Just keep swimming...

Misty morning so we can’t even see the castle!!  After breakfast we all went up to the shop to re-stock again, the children can’t get enough of the sliced tomatoes and juicy peaches!  Yesterday Chris got apricots which the kids liked but I can’t stand the texture so I won’t get them again!! 

Seren and I walked up to the village again, we have managed to lose her tankini top somewhere, so she chose a new bikini; I walked her over to the hotel owner opposite the shop and asked if she could try the bikini on in their toilet, very proud of my French!!  Chris says she looks 15 not 5 in it - not happy!!  


Also got Morgan some arm bands so she can relax and actually spend more time ‘swimming’ and hopefully not get so cold!

We spent the afternoon in the pool again – it was so much better for Morgan and even I could do some lengths knowing she was ok. Seren has been practising breast stroke under water and is getting good; I’m trying to convince her that she can hold her breath for longer!

Lovely evening too! Still can't believe how brown the kids get (especially Seren) even with all the sun cream Chris keeps slapping on them.

Beautiful Beynac!

This is the start of our relaxation.  We gave the kids cereals which is a proper novelty compared to last year when the fridge didn’t work!!  They loved it – so sweet!!  
It’s market day, so we walked along the river to the beautiful medieval village; it was really bustling selling local produce of the Perigord which is frois gras and nut infused delicacies so we decided to give them a miss!!  We bought goggles for the kids as I’d forgotten them and then we walked up into the medieval town a bit (it’s very steep), including a very narrow street that a crazy Italian had tried to drive up!!  

There’s a lovely little grocery shop, a boulangerie and a boucherie opposite the campsite so we stocked up on our essentials which are tomatoes, cucumber and cheese!! We also made the decision to allow Seren to have the bread from the baker – it was lovely and she was fine but we watched her like a hawk the whole time she was eating.  Chris’ sandals have rubbed his feet so we also bought him flipflops which is breaking his rule about bits between his toes and also they have union jacks on so he hates them even more!!! Hahaha!!! Beggars can’t be choosers and his white shower sandals are so hard they are killing him!!! 

We swam again after lunch and the weather was much better, Morgan goes blue when she is cold though which is a bit scary!!  Seren is the one who really loves the water and has improved a lot – they are both much more confident underwater.  We had a lovely evening watching the girls playing and singing, and Evan throw balls and making loom bands, we have such well behaved kids!! 

Since we arrived in France my phone hasn’t been working despite 3 assuring me that the phone was enabled and that I would have the same usage package in France as I do in the UK….so I rang them and ended up going round and round in circles being put thorough to various people until about 30 minutes later it was sorted - free unlimited data - Chris is over the moon!

Our favourite place in the world!!

Another day of travelling, although we knew it would only need to be 4 hours max as we really had done most of the drive yesterday.  We continued south to Limoges and the last hour was cross-country (as well as very steep and windy) across to the Dordogne.  Chris says he is thankful that Flo is a left-hand drive so he could focus on the centre of the road rather than the MASSIVE drop that I could see!! – I wasn’t quite as pleased by this!

We arrived at Beynac & Cazenac village and went to Le Capeyrou campsite at about 1 pm.  It was a relief to arrive as this is the true start of our holiday as we see it and I really wasn’t sure it was going to be a reality this year.  We have an amazing pitch (no.61 fort next year when we book again!) – it’s directly opposite last year’s pitch.  we have an super view of the use Fortress-de-Beynac on the cliff above us and a huge grassy patch in front of us which is perfect for the kids to play on.  We really feel we can relax now and enjoy ourselves!!

Chris put the awning out – an amazing buy not only for the shade it gives but also for the protection it gives from the thunderstorms that keep sprouting up!!  5 mins to set up, I love how quick it is!!

I agreed to take the kids swimming – turns out I have forgotten to pack their main swimming stuff so no goggles and Evan has no trunks!! Oooooops!!  Thankfully I convince him that his Bart Simpson boxershort trunks are suitable for swimming too!!  The pool was cold!! – sadly didn’t get to stay long though as another storm brewed up, torrential rain again so we ran back but did seem strange to worry too much as we were soaking anyway!  It finished as quick as it started but as I was now already wet I took the kids for a shower which was much needed!

