France Tour 2
FRANCE SEPTEMBER 2016
Saint Aignan
Mon 26th September
Sat 10th sept
Left sat am for Ferry over at 12pm smooth crossing and no problems in Calais, first stop Honfleur aire @€11. Chocker block
Tues 13th sept
Run down to Arromanches can’t get on the aire in centre so park on the top near 360 cinema around lunchtime and walk into town (not bad for me). €6 for 24 hrs. But guy came round at 9 and we paid again as i didn't realise we had paid for 24 hrs
Wed 14th sept
Go down to Bayeux and do the tapestry and have lunch then down to Granville € 9.10 for the aire, nice views,
Granville
Thurs 15th Sept
had a walk round town then got lunch and as it was raining moved on to Mont st Michel €12 for 24 hours at a new aire at Beauvoir including leccy and Wi-Fi and a 3 mile walk into the Mont or a mile or so for the shuttle bus.
Fri 16th sept
Tour of the Mont and even climbed to the top. Then we stayed another night, it was raining quite heavy in the night but dried out in the day.
Sat 17th sept
Down to Dinan arrive at 6.30 parking was 50 cents for first 30 mins then 80 cents for 2 hours after that and no pay between 12-2 pm. Sounds complicated but when you sus it out it wasn’t expensive. There was a marathon on so the place was mad busy and we only just got parked before the start. Went for a walk and ended up with the marathon coming at us on the riverside walk then near the end of the walk a runner had had a heart attack and they were frantically trying to save him , we walked on and I ended up directing ambulances and police to the scene.
Sun 18th September
Had a tour of Dinan, very hilly but nice views and an old French village /port. No charge for Sunday but ended up moving on in the afternoon to a little village called St Aignan nice aire and free.
Monday 19th September
Set off for Steve Smiths (an old friend from work) Le Manoir de Kerdevan, spent 4 hours here chatting and having a look around then left about 6ish and found an aire at Plougastel again free and it’s just an overnighter.
Tues 20th September
Set of for a bit of shopping and a look at motorhome dealer for toilet fluid then found I hadn’t put the waste pipe back up and it had ripped the tap off so spent hours trying to find it and replacing it but sorted in the end with a few bits from a plumber/builders merchants so then set off in the direction of Brest. Found a nice spot just past Brest called Plougonvelin €6 a night with leccy and toilets and showers on site . Right on the coast and a short walk to the beach (even had a paddle) paid for 2 nights so here until Thurs.
Wed 21 September
Wander into town twice = 4 mile and a stroll round the fort. Small winery on the way to town so bought some more wine
Thur 22 September
Left to go to top of peninsular on a new aire by a campsite at Kerlouan. Did washing at Intermarche before we got there, Campsite aire is €8 for 24 hr +3.5 for electric pay by card at the barrier. Very close to nice beach and there are loads of massive rocks and a bit of heritage here.
Fri 23rd September
Off to Brest stopped on harbour at Port de Pleasance near aquarium which also had motorhome parking also both free and services on road. also free, a French van gave us a bus pass so spent the day in Brest.
Sat 24th September
Drove down to Pont L’abbe had a look round but ended up going to Concarnou a nice walled town a bit like Mont Michel only flat, the aire was €6 overnight.
Pont L'Abbe
Sun 25th September
A walk into town in the morning then on to Carnac a look at the beach (no parking there ) and then on to the free aire and have a look at the stones.
Mon 26th September
On to La Baule, had a look at the aire near marina its €15 a night so not stopping there, plus they were only parking places and not near town. Went on to Pornichet and found an aire in between there and St Nazire, free and across rd from a beautiful beach (nudist beach and guys meeting place on park at back of aire) Plage des Jaunais.
Tues 27th sept
Raining so a drive down to La Rochelle , bad run due to road closures but eventually arrive about 5pm at car park by the park and five minutes to town , free aire , have a walk into harbour .
