Country Archives - Page 7 of 28

French Camping 2024, Day 4 Châlons-en-Champagne

Posted on August 25, 2024 by SteveOctober 4, 2024

25th August 2024

Another sunny day, but very much cooler day. Some clouds around. Yesterday’s campers virtually all left again. New ones started to arrive in the afternoon. We are definitely in the area where people come for one night only. A Dutch van staying near us borrowed our European to 16Amp adapter. He then passed that through a 16amp adapter which spil into two, so both of us could plug in. I was surprised he did not have a European adapter. Wrong he had one, but not one that accepted the earth pin from the socket on the post. That surprised me, his van could potentially have been live, and only earthing when someone got in and out. How dangerous is that?

Today R started proofreading our daughter S’s thesis. I started reading the kindle version of the second volume of the Three Body Problem, the Chinese sci-fi book. So not a lot happened today. A couple of walks around the pond. Saw a Kingfisher on the pond, managed a photograph of it with the phone. Went back a couple of times with the big lens and no further sighting of the bird of the bird. Unfortunately, a few fishermen on the banks now.

Today’s hoard of travellers arrived in the late afternoon, usual commotion around the power points. One van wanted to lay the cable across the road, insisting he had been told he could. The site owners asked him to move elsewhere.

Planning to go to a site near to CERN. Still in France, but we will travel over the boundary into Switzerland and back into France.

French Camping 2024, Day 3 Châlons-en-Champagne

Posted on August 24, 2024 by SteveOctober 4, 2024

24th August 2024

Bought a baguette, and a couple of pain au raisin from the local shop. Excellent bread. Very hot day with temperatures in the 30s. I went for a fast walk and ran across two bridges and along the River Marne. 13k in 2 hours and 20 minutes. I know this is not marathon running! A few dragonflies on the walk. Geese seemed to be confined to the pavements of the suburbs!! Back at base lunch on the baguette and then a lazy afternoon finishing the first book in the Three Body series.

Prepared supper, and while we were eating it, the thunderstorm came in and drenched us. I put up the awning, getting wet, while R sheltered in the van remaining dry. After the awning was up, she came out to sit outside.

Interesting goings on in the site. One van packed up and left during the rain. The pitch next to us had a drying line and cloths drying out. So, no one parked there. We think the previous occupants might have left it by mistake. Chap from opposite came and begged us to charge his mobile for a few hours (he was on a no-electricity pitch). We duly obliged. His son came to collect it, bringing with him, as a thank you, a packet of very nice biscuits. Very sweet of them.

The honey seller is now ignoring us.

The town had a huge firework display tonight. Is this something to do with the Paralympics and the flame carrying?I know they are involved in this.

Discussion on whether to move on, going to head to near Geneva, but decided to stay on one more day before heading off.

French Camping 2024, Day 2 Châlons-en-Champagne

Posted on August 23, 2024 by SteveOctober 3, 2024

23rd August 2024

Today was cooler and cloudy. We set off to the town centre, walking. Google says 40 minutes, but we were a little slower. Our first destination was a sewing machine museum. Disappointment on arrival, it was closed, and if you wanted to visit, you had to make a booking. Two Saturdays a month, the 1^st and the 3^rd it is opened without appointment, so sadly no use to us.

Next into the centre for a coffee. That was a disappointment, nobody around, all the restaurants were totally deserted.

Then walked to the park, Le Grand Jard, where an offshoot of the river Marne appears. A few people were here, the cafes were opening up, so we had a beer and a lunch.

Looked around the cathedral, and then walked home along the canal.

Back at the campsite, pretty well everyone had gone to be replaced by a new set of people. Looks very much like this campsite is a stopping off point.

Bought some cakes from the baker and patisserie outside the camp site. They were very good.

It warmed up during the day, the later afternoon and evening were quite warm. The honey man came around again to try to sell us some honey. He has been here every time we have visited.

French Camping 2024, Day 1 Châlons-en-Champagne

Posted on August 22, 2024 by SteveOctober 3, 2024

22nd August 2024

The alarms woke us at 5.30 and we were away before 6.00. There was a little precipitation as we drove off on relatively quiet road. We were early enough to miss the queues on the M25/A41 junction.

The M25 was fairly quiet, though there were large sections with speed limits of 50 mph. Huge, sections of improvement work with nothing happening. I know it was early in the morning, but how can such large sections be worked on at the same time.

Crossing the Elizabeth bridge and we were on our way. A little rain and grey sky followed us down the road

Heading down to the M20, I saw there were some ‘Road Works’ and we would be down to 2 lanes, travelling on the wrong side of the motorway. Rosemary shouted that the Channel Tunnel crossing route was on the left. So, I obeyed her, and then found we were in the truck queuing system, which had been resurrected. Only trucks in this lane, while all the cars on the other carriageway stormed past. This section of several miles had a slow speed limit. There was stoney silence in the car. I have no idea why the queueing system had been instigated; in any case it had been removed by the time we came home in September. I drove all the way down the 10-mile truck queue lane on the M20 to join all the other cars.

