Globetrotting Crates

We ended our trip in Cherbourg to catch the fast ferry to Portsmouth stopping off at a hyper market to pick up one or two bottles of wine. All good things come to an end, we had a great first big trip in Monica and are looking forward to many more - no disasters or incidents bar a few disagreements along the way! Our route took us from Dieppe - Chartres - Vendôme - Saumur - St Palais Sur Mer - Ars en Re - Falaise and St Vaast La Hogue. During the 19 day trip we covered just over 1000 miles, the ferry cost £328 and campsites cost approx £306 and we spent around £120 on diesel. We avoided toll roads. We spent rather a large amount on food as due to the inclement weather we ate out more than we had anticipated. Our next short trip is in July back to Wells to resume our curtailed visit.

The journey to Falaise in Normandy was fairly smooth although a long slog, taking almost 7 hours. We stayed at the Camping du Chateau just outside the town. It was cheap at 13€ per night but still work in progress with unfinished wash room facilities and Porto loos. The large Chateau overlooks the campsite making it a lovely location. By the time we arrived it was very hot and stayed that way for our 2 day stay. The town’s claim to fame is that William the Conqueror was born at Falaise. The main square is named after him. We walked into town for dinner enjoying the warm summer evening, on the way back it started to rumble with thunder and we just avoided being soaked when the storm came. It lasted most of the night. Rain continued on Wednesday as we headed to our final campsite at St Vaast La Hogue which is on the Normandy coast handy for Cherbourg where we are sailing from on Friday.

We took the bus to La Rochelle on Saturday, it takes well over an hour from the Ile de Re, 5€ return. We wandered around the old harbour and had a great lunch at one of the crowded restaurants. In the evening we walked into Ars en Re close to the campsite, to take a look at the sardine fete at the port. There were hundreds of people sat at tables tucking into sardines and oysters and there was live “entertainment”. We didn’t join in as the queues for food were so long. The fete lasted 2 days wouldn’t like to guess how many sardines sacrificed their lives for this event. We had a awful night due to a wedding party taking place in a marquee in a field adjacent to the campsite. The music went on until 4.30am. Never want to hear Daft Punk again! We wondered how the revellers all had the energy to be dancing and screaming all night. Drugs, said Mr C. Sunday, our last day on Ile de Re, was a glorious day and luckily we hadn’t planned much as we were shattered after a sleepless night. ...

We are saying at the lovely Camping du Soleil at Ars en Re, another campsite we’ve visited before. We have borne the inclement weather with stoicism and in true British style talked about nothing else. We are a few hundred yards from the beach and the campsite has a swimming pool, alas no swimming costumes have made an appearance and are unlikely to (sad face). There are hardly any Brits staying here so we have been unable to have any weather discussions with fellow travellers. Well, the sun is finally out and Thursday was a lovely day to take a cycle ride. We hired cycles from the campsite at an extortionate price. There are abundant cycle tracks on the Ile de Re so we didn’t have to worry too much about cars - fellow cyclists were another matter. We cycled through a nature reserve to the top of the island the terrain is very flat so not too exhausting. Inevitably Mrs C had one of her holiday accidents and came off her bike whilst practically stationary (yes really) at the time s...

The journey from Saumur to St Palais Sur Mer - close to Royan - took about three and a half hours the roads being exceptionally quiet due to it being Sunday when most heavy goods vehicles are banned from the roads in France. We shared the driving, Mr C sitting white knuckled in the passenger seat. We recognised the campsite - Camping Puits L’Auture from when we last stayed there in 2004! Amazingly we are still on their database. We were staying for 2 nights, it has the best showers we have encountered on any campsite, hand held shower heads loads of constant hot water and decent hairdryers. Only downside is that the facilities are mixed (as in most French campsites) not so keen in having to do ones business sat next to Johnny Foreigner in the next cubicle.  The campsite is opposite the shore line and within easy walking distance of restaurants and there is a lovely coastal path to the town of St Palais Sur Mer. Rain persisted, but on Monday there was a ceasefire for a few hour...

We stayed at the very popular L’lle d’Offard  campsite which is close to the centre of Saumur. We have been very unlucky with the weather, although the day we travelled to Saumur started off fairly warm and sunny it deteriorated and we have had howling wind and showers. Ordinarily we would have made full use of the facilities at the campsite as there is a lovely swimming pool. As it is we are wrapped up in woollies and waterproofs! We have made the most of it however and had a great meal at Le Grande Blue restaurant, on the pricey side but well worth it. The centre of Saumur is half an hours walk away so we have braved the weather and strolled in to wander around the narrow streets, look at the lovely market selling fantastic produce and stopping for a glass of the local wine every now and again. The only problem is being tempted by all the delicious looking fruit, quiches and patisserie it easy to get carried away and then we have to carry it back! Sunday morning we awoke ...

We left home on Monday 3rd June at 5.30, we had a straight forward journey to Newhaven, smooth ferry crossing and we arrived in Dieppe at 2pm French time. By 3pm we were set up at the Aire on the seafront 12.50€ For 24 hours including electricity. No facilities there but a public loo. Quick game of mini golf on the seafront Mrs C beat Mr C ha ha. Had dinner at our favourite restaurant Le New Haven. Had an early night and for the first time rather than sleeping in the 2 single beds made up the double oh la la! It gave us more room and we slept well. Woke up early at 6.30 had to use the public loo (we are only allowed to pee in Monica) but thankfully there is a god and it had just been cleaned. Left Dieppe at about 11am and the journey to Chartres was straightforward although the sat nav didn’t anticipate a diversion due to road works and we were lost for a while this was when Mr Angry suddenly appeared “well you’ve got the bloody map” said he. Anyway no one was murdered and we arri...