Map of the route

This is a link to a map of the route that we covered. Roughly 2500 miles.

https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zJwjyYPgvB8c.kk9FtCVpdCT8

Costs

Date	Cost for the night  €
21/07/13	5
22/07/13	0
23/07/13	-
24/07/13	-
25/07/13	-
26/07/13	53
27/07/13	0
28/07/13	5
29/07/13	19
30/07/13	33
31/07/13	10
01/08/13	5
02/08/13	7
03/08/13	7
04/08/13	60
05/08/13	9,50
06/08/13	28
07/08/13	28
08/08/13	8
09/08/13	0
10/08/13	0
11/08/13	4
12/08/13	5
13/08/13	7,50
14/08/13	0
15/08/13	8
16/08/13	7
17/08/13	7
18/08/13	0
19/08/13	Home
Total	316

29 nights cost 316€ total

10€90 per night 

2€18 per person per night.

BARGAIN!!!

Homeward bound

Set alarm for 7.30 and we were ready to leave by 8.30.  Drove along coast road to Calais through villages with WWII cemeteries and headstones in the church yards, as well as a Chinese memorial.  Strange that we've done that we've done this journey so many times but never before seen the character of the area.  Quick dash into City Europe and then to the Port.  There are a surprising number of ‘Staying over’ lay-bys along this road so if you couldn’t get a space at Wissant it would be fine.  Also REALLY surprised at how close to the UK we are – the cliffs at Dover are really clear.

Passport control and check-in was all smooth, as was the crossing to Chris’ relief!!  

Hateful traffic on M25 and Birmingham so went cross country to Bridgenorth, 5 ½ hours later we made it home.

GREAT HOLIDAY.

Lets go fly a kite!

Still raining!! Not the best conditions for packing away!  Head to supermarket to buy cheese, wine and tinned dauphinoise and casoulet.  I also found a cassis de Pamplemousse and a rose pamplemousse which I am very pleased about!!  

We then drove to Wissant, the aire that had been recommended to us in Brittany.  As with every place we’ve planned to go we were able to get a place straight away, it’s been God’s timing and for it I am very grateful.  It’s a pleasant aire.  We ate lunch and walked about 15mins through a very pretty, bustling village and then down to a huge sandy beach between Cap Gris Nez and Cap Blanc Nez.  On the beach there more surfing kites and wind surfers than I have ever seen!! Well over 200 easily! 

Kids played for a couple of hours digging and making sand mountains.  The sun was lovely but it was windy cold in the shade!  

Chatted to an English couple on the aire and then enjoyed our last lot of bread and cheese in France this year.  Feel sad.  So temped to drive back south again for another 2 weeks!!

Blackpool!

Decided to stay put today. Walked into the village to find a surprising amount of seaside type shops.  The English woman last week said it was like Blackpool – not quite that bad but I can see what she meant!!  Lovely big sandy beach where we sat and the kids played for a couple of hours. 

Chris sorted out cupboards ready to fill with goodies at the supermarket tomorrow to take home!! Put 7€ of 20c coins in the machine today!!  Lazy afternoon, started to rain at tea so kids watched dvd, then it really rained in the night!

Camping in the woods

Packed up and drove to the barrier, the French guy from next to us was using the service point so he waved us forward to say the barrier had gone down – then not sure what happened because it started to go back up right under Flo – not a good sounding crunch!!  Luckily it was only the spare wheel holder that now a BIG dent in it!  Could have been so much worse!  

Tried to find a quick way down to the coast but campers were banned from all the main routes so instead we just chose to drive north.  We were still avoiding toll roads and it was working well until we got to cross the river and the the satnav brought us to a ferry crossing!!!  Neither of us fancied it and so we drove to the toll bridge, it only cost 3€!!

We drove to a coastal village about 1 mile from Calais called Fort Mahon Plage but the aire was really rammed and there was no shower so we drove on to an aire at Quand-Plage Les Pins where the aire was much larger and backed onto a pine forest.  Emptied loo and filled water from service point then Chris and I both showered, we’ve decided to buy a proper shower tent next time we’re at Decathlon.  

