Europe 2018 14, 15, 16

Vauvert, Flower campsite after 3 nights at holiday campsite decided to head up the coast and then start making our way home. Ended up at a site we had stayed at before and really enjoyed. It is just very relaxed no hassles chilled out site. Full of Dutch, no bad thing.

Stopped for one night and stayed 3, went to vauvert town on the Tuesday to pick up some vape stuff and 2 gel pads for our saddles. Next day went to the cave and then rode through the commune of Gallician to the Camargue, smelly marsh lands basically but lots of birds etc….

[geolocation]

Europe 2018, 11,12 & 13

Left site dreading village but as no oncoming traffic or parked cars it was easy. I wanted see if we could get some better leg supports for our chairs having seen a chap at Auch using some. On Google I found that Narbonne Acessories where just around the corner and from their website seemed to stock everything. Although I the wrong direction it was only a small detour. It is a great shop, lots of stuff, we ended up buying 2 chairs, 2 leg supports and a folding brush 260 euros.

We then set out to the site I had found that looked ok with a pool, restaurant, voi verte nearby, and access to the sea. Camping Village Il Floride, ACSI so booked in for 3 nights.

Choice of pitches but all on top of each other, good hedges but it was all a bit cramped, once setup we enjoyed the pitch and the site.

Good shade and good morning sun, made great use of the lounger chairs etc…

Sat cycled down the voi verte and stopped off for a beer and coffee.

Sunday went to the market, bought take away tea, used the pool, ok, pad Thai, chicken curry and rice.

Monday left.

Pros, great for families

Cons, noisy till 2am night clubs, no motor home service point , they will argue this saying they have one but it is inaccessible to all but the campervan. Would not return, should have left on Sunday.

Europe 2018,9

Awoke about 8:30, Jacqui was not at her best so found Angela and had a coffee. Again loads of chat eventually left about 11:30 as Angela was going to pick up her youngest Josh from school. We left and decided to head for Such, not far only an hours and a half.

Pitched up at the Aire, 8.75 euros, for pitch, water and waste very easy all automatic. We blazed in the sun and then wandered into Such to eat, but way too early, the church had closed so had a coffee and beer and headed back for a tea of bread and cheese.

A good spot.

Europe 2018, 7

Took awning in last night as it felt it was going to thunder,but no, so this am out it out again, supposed to be warmer today but on the whole felt the same. By 12 it was clear and blue skies so a wander in to the village centre nothing open.

We popped to the inetrmarche for some items, will pick up beer and wine tomorrow in the way out.

Back to van read for a bit then pool relaxing a catching up on social media.

Still undecided as to what to do after Weds, if now news then will carry on to Spain.

Prepare food for a chicken stir fry with rice and a lot of veg. Jacqui will be pleased as she can now buy some more.

We discovered that 3 tablespoons make enough coffee for 2 mugs.

Europe 2018, 6

Awoke to rain, cloudy but warm so when the rain stopped about 10, we are up bikes, had a great strong coffee, and set off about 12.

Headed to Chateau Villandraut, which should have been 6k was 7miles at the end was a cafe Le Medivale. I had a biere Ambre Fischer, Jacqui a Vin Route, grilled entrecote moyen, Jacqui Condit du Canard, cafe Gourmnad dessert and a profiteroles for Jacqui. All in all very nice . Cycled back very hot at the van 32 in the shade, so headed for the pool had a dip and then beer, wine, reacher, cheese, bread, ice, bed.

Europe 2018, 5

Awoke to discover that most had already left the site, we packed up paid our 4 euros, and moved to the unique service point. Lots of levers and slots, but all worked well and obvious what to do.

Then headed off the short route this time, decided to head south and see where we where around lunch time. Used the Auto route around Poitiers, this saved time initially but misunderstood the junction numbering so missed J29 and J30 so took J31 all in all about 90km, Peage initially came up with class 3, 18 euro, pressed button to speak took awhile to connect but ‘je suis une camping car…’ bingo class 2, 12 euro, very pleased.

Stopped for some lunch, decided to headed for ASCI site at Saint Justin, then changed mind and headed for

Camping Vert Bord’Eau
https://www.campercontact.com/en/frankrijk/aquitaine-24-33-40-47-64-/saint-symphorien/55430/camping-vert-bord-eau

When arrived no one atbtge reception waited no one arrived other than 2 French couples eventually tried calling but dialled wrong so no answer, the French lady tried and got through, we got the code and setup electric and water all nearby, pool, restaurant closed but it’s ok, very hot, 32 in the shade.

