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).
Sunday, 14th February 2016 We have a new grand-daughter, Salma, born 1st February 2016.
Salma lives in Windsor, with parents, Gary and Susana, and older brother Gabriel.
For some reason, there is a lack of campsites in the immediate area around Windsor. At this time of year (February) in the UK, we would not consider anywhere without EHU, no point in freezing!
I do find two small, CL type sites, (Newtonside Orchard Campsite, Old Windsor) including one which Gary had also noticed, very close to where they live (Queens Acre Caravan Site, a C&CC Certified Site).
Unfortunately, both were full, even the "full size" C&CC site at Chertsey is showing on the website as being fully booked. Fortunately, we do manage to get in there. The perils of half-term!
The journey South is uneventful, and reasonably pleasant, except for the interminable roadworks and speed restrictions on the M1. Monday 15th February 2016 A bitterly cold day, with heavy frost in the morning. It is quite possible to take the bus to Windsor, from Chertsey, but, Gary and Gabriel come in the car to give us a lift, which is very thoughtful and kind of them.
The day is spent admiring, nursing and generally fussing over the new arrival, Salma, and, why not indeed, she is a little beauty.
Tuesday 16th February 2016
A visit to the Royal Horticultural Societies Gardens at Wisley, with Gary and Gabriel. Plenty of things to keep Gabriel amused, especially throwing stones onto the ice of the many ornamental ponds. For the "grown-ups" a very pleasant lunch. We do actually have a shrub similar to this one in our garden at home, I do hope it does not grow as large as this one! At this time of year, when it is cold outside, and, most plants are not at their best, the moth and butterfly house is a warm attraction. Kathleen given the choice between walking in a cold garden and overcoming her dislike of moths to walk in
the tropical warmth of the moth and butterfly house, chose the latter!
Wednesday 17th February 2016 We make the journey to Windsor by bus, and meet up with Gary, Susana, Gabriel and Salma. Salma is off to have her passport photograph taken, at only 17 days old. She is clearly destined to be a globe trotter, like the well travelled Gabriel
We head off to visit Windsor Castle, with Gabriel. No photographs are allowed inside, although how they enforce this rule in this age of mobile phones with cameras, is anyone's guess. Gabriel is impressed with the numerous exhibits of swords, guns, various other weapons and suits of armour, but, not so interested in the rooms and rooms of portraits and antique furniture. After a pleasant meal back at Gary and Susana's, we head back to Chertsey on the bus. As is often the case, we find that travelling in a strange area, in the dark, has it's pit falls. At Staines, we are too late to spot the bus-stop we should get off at to catch the connecting bus to Chertsey. Not too much of a hardship, we travel on to Staines bus-station so, no harm done.
Thursday 18th February 2016 Dry and cold today, another bus ride to Windsor, to spend our final day of this visit with Gabriel and Salma (Gary, Susana and Susana's mother will be there too of course!). Friday 19th February 2016
A pleasant drive home, subject only to the inevitable roadworks on the M1.
Sunday, January 10th 2016 The pending arrival of a new Grand-daughter, this month, means we are not heading for the Spain and the sunshine, this month. However, since we are both suffering from "campervan withdrawal" symptoms, we decided on a few days away in the UK. Our initial thoughts were either Keswick or York.
Unfortunately, December 2015 has been exceptionally, wet and TV coverage has painted a picture of flooding and devastation in both places, indeed, Rowntree Park, the Caravan Club site near York Centre is closed due to flooding, and most of the roads in Cumbria appear to be impassable. A brief respite in the continual rainfall, for all of one day, convinces us to "go for it" and we head York, Beechwood Grange Caravan Club Site. Monday, January 11th 2016 Second, or is it third day, without rain, but, it is freezing cold. You cannot have everything, I suppose. We decide to visit York. There is a "Park and Ride" at Monks Cross, but, it is decided it is too far to walk to. Technology comes to the rescue, and, Google informs me we can catch a bus from a Hopgrove to York.
Quite why there would be a bus-stop at this location is a mystery, it is a good ten minutes walk outside of the village, with just four houses nearby. But, Google knows best, and a number 843 bus for Leeds, via York arrives, spot on 10:29, just as Google said it would. At this stage, we do not know it, but, we have walked at least as far to this bus stop as we would have to Monks Cross Park and Ride and Shopping Park, since the major part of our time in York is to be spent "in the shops", one may ask, why not just go to Monks Cross? But, I have more sense than to ask such questions.