Nice neighbours…and English couple whose mirror had been stolen in a motorway aire yesterday and 2 French couples, one of whom brought a full bag of sweets over for the kids!!

Fighting the Germans

Packed up quick, all ready to leave, tried Evan’s seatbelt and it wouldn’t work….Thought I was going to have to ask the French guy in front of us to pull forward so we could get out but Chris managed thankfully - still moaning about getting power-steering!  Just pulled into the top of the aire when ‘Kev heRev’ and Co. pulled in – I’d just said to Chris how only a T25 would fit in the space we've come out of and so lucky for them!!  Great timing!!  It appeared that Evan’s seatbelt clicker had jammed.  Kev suggested heating a screwdriver and bolting Morgan’s second seat belt holder to Evan’s strap so Chris did it and it worked!!  We pulled out of the aire and said bye again to Kev & Co. only for me to then try to put my strap on and realise we've been trying to my put my belt across Evan and into his clicker – so all the faffing was for no reason!!  LIVE & LEARN!!!!

Drove down to Omaha beach and the American cemetery.  Chris and I went to the British one in Bayeaux previously.  There was airport security to enter with police and guards everywhere – the reality of life in America today.  There is a brilliant museum/ memorial before you enter the cemetery itself.  It is an immaculate cemetery, beautifully laid out.  There is a great viewing point across Omaha beach.  It was very moving to see 9000+ white crosses and star of David head stones. 

From here we drove back east to Le Chaos, a WW2 battery that has kept the guns in 3 of the bunkers.  Very impressive to see but also horrific too.  Lots of American pensioners were here on a bus tour.  It is a fascinating site.

We decided then to get some of the driving back towards Calais out of the way  So we headed for the Alabaster coast (Cote d’Albatre) and a village called Etretat.  The guide book said it has a great coastline.  We arrived at the aire after a huge diversion through some very pretty villages (Chris and I both commented that we previously had thought that Normandy was boring but now I've completely changed my mind, it really is very nice).  There had obviously been a fete in the village today as today is a French bank holiday for Assumption Day and it was packed!  The aire had a barrier that you had to pay before going in and so I got out and checked that there was a space first, so I paid 8€, Chris drove in and then an Italian jumped into the space in front of us – well you can imagine how cross we were at this, they had watched me check it was empty!!  Could not believe it!!  Chris got out and walked around the rest of the site, there was an old couple sat on a space next to their van, Chris asked if someone was there and they tried to fob him off saying they didn’t speak English (they were German).  Then they told him that someone was coming at 8pm and that we could have the spot if we absolutely needed it, great understanding for people who couldn’t speak English!!  So I took the kids out of Flo and marched them down to the space and Chris drove in.  We got major evil looks all evening from the German woman until they went out!!  Never in the 4 weeks we've been away have we heard or seen people trying to keep spaces in the aires!!  Anyway, thankfully as Flo is small we could sit at the front of her.  A little French girl from the van next to us came and played for a couple of hours, its really sweet how the children can play regardless of language!!

Normandy Liberation

It was cold last night, it was completely clear again, may have to get our sleeping bag out tonight!  Lovely bright morning, packed away and drove north up to Arromanches.  The aire in town was really busy, we decided to give Bayeaux a miss as we’d been told it was super busy!  Luckily we stopped on the side and had lunch, then as we finished up a van left which was right next to the grass.  So, we quickly jumped in!!  The aire is 2 mins from town centre so we walked in.  The sea was coming in but we could easily see the mulberry harbour and the remains of the bridges that had been built.  

Then we walked up the hill for a fantastic view across the whole bay.  Some good maps illustrated the ‘Overlord’ operation.  Also at the top was a 360 cinema that we went to.  It showed a 19 minute film of the 100 days of the Normandy liberation.  Loads of old film was put together to tell the events, it was brilliant.  Really emotional, especially sad showing the men in boats ready to land and the parachute division.  50% were not expected to make it.  So glad we chose to go in there rather than the museum in the town as I think the kids got a lot more out of seeing the visual.  Evan has understood a surprising amount of it, and we bought a book for him explaining the D-Day landings which he has read cover to cover and then quizzed Chris on constantly!!

