Motorhome Diary September 2019
A warm welcome awaited us at Graham and Susannah's impressive Château. This is our first visit as we missed Graham's 60th when Rick had a perforated appendix. They've been here five years and I am amazed how much they have achieved, especially as I know how difficult it is to get French workmen. Susannah used to have an Antiques shop in Hove and her style is evident in the furnishings. Read more...
Isle De Re July 2018
Today we joined Mike and Thyra at the campsite in La Flotte, Ile de Ré which is an island north of La Rochelle. You reach the island by a toll bridge (16.50 Euros) and we were instantly wowed by the lovely sandy beaches. There are sandy beaches along the south-western side and salt and oyster beds along the north-eastern coastline. We cycled through the narrow cobbled streets that were lined with hollyhocks for cocktails at the pretty La Flotte port and afterwards Mike and Thyra cooked us a barbecue supper. Read more...
Provence September 2016
After working on the house for a few days and fitting a new kitchen door it was off to Provence in the motor home. Read more...
France June 2014 Motor Home
The sun was shining when we arrived in Saint Ellier which was looking very pleasant with all the newly laid roads and pavements. Some big weeds had somehow managed to survive my dose of weedkiller but it wasn't long before they were there no more. They've made a brilliant job of the drain on the kitchen side of the house and have planted a flower border alongside the church side wall. Read more...
France May 2013
We finally left about midday and went via Ciral as Rick wanted to get his baguette but we only got as far as Alencon when he had a big, big panic thinking he had left his mobile at the house. Fortunately it was a false alarm. We stopped at an Aire in the medieval Cite Royale de Loches and wandered around the royal lodge where Joan of Arc met Charles VII and then explored the dungeons (le donjon).
Bluebells are lining the verges, lilac, laburnum and blossom are in full flow and the wisteria is just so fresh that it looks artificial. The only down side is that the crumbs from the French bread and bobbles of wool from my jumper and Rick’s fleece where I washed them at too high a temperature are everywhere and it’s driving me mad. Read more...
Devon & Cornwall - April 2013
It’s been the coldest March and winter since 1963. We left home at 9.15 am, it was dry but only 1 ° but felt like minus 3°. Stayed at Brown’s Farm and met Fi and Mark for mussels and chips at The Diggers Rest. Too much cider and beer – bed at 9pm. Read more...
Motorhome and French House 2012
Tuesday 16 October 2012.
Our LD Lines Newhaven Ferry didn't depart our waters until 10am which gave us a somewhat leisurely start from usual. It was a beautiful, chilly, sunny day but the crossing was little choppy. The motorway toll was just over 20 euros and we got to the house about 6pm French time. Donald, Helen and some friends had only been there a week before to celebrate Paula's 60th birthday so everything was spick and span. I made a spaghetti bolognaise and we toasted our well earned break from Rick's pond and my wooding. Read more...
Bordeaux, St Emilion and Mediterranean coast 2011
We took an LD overnight crossing from Portsmouth to le Havre. Last off the boat, never mind we have downloaded the latest truck sat nav so we don't get stuck under any low bridges and caught out on very narrow roads, especially those with ditches either side. We have a whole month in France and are hoping to spend a couple of nights at the start and end at the house in St Ellier.
The motorhome is fully loaded and it's a sign of our age that we are carrying enough medicines to start a chemist. Pills for calcium, headaches, aching joints, allergies, coldsores, colds; an assortment of sprays for asthma and mosquito protection; creams for all sorts of skin problems plus other medication for anything else that may crop up. Read more...
The Rhine - Aug 2010
Our proposed Scandinavian trip with the Harley boys had to be postponed until next May as Peter was unable to ride his bike in Norway until he was 18. It was quite ironic as we were so prepared. Over the past few months we had been sorting out our camping gear, even spending a few nights trying out the new tent and mattresses in the garden. The day after we heard about the delayed Scandinavian trip Rick spotted a motorhome on Ebay that matched our spec, this is after a about year of looking and almost giving up. Read more
House & Camping Holiday Aug 2009
9.30 am ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe, not sure if we will have a speeding ticket waiting for us back home as Rick was distracted trying to figure out where he had put the key to the box on top of the car. It was a pleasant journey from Dieppe to St. Ellier. Carrouges was absolutely packed as they had some sort of fete with bumper cars and a kiddies ride set up in the square. It was like a huge Car Boot Sale with stalls set up all over the town selling absolute rubbish like old toys,
clothes, books, records.
Shopped at the local supermarket for a few essentials, most things were out of date. All looks well at the house in St Ellier except that the kitchen floor has dropped a lot and the back door at the top of the staircase has also dropped making it difficult to shut. Read more...