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Wednesday, 28th March 2018
A bright an sunny start to the day.
It is decided that we will move on, and ensure we are settled for Easter, which is in two days time.
An easy 120 miles to St Aygulf, near Frejus, with the intention of staying at Le Jardins de Mai Tai, St Aygulf (N43 24'37" E6 42'29"). We arrive shortly after noon, expecting to find reception closed for lunch. It is worse than that, the site is closed. It would appear that "the planner" (no names mentioned), has omitted to check the site opening times. It will not be open until 1st April, which is four days away.
The campsite book is checked again, the only site we can find, reasonably nearby, and, open is Flower Camping, Frejus (N43 27'50" E6 43'28"). It would appear this site has only two things going for it. (a) it is open (b) the lady on Reception is helpful. I do not think we will be staying here for long. The site is, shall we say, shabby and untidy. Pitches are far from level, and, there are many very muddy sections, which have to be avoided, or risk becoming bogged down in the mud. Worse still, the site appears to be a long way from any shopping facilities, and, we have no wine!
Well, life cannot be all fun, I suppose.
Looking on the bright side, it is sunny and warm (17C).
Once parked and level, Kathleen gets busy with the campsite book, Les Mures, Grimaud (N43 17'2" E6 35'30"), near Grimaud, it would appear is open. A quick phone call to confirm this, also, to confirm they have spaces. A positive response to both, so, it would appear we will be heading there tomorrow.
Thursday, 29th March 2018 Les Mures, Grimaud (N43 17'2" E6 35'30")
A short drive to Les Mures, Grimaud (N43 17'2" E6 35'30") after yesterdays phone call, telling us there were hundreds of spaces, we are surprised to be offered a choice of only about 10 spaces!
We have the option of going on the "beach side" of the site, or on the "inland side". We opt for the "inland side" since it appears to be less crowded.
No problem, we are soon parked on a pleasant pitch, which even has a view of the sea, through the trees.
The reason for the reduction in the number of spaces soon becomes apparent, when there is an influx of Italian Motorhomes and Caravans. There are dozens of them.
The weather is even better than we have had so far, sunny and 19C, sitting at a bar drinking beer weather, after a cycle ride of course.
Once settled, we have a cycle along the coast to St Maxime (just under ten miles, there and back on a cycle track, mostly flat), yes, to check out Church times and whereabouts. We also have a failed attempt to find the nearest supermarket, and, in the evening, a walk into Port Grimaud, again, to check out Church times and whereabouts. If it should turn out that I am wrong, and the Catholics are right, I just have to get "in" on a "bye"!
Monday 26th March 2018
Clear blue sky, sun shining, 17C.
We decide to go for a bicycle ride.
Kathleen had previously obtained a map of local cycle rides, from reception, so, today, we decide to "do" the shortest (approximately 12miles, 15km) and simplest on the list.
The campsite must be sheltered, because, once underway, we have a very strong headwind, blowing from the North.
Undeterred, we reach Maillane, a typical French village, little more than a cluster of houses, but, it manages to support two cafe/bars, and a Pharmacy (possibly more that we do not see), how does it work?
A pause for refreshments, Kathleen decides on a healthy non-alcoholic option, freshly squeezed orange juice.
It is Kathleen's turn to pay, and, the orange juice is 7Euro, I suspect she will be on the beer from now on, at least when it is her round!
The wind is behind us, on the return leg, and, we find a dedicated cycle track, which does not appear to be on our map, but, which brings us back to St Remy-de-Provence, and, passes an Aldi store, where
we are able to buy forgotten ingredients, for this evening's meal.
The EHU on this site is "only" 6amps, so far, we have managed to "trip" the power twice.
This afternoon, Kathleen begins a "hair-care" frenzy, wielding 2kw hairdryer.
Something tells me, this is not going to end well.
If we have managed to "trip" the EHU with a 1kw electric fire, a 2kw hairdryer does not seem a sensible option.
I am frequently "got at" for bringing things along "just in case". If the hair dryer is to be used, "in the facilities", a Continental two pin to UK three pin adaptor will be required. Kathleen does not have one in her "hair care" bag (which is as big as a small suitcase. Fortunately, I have one in my box of "useful bits". For this, great gratitude is shown. Actually, I made that last bit up.
Kathleen retires to "the facilities" to plug in. None of the electrical sockets in the "facilities" appear capable of driving the 2kw hairdryer, so, she is reduced to using the supplied hairdryer, which, to me, does a perfectly good job.
After several weeks of not being used, the battery on my action camera does not appear to be to healthy, so, we have only a short section of our ride, recorded for posterity.
Tuesday, 27th March 2018
Warm (17C) and sunny, but, cloudy with light showers in the afternoon.
After yesterdays cycling exertions, today, we do walking. Just under 5 miles, taking in two supermarkets (Aldi and Intermarche). on the return journey, I have a small rucksack full of groceries on my back and, a carrier bag full of groceries, I feel like I am on a route march!
Friday, 23rd March 2018
Dry but dull this morning at Tain-L'Hermitage.
Time to move on, 120 miles further south, mostly easy going, except for Orange, where the N7 takes you right through the middle of town, and, there are major road works!
We stop off for lunch, but, still arrive at St Remy-de-Provence, Le Parc de la Bastide (N43 47'24" E4 50'39"), during the French "lunch hour". We are told to go and find ourselves a pitch and come back "after 15:00, or, maybe, after 17:00, to sort out the formalities", the French know how to do "laid back".