Had a take away pizza from across the road. More Reacher and a glass of wine.

Europe 2018, 4

Moved on from Versailles, it started raining so good decision, due to the road works and tarmac lorries the main route out was blocked so we turned right expecting to reach Ave de Versailles and turn up to the palace and out to the main road away from Paris. The Sat nav told us to go right towards Paris, it was a interesting route and we skirted the periphic.

Cracked avoiding tolls so a tedious drive but much better eventually reached Chartres and the N10 a good road and easy enough stopped just before tours for lunch and then decided to stop after tours at a shop for fuel and some bread.

An intermarche at Ste. Maure de Touraine provided fuel, whisky and bread. Checked out Campercontact and found a few on the route one very nearby, so headed off as we took the route it began to ring a few bells as we turned in realised we had been before Le Bois Chaudron. 2years ago with Geza, for the vet, Geza was ill all night and the next day we ended going to the vet in Gace.

4euro for the night no electric and no rubbish bins, but pleasant and a convenient stop it seems as we have used it twice.

Good nights sleep.

Europe 2018, 3 Versailles

Up, toast and set off at 9am walking to Versailles, as soon as we started the moistness increased to drizzle, but soon dry up. Arrived at the palace gates at about 9:45, had a wander around and admired the queue length thinking it was quite long.

At about 10:15 we went to the North Ministry Building and were shown to a comfortable waiting room and given a headset to hear our guide. Mkstnother in the tour were US. Tour started well although the outside bit was cut a little short due to slightly heavier drizzle, so we bypassed all the queues and enter via a locked door, great!

The tour it self lasted 1.5 hrs and was good well worth the 10euro. When it finished we head to the hall of mirrors which was impressive and the official bed chambers as opposed to the private ones we had seen in to tour. After all that we eventually found a cafe for a mediocre cafe and Baguette Jambon. Wandered round the gardens eventually but not quite reaching the Grand Chateau Trianon, had an ice cream.

Walked back in all 16000 steps, 7.5 miles so earned a beer.

Decided to head on tomorrow had considered another day here or in Paris but weather not brilliant not bad but not pool time. So will head on down as far as we can go deciding at lunchtime where to stop over, then in Sat head to about 2 hrs from Angela so that we can have a rest before meeting up and enjoy the hot weather.

Europe 2018, 2

Woke early thanks to the church bells, cockerels, the dog, the tractors and the birds. Managed to get back to sleep and reawoke at 8:30.

Jacqui apparently had a slightly fitful night due to a aching back. Carla eaten decided to explore saint Said a, turns out it has a boulangerie but we had no money. So back to van and set off for Versailles Huttopia Camp site.

Stopped at superU for fuel 1.45, cash, wine, cheese, whisky and 2 pastries. Had to persuade Jacqui to only buy 3l not 5l as it maybe crap wine! It was rain not moist at this point.

Stopped for a coffee and sandwich at a crap services, nice sandwich and ok coffee.

Arrived at Versailles campsite allocated pitch 150, but we just could not get level with and without blocks. Spoke to office and offered 2 pitches 137 and one that turns do It to be inaccessible, so went for 137, quite happy with it, small at best but we can get vaguely level and we are comfortable?

Diner of pizza and salad, red wine and a beer. Met a couple of UK couples one caravan, one van.

The site is ok and on Asci at 19euro is not bad better than the 36 without, booked for 2 nights as Versailles tomorrow, we stay a 3rd and head to Paris on Friday undecided. It is mix of tents, chalets, pods, vans and caravans lots of tall trees ?. Pool seems ok, weather nice 24/25 bit cloudy. Will walk in tomorrow and see how we feel about a 3rd night if not possible then cest la vie.

Camping Huttopia Versailles
https://www.campercontact.com/en/frankrijk/ile-de-france-75-77-78-91-92-93-94-95-/versailles/41411/camping-huttopia-versailles

Arranged to meet Angela Duffel on the 11th for a stopover, could be a laugh.

Europe 2018, 1

Packed van yesterday, but needless to say last minutes preps to us awhile.

Last night the camera in the conservatory failed, after resets and switching on off we decided to return, printed slip and all boxed ready for the post office this morning.

Continue reading “Europe 2018, 1”