Still, we arrived well ahead of the schedule and moved up two departures at no extra cost.

In France there was a strong wind, but the day was cloud free. The further we drove the warmer it became, necessitating the aircon to be turned on.

Our destination was the town of Châlons-en-Champagne. We booked into the site, Camping de Chalons en Champagne, for three nights, expecting to tour the town (and R fusses over me doing “too much driving”). We have stayed here twice, but not looked around the area. Before arriving at the campsite, a quick visit to buy some food at the huge supermarket, Carrefour Chalons En Champagne. We drove into the campsite behind a California VW, which was also blackberry coloured. Picture taken of the two blackberry-coloured VWs by the woman from the other van. They were staying one night.

At the campsite, there were loads of Brits passing through for the night. Bikers camping across the way, the female doing a striptease. Some lads next to us, they were working during the day and staying at the campsite. This seems quite common practice in France. They went off fishing in the evening.

The pond was still in existence, and bats flying around. The bat detector suggested they were Pipistrelles.

France – Mike Eaton

Posted on June 9, 2024 by SteveApril 5, 2025

9th June 2024

Early in the year, we received the sad news that Mike Eaton had passed away. A celebration of his life was scheduled in France for early June. We wanted to attend, as did John and Carol. We travelled to France via the Channel Tunnel and stopped at Le Bec-Hellouin, which is near Rouen and approximately halfway to Linda’s location. We stayed here for a couple of nights, visiting the village for a meal. In the village, we decided to sit outside at the restaurant for lunch but hastily moved inside when the heavens opened. I also enjoyed some new walks in the area that I had not done before.

There were some interesting aircraft flying overhead, as it was around the 80th anniversary of D-Day, and several old planes were taking to the skies. I have an image of the G-BRKC Auster J/1 Autocrat flying over the campsite. This plane was a 1940s British single-engined three-seat high-wing touring monoplane built by Auster Aircraft Limited in Rearsby, Leicestershire. Numerous other old aircraft were flying, though none were posing for photographs.

Afterwards, we continued down to Arçais to camp in the local campsite. Here, we joined John and Carol, who were our neighbours for the next few days.

We joined them on various walks in the Marais, admiring the fauna and flora. John was very disappointed with the fauna; there were virtually no dragonflies around, and the dykes in the Marais were a disappointing brown colour from mud. The clear, weed-filled waters appeared non-existent. This was blamed on the heavy rainfall during the winter and spring.

The evening before the Celebration of the Life of Mike, we met up at Linda house for Pizza. The local Pizza shop was doing a roaring trade.

The next day many friends got up to speak about Mike, from his early days at university and through the jobs he had and the people he influenced. The speaches were in English and French, these were transalted by an English woman who was bilingual.

French Camping 2023, Day 28

Posted on September 26, 2023 by SteveNovember 7, 2023

26th September 2023

We headed on home, stopping at Reimes, just off the toll road at an Leclerc. Here we bought some Ricard. It was a huge shop, but strangely not that well stocked, and difficult to find items. Wine appeared to be in three different places. One drink we never saw on the shelves during the whole holiday was Campari. Don’t the French drink Negronis?

Topped up the diesel, didn’t think I would make it home, it was 1.92 a litre. The days of cheaper fuel in France are gone.

Back on the road again, and to the chunnel. Check in was quick, ran to the duty free, purchased some Cointreau and Jack Daniels, making use of Boris Johnsons world beating duty free allowances.

Then French Customs, 3 minutes wait in queue. The French officers spent more time chatting amongst themselves and showing each other social media shots on their phones, than stamping the passports.

Then it was the English passports, a five-minute wait, we seemed to have hit a shift change.

Then a little wait to load and we were off. So convenient and quick. There is no other way I will travel across the channel. I must take the Polestar to France one day. There are so many chargers on the autoroutes.

Back in England, even the dreaded Blackwall tunnel crossing failed to delay us for long, yes, we had to stop but it was a pretty good trip home. The rest of the nNorthern M25 failed to delay us. 70 all the way around, except for a small section where a car had been stranded on the verge.

All in all a pretty perfect trip today.

French Camping 2023, Day 27 Camping Nature

Posted on September 25, 2023 by SteveNovember 7, 2023

25th September 2023

Another sunny day, just wish the nights were a little warmer. The site is well shaded by trees, so ideal for a hot sunny day. The trouble is at this time of year you need as much sun as possible. We didn’t get the sun until quite late, so breakfast was a little chilly. The afternoon was better, we were in the sun for this. As evening came around the sun also started to be hidden by hedges.

In the morning we walked up the canal in the opposite direction to the lock. They were working on it. Was this the reason the water was low in the canal?

We checked out of the campsite and took down the awning (shed). I pumped the air out of the struts, and with a lovely dry canvas was able to get the awning into its bag and was even able to do up the compression straps, and tighten them by several inches. A real success.