If anything, it is even colder in York City Centre than it is "out in the countryside". After a brief stroll through The Shambles taking in The Shambles Market, we decide on a bit of culture, ie a visit to York Minister, thankfully, it is heated! We obtain our Concession entry tickets for a paltry £18, the bonus is, they are valid for a year, as many visits as we like. To be fair, there is a lot to see in this magnificent building, and, soon, we find we are running out of time, lunch beckons. A pleasant Tea Room, in The Shambles, provides a very pleasant lunch. Pleasantries over, we hit the shops, as usual, I fail to understand the female mind, we have exactly the same stores in Newcastle, selling exactly the same things, so, why visit the York branches of the same stores? Tuesday, 12th January 2016 A visit to Monks Cross Retail Park, more shops! Kathleen finds more things should would like for her birthday, while I join the other husbands "parked" outside of the Changing Rooms, whilst potential purchases are "tried on". Lunch, then home. Despite the media coverage, we see no sign of the floods, not so much as a discarded sandbag.
Thursday, 8th October 2015 Weather exactly as forecast, cloudy, but mild at 15C. Today we are heading to an Aire at Le Cateau-Cambresis (N 50.10206, E 3.55513). Not exactly the most scenic journey, as we make our way North and West, staying well away from Paris. In fact, I think the nearest we get to scenery are the striking Autumn colours or the trees by the roadside. We pass the great cathedral city of Reims, passing more or less through the centre, but the closest we get to the famous Cathedral is in the far distance, probably not even visible, in the gap between the avenue of trees.
There is something about this road which makes me think, it must have originally been laid out by the Romans, as it goes straight as an arrow across the undulating countryside. It is almost impossible to pass through this part of France, without seeing reminders of WW1, we pass several World War 1, military cemetaries, this area was obviously hard fought over.
Le Cateau Cambresis was presumably "at the thick of it" at that time, there is a military cemetary, to the left of the road, at the entrance to the town. The font of all knowledge, ie Google (not Kathleen, in this instance), tells me, over 500 UK soldiers, from WW1, are buried there.
We have been to Le Cateau Cambresis several times in the past. We have been to the Aire at Le Cateau Cambresis several times in the past. Like most places, it has it's good points and bad points: Good points, It is within easy driving distance (approximately 100 miles) of Calais / Dunkirk, mostly on free motorway. There are four free EHU hook-ups. The campervan service point is free, indeed, the whole thing is free. There is a Lidl two minutes walk away. Not so good points. It is near a fairly busy road, so, a bit of traffic noise, but, quiet overnight. The town is depressing, clearly it has once been a thriving busy place, now, it is a sort of French version of Hebburn. Friday 9th, October 2015 A very cold start to the day, only 5C, but, it feels colder! As the day progresses, and we draw nearer to the coast at Dunkirk, the sun comes out and temperatures rise to an acceptable 16C. A late start, and, a relaxed drive, of approximately 100 miles, to Gravelines, arriving at about 17:00. We discover there is a good Commercial Centre at Caudry, just a few miles along the road toward Cambrai, from Le Cateau Cambresis, with a large LeClerc supermarket, good for final wine and gin top up, and diesel of course. Saturday 10th, October 2015 A dark and foggy departure from Gravelines. To Dover, not an illegal immigrant in sight. Thanks to queues at UK Passport Control, even at 6:15am!, we miss our 6:45am ferry, and are put on the 7:45am. A stop at Retford for lunch, and then home.
Tuesday, 6th October 2015 It has poured with rain all night, still pouring down this morning. The only upside is, it is not cold! There is no sign of this clearing anytime soon. Just as well we plan to leave today! We are heading for Chalons-en-Champagne, just over 100 miles north. In addition to wondering how I am going to do the "outside bits", without getting soaked, I am also wondering, are we going to be able to get off this grass pitch, which is well and truly soaking wet, with puddles beginning to form. The good news is, with a bit of thought, we able to get off the pitch with little difficulty.
