Jacqui & Neil PM
Met up with David, Bev, Dave, Lorraine,Liz and Robert. Nick was also parked up nearby.
Chris and Dawn Vickers from Frankia group also there with grand kids and friends.
Cycled round the lake missing out Hambleton again. Too wrong turn at Egleton.
Lovely weekend, great weather and good people.
@park4night : http://park4night.com/lieu/8468/Campsite Albufeira with a significant number of seats in the shade. WiFi only around the restaurant#prettyPhoto
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oke late, the only sounds all night were the crashing waves no dogs, cars or anything else. I think we got up at about 10:00.Bit overcast and only 17c but by 11:00 it was 18c so heading Inthe right direction. We decide bike ride not sure where. Whilst get sorted Jacqui slipped on the bottom step and fell over hurting her foot, bottom and arm. After a vigorous interrogation we decide a bike ride was just what she needed.The bikes proved easy to get out and setup, really pleased with them. Set off and found a cycled oath around the lake right on our campsite entrance so headed off away from town thinking we would head back and stop later.The lake was great, by now no clouds sunny and warm so just shorts, t-shirt and sandles. Scooted round the lake and then around the town stopping for a coffee and beer at a beach side cafe we had spotted the day before.Then headed off thinking to find somewhere open to eat, lots of places open but none appealed either no idea what the menu was or a bit too shabby or shadey or empty. Decide to head back to van for lunch, but passed Cannes III bar, looked inviting so stopped to make our day had a lateish lunch. The waiter described the weather as typical of Portugal, Autumn in the morning, Summer in the afternoon and Winter at night, it didn’t drop below 17 last night ?, this was prompted by us ordering a Green Wine , Vinho Verde with our lunch which is a summer drink ? dontcha know!!
Long drive, bit tedious but no tolls arrived in Luxembourg, on the outskirts of Luxembourg City, at Camping Kockelscheur. A golf course, gym, with A large site, 36 euros 2 nights, plan is to visit the city by bus tomorrow.
Saturday the bus is free, rained a little but over night but nothing major. Quick bus trip to the Hamilus stop, had a brief wander around the streets when Jacqui checked and had an email, saying the alarm had gone off. We had brief debate checked van location and it had not moved, so decided to leave it, Jacqui mentioned the moths and that put my kind at rest as could not work out what had set off the alarm.
We had a coffee and then looked at the sites to visit info, the only one that stood out was the Maudan Gallery of Modern art, it was a 35 mi walk (hahhaha). We set off and the skies brightened and it got hotter, followed the Vauban itinerie. The museum cost 8e entry for that we got a on entry badge, magnetic very clever. Saw some interesting art work and some crap. Sometimes you do feel that the artist(?) with the best spiel get the exhibition. The wind artist Sunsuma shingo was v.good and some his pieces were exceĺlent.
Afetre the museum we needed physical, sustenance so found the Yumm festival they had some food wagons and a jazz orchestra. We queued a long time for for a truffle burger it was very good but I wish Jacqui had had the tagliatelle which self divine. Walked back and caught free bus , not much for tea.
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]
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.
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.
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.
Left campsite on the Monday and decided as weather not good to make a run for Belgium and Ypres, weather supposed to improve and lots of cycling etc…
Managed to find a garage that did LPG and diesel so followed directions, arrived no LPG, filled up with diesel, it was a bit out of the way.
Journey easy again rain at the beginning but brightening as we left Antwerp, used R1 this time no toll!!
Walked into town
Combi light beers,
Beef bourginon, potatoes and carrots.
Tuesday
Big cycle ride, frontlines
Early dinner burger and stew with chips and beer.
Walked to last post and combi mix beer
Left Bruges, after emptying cassette then driving to coaching waste water spot, after emptying that paid 50euro for 2 nights, got paid ticket and approached exit. Had seen a lot of vans stuck at this point having to get assistance to get out, but all very easy in the end.
Our destination was about a 3 hours drive away via Antwerp, Rotterdam etc..
It rained which is good for a day of travel, again easy journey apart from Antwerp to go round it you can use R1 or R2, we used R2 which has a toll tunnel in it 19e !!!!
Got stuck off road in a tulip field, towed out by farmer friendly.
Incorrect pitch numbers
Walked into the village
Beef Bourgnon
Next day, cycled tour for tulip fields and beach,
Keukenhof gardens, Beach bar in Zandvoort.
Meal in the campsite restaurant.
Lots of rain overnight, bike rack light on in the morning.
Left at 10:30, heading towards Ypres.