Walked back down the hill onto the beach, the tide was so far in there was virtually no dry sand at all!!  Clear to see why it was such a good beach to choose for the mulberry harbour and by landing at night there was very little for the soldiers to have to scramble across.  We had to come back up onto the prom.  Chris bought a ‘cricket’, the clicking communication device that the Americans used.  Kids loved it!!

Kids had a calypo and we walked along to the harbour past some massive houses! Some kids were jumping off the harbour into the sea.

Went back to Flo, it was such a hot afternoon, the kids made finger puppets.  The aire was so busy, loads of Italians arrived and were keeping spaces and then 2 French vans packed right up close to us so we were completely boxed in, sometimes people are idiots!!

We walked back down onto the beach again after tea as the tide was going out really fast.  Now we could walk right out to touch the pieces of the floating bridge.  Arromanches is a pretty town but has lots of dog mess that spoils it!

Familiar places!

A beautiful sunny morning – YEY!!!  The first for a few days!  Started by a leisurely drive along coast road from Trebeurden to Perros-Guirec. It is so beautiful, little islands all in the pink granite are scattered everywhere and little bays and villages with fishing harbours line the coast.

We hit the main road to take us east, one of the first times we've been on a main road all holiday! Timing worked well for us to aim for Cora at Dinan/St Malo.  We could see the church at Pleudihen-sur- Rance as we went over the bridge, scaffolding was still on the steeple!!  Feels strange to be in such a familiar area without actually stopping at Cerilan’s house.  Saw some nice sights though like the Rance, strangely there was a diversion so we had to go down to the Pleudihen turn off to get onto the road east – so funny!!  Bought lots of nice things at Cora, it is definitely the best supermarket brand in Franc in my opinion. 

Continued along the main road and I snapped a picture of Le Mont-Saint-Michel as we go past.

We then drove around past Avranches and to a village called Saint-Jean-le-Thomas.  It is a quiet village on the west coast of the peninsular that goes north to Cherbourg.  Next to a municipal campsite with about 12 spaces is the aire, it is nicely landscaped.  The problem of our cards not working the machine happened again, an Irish family in a LT31 also couldn’t buy a ticket, she said she’d got one from the campsite office.  Instead of that I managed again ask a French couple to buy me one!!  I surprised myself really!!

The beach has nice views of the whole bay across to Le Mont-Saint-Michel from the side we've never seen before, the tide was out again as far as you could see but the kids enjoyed collecting shells and dead crabs again, they stank. 

Did a round trip walk around the village but there wasn’t a lot there so came back to Flo.  The Irish family have 2 young children and speak Irish to them, they came over to play with our toys for a bit, the little girl is 3 and is hard work for her parents!!

Chris did a bbq for tea with garlic lemon and prawns, delicious.  I went down to the campsite to use the toilet and showers, Chris also filled our 8 litre water bottle from their tap.

The beautiful Pink Granite Coast

Grey morning again and then whilst we were having breakfast it drizzled – a strange pattern of rain each early morning but brilliant blue skies by afternoon and evening! Had to change to petrol after about 40min drive, it’s only the 3^rd time in 3 weeks, since we've been here we've used ¾ tank of petrol total.  We've struggled to find LPG again today, must be because it’s the north.  

Arrived at a village called Trebeuden, a small village at the start of the Pink Granite Coast.  It has a large aire adjacent to a coarse sandy beach with lots of little island rocks making it a beautiful natural harbour.  The kids played on the sand and because the tide was out we walked out about 1 mile across flats that were about 1ft deep but had no waves at all.  Loads of shells, rock pools and crabs which we collected – looked like walking on the seabed itself.  Great afternoon playing boules, tennis, football and kids dug a massive channel in the sand!  Absolutely beautiful!!!

Come back to Flo for spaghetti – should have gone to the shop today.  Evan reminded us we had Kougan Aman in the cupboard, it is a Breton butter cake, it was so nice to be reminded of this delicious taste of Brittany.  Will buy some more take home to people. 

