday 2nd March 2017 Bright and sunny, 20C
We cycle along the coast, just over 15 miles. We meet an elderly Frenchman, Alain, he tells us he is 77, and is pedalling along the coast on his "birthday present" a folding electric bicycle. When we return, we both check our blood pressure readings, both are significantly reduced. I wonder if we can get our Campervan trips on prescription? (if not the whole cost, perhaps, the ferry crossing, or perhaps tokens for free diesel). Later in the day, we meet old friends from previous visits to Bonterra Park, John, Carol, John and Adrian. Inevitably, we spend the rest of the afternoon drinking Red Wine in their company.
Monday, 27th February 2017. A dull and cool morning. When we come to pay (it is all automated, ticket on the way in, present ticket to machine, pay on exit), we find the charging structure is not quite as we had been led to believe. We thought it was 7Euro for twenty four hours, but, it is 7Euro for the twenty four hours 08:30 - 08:30. We arrived at about 16:30 (part way through a twenty four hour period) and, we are leaving at 09:00, which is in the NEXT twenty four hour period, so, we have to pay 14Euro! For that price, we could have stayed on a site, with full facilities! I doubt we will be back.
So we leave Poitiers Futurscope (N46 39.813' : E0 22.094'), 14Euro lighter, and head for Mont de Marsan (N43 54.146' : W0 31.186'), an Aire, supposedly with EHU and Toilets. Well, we find the Aire, but, no EHU, no Toilets and no water. Since it is "only" 14:00, we decide to head nearer to the Somport Tunnel and set the Sat-Nav for Oloron Sainte Marie (N43 11.032' : W0 36.511'). Approximately 280miles later, we arrive at Oloron Sainte Marie. Fortunately, the Aire at Oloron Sainte Marie is exactly as described. Marked spaces for 7 Vans, (with a maximum stay of 48 hours) but, eventually with 11 present! Surprisingly. most of them are Brits. The Aire is virtually in the town, Kathleen has a break from cooking, and we find a little bar serving food. Despite the fact the Aire is just off the road, and, is in town, it is surprisingly quiet.
Tuesday 28th February, 2017 A mild but dull morning.
We are away early, 08:00, the thought being to get along the much hyped approach to the Somport Tunnel, before the traffic builds up, with the intention of making Benicassim, today (approximately 340 miles). What an anti-climax, true, the road is twisty and narrow, and, you have to be alert for the occasional articulated truck hurtling down the gradient from Spain, but, there are no difficult bits and no significant gradients. The road on the Spanish side of the tunnel is even better, almost motorway standard dual carriageway for most of the journey, and, very light traffic. Plus, the road is almost empty, in both directions. The Somport Tunnel is fairly new (built around 2003), and it shows, well lit, and well signed. According to Google, it is the longest road tunnel in the Pyrenees at 5.3 miles long. It cost 251Million Euro to build, which seems pretty reasonable to me, as these things go!
Eventually, we arrive at Bonterra Park, Benicassim, at about 17:00, a long day, but, the sky is blue, the sun is shining!
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.
Monday 10th October 2016 After yesterday's rain, we have a bright and sunny day. We are close enough to Gary & Susana's house to cycle there, but, in the interests of saving time, we unload the scooter from trailer, and use that to ride to Wyatt Road. A very pleasant morning spent with Susana and Salma, followed by retail therapy for Kathleen, while Salma attends a hospital appointment. We have the very pleasant task of collecting Gabriel from school, after his football club. The whole point of stopping off at Windsor, was to see the family, Gary, Susana, Gabriel and Salma, but, as so often happens with jobs such as Gary's, things do not go according to plan, and, it looks as if we will not see him, but, then, late in the afternoon, a nice surprise, Gary arrives home, so, we get to spend the evening with all of the "Windsor Reays". By the time we leave, to return to the Van, it is a cold and dark ride back. We have the correct protective clothing with us however, and Kathleen earns another "stripe" on her "bike-chick" credentials!. Tuesday 11th October 2016 Brr.... a really cold and frosty start, to the day, but, bright and sunny as the morning progresses. An hour or so, with Gary all to myself, whilst we return his hire car, followed by very pleasant walk and lunch at Virginia Water, with the ladies (Kathleen, Susana and Salma) joining us. Looking after Gabriel and Salma, whilst Gary and Susana go to Gabriel's School, to hear his teacher praise him (what else!). A family meal, in the evening, to round off the day. A little excitement as we get a taxi back to the Van. I ask to be taken to "Queens Acre" (the name of the Campsite), only to be taken to a rather smart housing development. Be warned, there are two places called "Queens Acre", in Windsor. No problem, the driver acknowledges the mistake, and we arrive eventually, at the correct place. Actually, I am rather flattered that the Taxi Driver thought we looked affluent enough to live at the Queens Acre housing development, but, then again, perhaps, he thought we were "staff"?
Wednesday 12th October 2016
It would appear, the bright sunny weather has come to an end, cloudy with showers this morning. Gary drives along to bid us farewell and safe journey. We arrive home late afternoon, after an uneventful journey. The garden is pleasantly tidy, thanks to Phillippa and Claire's efforts, it is so nice, NOT, to return to an out of control garden! The journey, overall.
Our Ferry is 6:00am, with check-in 5:00am, and about 20 minutes drive to the Port, from the
Gravelines Aire, so, needless to say, it is dark and cold, given the time of morning, to make matters more unpleasant, it is raining, not continually, but, a series of heavy showers. Amazingly, at such an early hour, the ferry is very crowded, lots of buses, each of course with 50-60 passengers.
A wet arrival in Dover, at 7:15 UK time. Reasonably light traffic, but,pouring rain, most of the way to Rainham in Kent.
But, the sun shines, as we arrive at Chez Brian and Linda, for breakfast.
Gravelines to Rainham, in video. After breakfast, a catch up chat, and a brief tour of Brian's new toy (Smart Car to tow behind campervan), we travel around the M25 to Queens Acre, Windsor, for a nice welcome from Celeste, the owner. Once settled in, we cycle the 1.5 miles to Gary and Susana's for our Gabriel and Salma fix.