The bad news is, no sooner are we on our way, still in the pouring rain, and we encounter our THIRD "route barre" of this trip! We are diverted along a small road, on a five mile detour, before we rejoin the main road. The two bright spots are: - the signposting is good! - we do not meet any large vehicles coming the other way! Excitement over, we arrive at Camping de Chalons-En-Champagne, the rain has even stopped. We find our English caravanner neighbours, from Montbard, Janice and Clive, have just arrived, after negotiating the same 5 mile diversion as ourselves, with their rather large caravan. For a change, the UK vans are in the majority!
Wednesday, 7th October 2015 The rain has stopped, mild and cloudy, but, also windy, so, no cycling today. A walk into Chalons-en-Champagne. Kathleen will not do the scenic route, along the canal, on the basis "we do not know the way", no sense of adventure! But, I win on the way back, and we return via the canal, to make a 5.5 mile walk, with lunch in Chalons-en-Champagne.
Sunday 4th October 2015 Overnight rain, cloudy and damp morning, clouds breaking up and sunshine by mid-afternoon (21C). Fortunately for Kathleen, she had done "the church bit", Saturday evening, so, no need to walk to church in the rain this morning! We manage to have a pleasant 4.5 mile stroll and explore of Montbard. The Canal de Bourgogne, runs through the town, with a manually operated lock. By chance, there is a boat passing through the lock, what appears to be a lot of hard work for the female lock keeper, first closing one set of lock gates by hand, by operating a huge lever (Archimedes would have been proud), then manually opening the sluices to allow the lock to flood, then manually opening the other set of lock gates, to allow the boat out. In the town, we come across this antique (?) shop, which appears to specialise in nothing but fireman's helmets.
Monday, 5th October 2015. Overnight rain. The weather forecast says, cloud with sunshine 20C in the morning, showers from 15:00, turning to steady rain by 16:00. That is almost exactly what happens, except, showers started at 14:00, and turned to steady rain almost immediately after that.. Time enough to fit in our 13 mile cycle ride, along the Canal de Bourgogne. The plan was to cycle to Abbe Fontaines, but, the cycle track in that direction is being resurfaced. The temporary surface is loose gravel, which made hard work for bicycling. We did not quite make the Abbe, next year perhaps? Back to the van for lunch, followed by the most critical task of the whole trip. I am "on duty" to dye Kathleen's hair. Kathleen is the most impatient person imaginable, so, the part of the hair dying process I enjoy the most, is the part where the lotion has been applied and you have to wait for 15 minutes!
Saturday 3rd October 2015 Sadly, we have to begin thinking about making our way nearer to Calais, our ferry is a week today, early in the morning, if we are to avoid any long driving days.
Looks like another good day in prospect, as we leave Autun, for Mountbard, just over 50 miles north of here.
When we arrive at the campsite at Montbard (Municipal de Montbard, Les Treilles), it looks excellent. Very few people here. Weather is beautiful, sunny 21C, but, the forecast does promise some cloud later this afternoon. The helpful receptionist at the campsite gives Kathleen a town map, plus details of mass times this evening and tomorrow. After lunch, two immediate chores to do, Find a shop to buy something for this evening, find the church(es) for Kathleen. Below, is the view from "Eglise St Urse" We find the churches, St Pauls and St Urse (the French have saints I have never heard of!). St Urse, as you can see, is a particular challenge, up what feels like hundreds of steps, fortunately, for Kathleen, the Saturday evening mass is at St Pauls, so, no need to climb up to St Urse, twice.
Friday 2nd October 2015 Thank goodness, the sun is back, another warm (20C) and sunny day. After yesterdays lame excuse for sightseeing, we try again today. First to the market, in the town square. Kathleen manages to resist purchasing shoes and tea-towels, thus having enough money to by me a beer at lunch time. We explore the remains of the Roman Theatre, where, no doubt, had Kathleen been here 2000 years ago, she would, as a Christian, either have been sold as a slave, (pity the unfortunate buyer, trying to make her do as she is told), or thrown to the lions. Beside the ruins, there is a house, presumably built before plundering sites of historical interest was considered, not the done thing. It has original Roman Columns and statues incorporated in the fabric of the building.
Nearby is a large lake, with a Campervan Aire, on the shore.
Nearer to the campsite is this massive ruin, Temple of Janus, apparently. And, finally, an after evening meal cycle ride, to keep in trim.