Kids settled well again and Chris and I sat out with the solar lights under the awning as it rained again!! Boooooo!!!!

Heading south!

No one came in the morning to collect money so the night was free!  We quickly packed up and prayed Flo would start – also that she would go into gear – which she did!!  We chatted again to the Belgium lady and they waved us off – all was well!!

In an attempt to save Flo’s gear box we decided to go along the main roads (and the tolls) to get as far south as we could quickly, we’d booked to be in Beynac in the Dordogne by tomorrow!  We chose to go via Rouen rather than Paris, not sure if this was a mistake or not really….there were horrendous roadworks in the centre of the city that took ages to get through and 1^st gear was really playing up. It took about an hour to get through 1 mile, it was so stressful!  We remembered from last year that the satnav loses it’s way on a major junction in the town, thankfully Chris’ instinct kicked in and we took the right road south along the river –that was until the machine decided we were going the wrong way again so we pulled into a car park to turn around.  This decision turned out to be a key event in the week…it was here that Chris remembered Flo has a ‘G’ gear and it works like 1^st!!! Whooppeee!! We turned right out of said car park only to then find we had an ancient old man waving frantically at us, we’d turned the wrong way up a 1 way street!!! Hahahaha! Chris just put his foot down and zoomed up the road before any other cars came! All under control apparently! So funny!! We couldn’t worry as we were too pleased with the G discovery!!

We continued south…the route was Rouen, the N154 to Chatres.  We saw the massive cathedral as we drove past – it’s the biggest  example of a gothic cathedral in Europe.  We stayed on the N154 to Orleans and pushed south to just past Chateauroux where we stopped in a supermarket – as we parked the biggest tropical torrential style rainstorm started and we got soaked just walking to the door!!! We stocked up on all the essentials, our first of France 2014 so everyone was happy!!  

1st French meal!!

We travelled to a small village called Neuillay-Les-Bois; it was a picture-perfect French village with a lovely large lake and a small grassy car park for the aire with a toilet and sink block. When we arrived it hadn’t been raining there – an old friendly French couple werer already there and we exchanged pleasentries in French…I will never cease to be amazed at the friendliness of people in aires! 
Sadly it wasn’t long before the thunderstorm and torrential rain of Chateauroux caught up with us so it was a wet (but hot) evening we had – I felt sorry for the kids as there was a lovely park and walk around the lake which we could have done but we would have been drenched, so they watched films.

Can't believe we are going!!

No last minute panics this year – a surprisingly relaxing evening packing up actually!!

Kids got up fine and Flo started – these days it is something we don’t take for granted!!  The trip down was pretty smooth, Birmingham was busy and also the start of the M25 but otherwise OK.  Flo’s gears are not right still, 1^st is the hardest – bit worried already!!!! Made the decision to just go and get out of it what we can - that's why we pay for breakdown cover!

Arrived in Dover at about 10;45 – last check in was 11;30 so good time.  Sat in queue waiting to board until 12:05, it was boiling.  

The boat was air conditioned no very nice.  We watched us leave the port up on deck and then went inside where the girls had their faces painted by 2 lovely guys.  

The crossing was great, there was another T25 by us on the car deck but the driver was miserable!!

Drove south about 2 hours to Berck-sur-mer to an aire behind the dunes.  The machine was broken so a Frenchman explained that a man would be around later –he didn’t come so was free!!  Also a free water tap.  A lovely Belgium couple with a 14 month old baby girl called Isla were next to us, telling us they were amazed how we got three kids in Flo; an old French couple with their grandsons were the other side and a German couple were in front; all were so friendly and we really enjoyed chatting with them.

Evan and I made potato salad for tea; amazingly the kids ate it, they must have been hungry!!  After tea we went for a walk onto the massive beach.  The kids loved playing in the sea (in their clothes!!)and running up and down the sand, it’s special times like those that are the reason you come away….  

The kids went to bed no problems.  Chris and I settled outside when a thunderstorm started, it was huge and got so bad we decided that we had to bring the shed tent inside!!!  Never seen lightning like it!! Hot night!

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!