Our French Adventure 2017

So with everything packed up we set off for Poole at 4.30pm on Tuesday 16th of May. After an uneventful run down we parked up on the Quay with a handful of other travelers. Supper and bed.

At half past six the following morning we were woken by the Brittany ferry staff, and after winding the legs up we moved forward to the ticket office where passports were checked and then on to the next queue. We were only there a few minutes before we were waved through security! It then started to rain!
At a quarter to eight we were on the ferry, and we made our way upstairs to the cafeteria for breakfast.

Greg the ground grinder and Elsa enjoyed looking out of the ferry window as we left Poole.

The journey to Cherbourg took four and a quarter hours. It was quite foggy and there was a  good swell as we crossed the channel  We were off the ferry and on our way to Villedieu-les Poeles, where we booked into the site, which was looking very good. It was still raining. Dinner was cooked and I went up to the garage to fuel up and to collect some cheese and wine from the supermarket.

Villedieu-les Poeles was looking really wet. Our caravan is the one in the middle.

We were away the following morning, still in the pouring rain,  just before 10 and on our way to Camping Les Noblis at Montreuil Bellay, a distance of 180 miles.  We arrived there four hours later and it was still raining. So it was legs down, cook dinner and then bed.

Our one night stop at Montreuil Bellay

It was still raining in the morning so after breakfast we were on our way just after 10.

Todays run was 150 miles to Camping de Montreal at St Germain Les Belles. after a couple of hours driving, as we approached Limoges the rain stopped and the sun came out.
As we arrived at the site Leone and Hans were there to welcome us. We were soon set up on a lakeside pitch as this was to be our base for 6 nights.

Finally the weather became good!

We ate in the restaurant that night and met up with Sonja and Peter. It was very good to see them again.

We relaxed over the next five days, enjoying the hot sunshine.

I did find time to go to the railway station and managed to get a picture of the local train. Not a very good picture as the station was being rebuilt and was all fenced off!  Passengers were bused to and from another local station and trains were not stopping either.

Train at St Germain Les Belles

On the Thursday morning we left at about 10.30 and set off down the A20, for another 150 mile drive to Camping de Montech, which is a large municipal site just north of Toulouse.
The sun was still out , but as we set up there was some light rain.

As we approached the site there were tractors everywhere.  Not a farmers protest but a tractor parade and rally.

We were away in  the morning again by 10.00am heading for La Floride at Le Barcares, again 150 miles. The journey should have taken us about 4 hours, but unfortunately we met horrific traffic on the Peage as we passed Carcassonne. This slow, stop start traffic was caused by roadworks where the A61 joins the A9 just south of Narbonne, and added over an hour to our journey. The traffic cleared as we joined the A9.  When we arrived at La Floride we booked in and set up on our pitch.
It was really hot and sunny as we set up, so we took our time. We were going to be here for 35 nights so it was important to get everything done properly.



When in France we cook in the awning using our electric hob or Teriyaki  electric hotplate. We also have a Quest expedition fridge that cools to 30 degrees below ambient temperature, an essential when it is so hot in France.

Frittati, prepared in the awning.

Our Boulangerie

We soon settled in to a French way of life. I rode up to the village  for fresh bread and croissants each morning. We enjoyed the sun and most days we went out for coffee or to visit one of the nearby towns for shopping. The Freelander2 had its cover put on and was only used on Wednesdays and Saturdays when we went out to get the heavy shopping, (water and Wine).

We enjoyed the occasional meal at the Camp site restaurant

The best Boulangerie in the village. Unbelievably there were four within 250 yards of each other!

Lizzie had hired a very posh mobility scooter so we often went out together, Lizzie on her scooter and me on my bike.

Lizzie off exploring.

Most days the sun was out and the temperature reached the mid 30's, some days it topped 39.
Unusually this year there was a constant stream of English pitching up round us with their tent, caravan or motor home.

Just along from our caravan a 'Thai Cream' ice cream booth appeared. It only stayed for a week as trade was very slow. The ice cream was good though, albeit very expensive and was too much for one person.

A market is held in Le Barcares on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.We enjoyed visiting that and just browsing. Each Sunday we would get a chicken from the market that had been cooked on a rotisserie, which was then used for dinner that evening.

Market Day!

Our Chicken Man!  He was only at the Market on Sundays

We often went up to Le Barcares for coffee.  We sometimes ventured on to the inviting beach.

Le Barcares beach on a busy day.

We eat out occasionally, finding that the camp bar and restaurant was very good value.

Our 35 nights at Le Barcares soon came to an end, and it was time to clear up. The last few days there saw us have thunder storms, but on our last day it was warm and dry so the awning was packed away in the dry.

Our return journey was a mirror image of our outward journey with one night at Camping De Montech, three nights at Camping de Montreal, one night at Montreuil Bellay and two nights at Villedieu les Poeles where we enjoyed time shopping. I even found a french Barber where I could get my hair cut.

My French Barber!

 Villedieu les Poeles is one of the many pretty French villages we saw.

The Maire, (Town Hall)

On the Friday we drove up to Cherbourg for the 18.30 ferry.  We arrived back in Poole at 21.45, and parked up on the Quay accompanied by several other caravans. We sat outside with our neighbours sharing a few glasses of wine.

At 9.30 the following morning we left for home arriving there at noon after an excellent trip away.