Le Parc de la Bastide, is an ACSI site, 17Euro/night, including "free" WiFi, EHU.
Taking a leaf out of the French Book, we laze around in the sunshine, drinking beer and doing absolutely nothing!
Saturday, 24th March 2018
Cloudy and a cool 6C this morning, but, the forecast promises better things, 15C and some sunshine.
The site is not the tidiest we have ever been on, but, everything appears to work, is clean, and water is hot!
As the photograph shows, it is not exactly busy, perhaps about 20-25 vans here, but, it is quite a large site.
Sunday, 25th March 2018
A cloudy start, but, mid-morning, the cloud breaks and warm and sunny.
Kathleen on church attendance duty, so, I explore, checking vital things, like, where to eat at lunch time and where is the Supermarket.
Lunch at Bistrot de Alpilles, and very enjoyable it was too.
Tuesday, 20th March 2018
A bright, sunny morning in Chateau Thierry, but, at 0C, not very warm!
A leisurely 180 miles to Autun, with stops for food (and wine) shopping, lunch, and coffee.
A good mix of fast dual carriageway, and scenic "N" and "D" roads, all, delightfully empty of traffic!
The Aire at Autun (N46 57'19" E4 18'40") has toilets, and a service point (free, except for water and electricity, for these you have to buy a token, 3.50Euro, from the garage opposite). One downside is, who ever decided to make a motorhome Aire here, clearly did not actually use a Motorhome! the parking area is far from level.
There are restaurants, including a McDonalds, for wifi just across the road from the Aire, but, at the time of our visit, the McDonalds is closed for refurbishment.
The Aire at Autun is located beside a lake and leisure facilities, not that any of them are open when we arrive in March!
Autun is an interesting town, with many Roman remains, plus, a good selection of restaurants, cafes etc.
We have the company of one other van (German), overnight, and two "callers" who use the service point and leave.
Wednesday, 21st March 2018 - Thursday, 22nd March 2018
Very cold overnight, -4C, according to Kathleen, who keeps a careful eye on the temperature! The heating in the van kept us comfortably warm.
Brilliantly sunny morning, with temperatures of 7C on the forecast for today.
Another 180 miles south, to Tain-l'Hermitage, Municipal les Lacs (N45 4' 0' E4 51'6"). This a quite small, but pleasant, ACSI site, on the banks of the River Rhone.
During the day, as we drive, temperatures even reach double figures, just, at 10C.
When we arrive, it is about half full.
This site is clearly a "stop-over" on the way North or South, since, next morning, everyone except ourselves and two others, are up and away by 09:00.
It is a bright sunny morning, so, we decide to have a rest from the driving and linger here another day.
After almost a week of inactivity, we spend the day walking along the banks of the Rhone, into Tain-L'Hermitage and, across the pedestrian bridge to Tournon-sur-Rhone, watching the boats go by, and, generally enjoying the fresh air.
Followed by a period of "chilling" for Kathleen, and, washing 800 miles of road dirt off the van, for me. Well, Kathleen did
help a little.
Monday, 19th March 2018
Up at 05:00 and outside rolling up our EHU cable, which has frozen into the snow and slush, overnight. Freezing cold wind, is blowing, with flurries of snow, who says a Motorhome is not fun?
Drive the few miles to the Channel Tunnel terminal, check in smoothly and board the 06:20 shuttle, with virtually no waiting.
Straight off the train and heading for an Aire at Chateau Thierry. (N49 2'14" E3 22'60") via Lille, about two hundred and twenty miles away.
A stop for breakfast, and another for coffee, and we arrive mid-afternoon.
Our coffee stop is at another Aire, Aire de Riqueval, (N49 57'6" E3 14'10"), it is just off the D1044, but, quiet nevertheless. There are two dedicated Motorhome parking spaces, service point, and refuse disposal.
No sign of any mechanism to pay, and, no signs saying payment is necessary, so, I assume it is free (except water and electricity).
There is also a Museum, which appears to be dedicated to barges used to tow cargoes on the canals.
Chateau Thierry is still in fine shape, although the touch screen at the entry barrier could be more sensitive, it requires a "finger stab" rather than a "touch"!
Weather, no snow (unlike the UK), but bitterly cold, 1C as we leave Calais, falling to -2C as we move inland, by the time we are as far south as Chateau Thierry, it is back at 1C, but, dry and bright!
Sunday 18th March 2018
Last night, before going to bed, we noticed that snow was falling.
We wake up on Sunday morning to find 3 inches (7cm) of lying snow!
Kathleen has plans to do her "church duties" at the Catholic Church in the Hight Street, but, although she, heroically, makes two forays out, into the snow, there is to be no Mass this morning.
The Priest is "snowbound" in Winchester.
Looks as if his parishioners will be having a "snow day", today.
Approximately 140 miles to Black Horse Farm CAMC Site (N51 7'57" E1 9'31"), near Dover, and approximately 5 miles from the Tunnel.
The snow is not as deep in Kent, but, it is still falling steadily enough to make connecting up to EHU positively unpleasant.
A visit to Victoria and Graham's first house they have owned together, for a "last night as a "Reay", for Victoria.
Saturday, and we head off to Winchester, for the wedding ceremony. The Sat-Nav falls victim to Winchester's one-way system and parking problems, leaving the ladies with a longer walk than they were happy with.
Victoria and Graham's wedding ceremony proceeds without a hitch, and we are head off to the Greyhound on the Test for food, drink and dancing (for the "young ones").