Wed 28th September
Move from the park as it did have motorhome restriction signs and the tourist office directed us to the park and ride Jean Moulin €12 for 24 hours with free services and free shuttle bus into town . A day in town and found an Irish bar with a 4-8 happy hour so it was many drinks and then a burger and chips about 9 in a nearby little café.
Thur 29th September
Another day in town after a late start and a walk round the beach and Animal Park.
Fri 30th September
Early start and after a shopping trip we are off to Oradour sur glane. Arrive mid afternoon and have a bit of a walk round the ruins and the cemetery. Very sombre place.
Sat 1st October
Another walk round the Martyr Village and the visitors centre and then as it’s raining we set off for Bourges arriving late as we tried a few Shopping Centres looking for launderette (no luck). Aire is full of tenters and travellers/hippies but we are only here for the night .
Sun 2nd October
A stroll round Bourges, nice cathedral and there is a massive market on so have a look round that and then it’s off to Auxerre with a stop at an Intermarche to do the washing. Arrive at 5.30 and there is a festival on starting at 8 in the morning so the car park will be closed so we have to be away by 8 in the morning. Free parking and overnight but no services have a wander about couple of nice churches and park is by the marina so nice views, the town itself is rather dingy and not very impressive.
Auxerre
Mon 3rd October
Off to champagne trail a look round Chalons en Champagne then it’s over to a free air on the river at Mareuil Sur Ay. Had a wander round the village and surrounding area.
Tues 4th October
Had a look at another free aire close by at Mutigny with fantastic views over the area. Its then across to Stenay the aire here is €8 but has showers toilets and electricity and is on the canal. Had a wander into town but not a lot there (and I have been before). But the aire is worth a stop.
Wed 5th October
Now we are on our way to Luxembourg with the intention of stopping at a Stelpatz on the bottom of the Mosel at Palzam but couldn’t find it so ended up carrying on and going to the aire at Trier €9.20 for 24hrs. Had a walk into Trier and went for a nice meal (our first proper restaurant) and as it was about 4k back we got a cab at €15 but saved walking after a big meal.
Thur 6th October
Now over to Luxembourg and a new aire just on the outskirts at Dudelange, It’s a free aire 7 van with all services free and there are 2 electric points though not yet working. Had a walk into town and sussed the trains to the city out.
Fri 7th October
Got the train €4 for a 24 hr pass which takes you anywhere in Luxembourg includes all transport. Had to change at Bettembourg then got a bus to the D’coque centre to check it out for going to the darts open on the Saturday and also did the museum in town went for lunch and walked miles round the shops.
Sat 8th October
Into Luxembourg again this time for the darts open, great day out and even better as my old mate Darryl Fitton (the dazzler) won it and Deta Hedman won the women’s. Went for a meal in Luxembourg at the nigh time with Daz, Deta and a few more from the open, but then had to chase back for the last train to Dudelange.
Sun 9th October
Left Luxembourg for a trip down to Bruges as Fran was ill last year and didn’t get to see it , arrive 4pm at the aire in town now €19 off peak for 24 hrs which is all we will be stopping and then over to Calais for the ferry on Tuesday morning.
Mon 10th Oct
Is a shopping day at Cite Europe and its raining quite hard so not going to venture further than the centre , ferry tues at 11.30 and as we arrived early they put us on the earlier ferry which was fairly quiet then it was home with a call at Protectavan at West Horden Brentwood for a couple of security bits fitted (lockable OBD cover and Hykee lock ) as i now have a fairly new Transit based van which they say is easier to thieve. Have never seen it this busy with camper vans in France before which could be with all the trouble in the French’s favourite haunts Morocco etc but on the trip up the M1 on the way home I don’t remember seeing any vans at all .
30 days
Mileage 2750
Averaging 28 mpg
Fuel /Cost €432+£84 fill before leaving home
Total cost for stopovers at aires /stelpatz €146 = €4.8 a night.
Wine €??????
no campsites used
washing done at Intermarche supermarkets while shopping and buying wine.
not including food, eating out or entry to places we visited.
No comments:
Post a Comment