No toilet facilities at this aire although book said there would be.  We parked at the back of this aire so we got evening sun which was really appreciated as the wind in the shade was cold – Chris lit a fire log for a bit of warmth.  Parked next to us was a Dutch 1960s/70s big Mercedes van (could have been a 5080), it looked great!  Chatted to the couple in the evening, they were so friendly.  We recommended aires and discussed holidays in Holland and the UK.  We have really loved this aspect of the holiday, people want to chat to us and have been so friendly.  We've been really surprised and blessed by so many people this holiday.

Chris is really happy again now as his radio is picking up Talksport and Radio 5 again!!  Hes been listening to cricket and heard England win, which has pleased him very much.  The news says that there will be a meteorite shower tonight but we were too tired to stay up to watch it!

A very busy day!!

Grey light drizzle again this morning, third day with a wet start but clears by lunchtime to beautiful sunshine.  Changed  plan a bit because of the rain – decided we might as well keep driving a bit further until it cleared.  Stopped at a supermarket to restock before mid-day as nowhere is open on Sunday afternoons in France.  We also ran out of water and needed to empty toilet so chose to use an aire service point in the supermarket car park, this was the first time we’d had to use one, first time for everything!  Chris finally gave in to buying a yellow hose in the shop as the one he’d brought wasn’t long enough or wide enough despite attempts to make it work!  Unfortunately just as we started to use the aire it started to properly rain, the first proper rain we’ve had since being here – so we got soaked!   The service point said 2€ for a jeton but we couldn’t see where to buy the jeton from so I asked a Frenchman who was waiting behind us.  I managed to explain what I needed and that I could see where to buy the jeton, there was a mobile laundrette point next to the aire and I worked out it wasn’t there, so the man took me over to the car wash but he couldn’t see where either!! Eventually we did find the jeton machine but then we realised that it only takes payment by card – we already knew that the French banks are in dispute with the British banks and so are not recognising that there is any cash in the accounts, it’s why the machine at Ile d’orelon didn’t work.  So, I tried my card and it appeared to work until the end when it said ‘cancelled’ but then spat out 5 jetons!!  Who knows what was going on!  So put jeton in, filled water, and emptied loo, unfortunately in the rush Chris left the water cap at the service point, he’s not impressed!!

Chose to head for a peninsular just South of Brest and a town at the end called Cameret-Sur-Mer.  The road follows the coast and some beautiful sandy beaches made stunning scenery.  As we drove down towards one bay we could see a T25 at the bottom and it’s owner was waving profusely as we drove past.  Virtually all VW owners wave and beep their horns at us, I love it!!!  We waved back, beeped the horn and realised it was British and Chris recognised it from Bustypes and Club 80-90, it was ‘Kev the Rev’!!! Chris loves this van - apparently Kev gets a bit of stick for the colour ("hearing-aid brown) but Chris loves it!
  

It was 1pm so we decided to turn around and go back down to the bay to say ‘Hi’.  Kev knows everything about T25s so had a good look around Flo, he recommended 20/50 oil for the summer months as its thicker and will stop the engine light coming on (which it was all day yesterday!!) .  Chris and Kev, Mrs Kev and another couple they were with, went over all the changes we’ve made.  They’ve been wild camping in a bay just down the coast.  We had our lunch and then carried on up the coast but we were really pleased to have stopped and chatted them.  

10 minutes up the road was the village of Cameret-sur-mer, the aire was on top of the hill and right next to a really large standing stone circle (actually it was more like a horseshoe shape!).  It was a massive aire but there weren’t many free spaces – we got one just by the entrance.  Set off for a walk straight away.  

We explored the stone circle then followed the footpath to the cliff path.  

A ruined chateau, the home of a famous French artist, that had been bombed by Germans was right on the cliff edge – looked sad.  Walked to the brow of the hill and had a great view of a sandy beach, we would have considered walking down but the kids didn’t want to!!