French Camping 2023, Day 26 Camping Nature

Posted on September 24, 2023 by SteveNovember 7, 2023

24 September 2023

Another lovely day.

We wished our daughter a very happy birthday

The English couple left today, the German woman on her own was going South, she was interested in Flamingos, so we suggested Saint Maries. She wondered if the poor tabby cat had had his tail trimmed in the French poodle style. R not amused.

a red VW campervan turned up with a v clever registration> One of the owners said it was an easy one to remember.

We walked along the canal in the morning, much more traffic today, quite a few out on their Sunday constitutionals. Though why have music blaring as you cycle along the path? We walked to the grain silo, and then back by the road to home. On the road back we passed a new poplar tree plantation, maize and sorghum.

In the afternoon I went for a walk to the campsite lake, spent a little time snoozing in the sun, and then played with the camera. I experimented with photo stacking for different focus points. Eventually that worked out so I was able to take some reasonable flower shots which were in focus.

Walked back up to the campsite, passing the football site.

Lovely evening with blue sky and vapour trains. The sparrows were in full volume, and some bats came out to play.

Some Germans arrived in their van after dark at 20.38, directed in by R.

Tonight’s dinner was green beans, sausages, tomato and onion, and a bottle of fizzy pink.

French Camping 2023, Day 25 Camping Nature

Posted on September 23, 2023 by SteveNovember 5, 2023

23 September 2023

Rather chilly during the night, Winter is definitely on its way. Today looks to be a gorgeous day. The weather managed a very short shower before we left the campsite. Various other campers, including an English couple, were walking or cycling to the nearest large village for the market. We ambled over to the lakes. Much more formal now, signs prohibiting non campers’ entry to them. The lake division had been completed, and there were fences not allowing further access to the next lake.

We wandered around the grassy areas. Plenty of wildflowers and weeds, the little grass there was short. Not many birds around other than a couple of swans arguing and flying between the ponds. Plenty of insect life which we photographed.

Back to the tent for lunch, then I took a walk to the nearby village to visit a supermarket. Lovely walk along the canal side, saw a few bikes going either way. Excellent cycling path, so smooth. The canal was very low in water. Seeing the grain silo on the bank side, it does seem the canal is still used for commercial traffic.

I found the supermarket and purchased the next three days of provisions. Hopefully, the ample supply of not-French-baguette type sliced bread will last longer.

Walked back by the road instead of the canal which was slightly shorter. On my 30-minute walk, I was passed by only three cars.

Campsite was a bit fuller today, Rosemary narrated about the German couple who came, used the toilets and one had a shower and then they left after lecturing her about the cold shower water. She showed them how to turn it to hot.

Thankfully the Dutch couple who pitched nearby were much nicer. Turned out they had worked in Kenya in the 70s. They had a BMW car towing a very cute old caravan. It was more than 60 years old, had a popup roof with bright orange canvas. They said it was so hard to find replacement canvas of the same color. R had a tour of it, while the chap tried out his Swahili on me.

After supper we took a short walk around the village. Some nice areas, but also derelict buildings around by the church. Looks like a proper renovation will be happening there some time.

French Camping 2023, Day 24 Camping Nature

Posted on September 22, 2023 by SteveNovember 5, 2023

22 September 2023

Today was forecast to be dry during the morning, so we spent it wandering around the Pont-de-Vaux. Quite a few shops, plenty of hairdressers, no charity shops, some unusual shop fronts. One business must have been someone who produced posters/advertising. There he was working in the premises; the shop window was full of old type set cabinets. R was entranced by one where the drawers had purposely been built on a slope. There were also some old iMacs and a Philips computer. We stopped for a coffee, and also visited the small Intermarche for lunch provisions. We found & bought Kitale coffee! The walk back took us past more odd shops, more hairdressers, and another odd shop with clothing, the owner pounced out at us, so a hasty retreat.

Back to the van and we headed north to our next stop. Mainly on toll roads. The weather produced some horrendous rain with very poor visibility, which slowed us down. We stopped for a picnic lunch in the grounds at a service station. We watched a couple of EVs draw up to charge. France has so invested in EV charging on the motorways.

We got taken off the toll road earlier than I thought and proceeded up some National Road or other. Unusually I got a little tired and had to stop for a 10-minute power snooze.

We arrived at our campsite in Luxémont-et-Villotte, Camping Nature, small, we have been here before. Very rural, no chalets, just 27 odd pitches for tents and vans. Downside, 6-amp electricity, so induction hob not on full blast, but there was plenty of heat to cook duck breast.

R recalled the cats which lived there (she would). The Norwegian Forest cat appeared to have had an accident with his tail, but was still friendly. The owner said the black one was “sauvage” but R managed a series of strokes.

As the sunset, the local shooters were out in force. Lots of shooting and shouting in the woods, ponds, and fields below us. The weather improved, and the evening was almost cloudless, though a bit on the chilly side.

Bottle of beer with duck breast for supper.

Coffee from Kitale

Cooking Duck Breast

Camping Nature in the evening

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