We could see a large fortification on the next hill across, probably from WW2, but too far to walk to.  So, instead, we decided to walk the other way along the coast path and what a good job we did as we found some amazing German bunkers to go in!!  For about ½ a mile stretch there were loads that hadn’t been filled in and you could still see where the guns would have been.  

At the very end of the headland was a museum in memory of the War-at-sea, out the front there were about 10 huge anchors from war ships on display.  There was an older French fortification that had been added to by the Germans too.  It was a real gem to find all this, Chris was especially pleased!!  With no guide book for this area we seem to be doing really well for finding some super spots!!  

Buffet tea went down well as kids were hungry after the walk.  We had finally bought a watermelon for the kids who have been nagging for ages to get one, I really don’t like them!! Showered outside the back of Flo again.  Our immediate neighbours are not that friendly although I am trying to smile at them!! Ha ha!!  A lot of people are walking past us on their trip to the bins and recycling, most are very friendly.  One old couple asked us if we were Swiss, we said no, but then they carried on speaking to us in French, basically saying nice about Flo and asking if we liked the area etc, we managed to make ourselves understood!!  Funny!!  Another British woman stopped to talk to us, she had had a few G&Ts we think!!!!  She’d owned a house near Dinan for 4 years but now sold it and bought motorhome.  She gave us a few tips about which wine to buy – she likes one called Roche Mazet red cabernet sauvingnon or white sauvignion, she said she’s tried all the cheap supermarket wines and that is the best!!  We’ll look next time we’re at Intermarche.  Also she suggested we stay at an aire called Wissant just north of Calais, she said its good for the supermarket and has a good beach.  Finally she says we should buy a book called ‘Campervan Stop’  which has aires that ‘All the aires’ doesn’t have.

More great shooting stars again this evening, clearer that last night even!!!

German buses are the best!

Some drunk French bloke kept usawake last night about 3am for an hour and then he started to cry and then rant again ARGHHHHH!!!! Eventually someone shouted at him to shut up!

Decided to go to Concarneau today but beforehand we drove into Quiberon town, a really pretty fishing port – lovely looking beach that reminded me of Dinard in the north.  Enjoyed the drive back along the peninsula too, such beautiful scenery.

We had planned to go to Carnac to see the standing stones it is famous for but there was a 5 mile queue to get anywhere near the town which was a bit disappointing, the satnav diverted us through great scenery anyway!

We chose Concarneau as our next stop, the skies had cleared.  We went to the aire there, it was in the railway car park!! As with all the aires we were able to drive straight into a space although lots of people were just parked up on the side.  

We walked about 5 mins towards the centre but decided that the kids weren’t in the mood for a hike so we had lunch and then drove down to the old walled town, 'Le ville close' to find a parking space which we did eventually.  

It was really worth the trip, a fantastic band was playing Celtic folk music immediately after the bridge into the medieval town.  Before children we would have stayed, eaten and drank all day here! The narrow streets are beautiful and although busy they had a great atmosphere.  We walked all the way through the town and then back along the walls.  At the end of the town is a square where 2 performers were doing a conjuring act with juggling batons and balls.  Although it was all in French and the fact that they dropped the balls a lot, the kids enjoyed it!!  They moaned a bit that their legs were tired and that they were thirsty but overall afterwards said it was good.  

Chris then took us to a different aire at a village called Pendruc.  The aire had space for 6 vans only, when we arrived there were 2 spaces which we were amazed at as it was 3pm and the view was amazing! We chose a front row spot again next to a van as cool as ours!!!   

A HUGE German Mercedes 319 truck that looked like it may have been an ex army ambulance.  It was dark green, yellow and orange, a DIY camper-job but ubercool.  We looked great next to each other!!  The beach was even closer than the day before, about 30 sec walk and beautiful again.  The tide was coming in again - the beach was a nice sand/stone mix.  The children played for a while on the beach then we came back for tea.  

Afterwards we walked along to the coast road to the next bay and watched a gorgeous sun set.  It was a lovely family in the German van next to us.

Small chemical loo outside in woodland picnic area next to aire wasn’t too bad.  

Many people came to the aire and were turned away.  We were very blessed to get a spot.  Watching the bats as we go to bed.