It's so long ago now that we motored down to Shepton Mallet to attend the Bath & West motorhome show then carry on to Cherbourg, around Brittany and Normandy then return via Oxford. Hence, this is a quick romp through 'what we did and where we went'.
It started off fairly well, but the weather was deteriorating every day until it was raining extremely heavily most of the time. Obviously this is not conveyed in any of these photos. First I had a cold, then Chris had a cold. These got better fairly quickly, but worse was a flare-up of Chris's arthritis in her left knee. On some days walking anywhere was not an option.
After Cherbourg and then Bayeux (where I had the cold and wasn't driving) we went to La Flêche because it's in the Beau Detour booklet. It was very nice if rather deserted due to the previous week's downpours. Above is a fairly typical town dedicated camping car parking site. Note the illegally parked camping car on the left behind the red deux cheval, whilst on the right behind the legit camping car are several illigit cars. There's prolly a French phrase for this.
The municipality have done themselves well by colonising the local chateau.
Next we motored to Saumur and the 5* Loire side campsite, that was utterly awash the day after this. Our neighbour was complaining bitterly as he cleaned up prior to leaving.
Later in the day the 'complet' sign went up. The staff had had enough. It wasn't a matter of all pitches taken, but of being overwhelmed by the extra work with no extra staff.
The campsite looks west across the Loir to the chateau and the city. It's very nice but prolly best first thing in the morning, which we don't do.
Chris managed to walk into town, which is a least a kilometre. There was this amusing installation on the main market street.
I didn't buy this bag but it would be cute, maybe, for one of the girls.
We did see the market and made some exceptional purchases such as industrial amounts of herbs of provence.
1p.m. and it's nearly clearing up time. The municipal workers (on Saturday note) are off camera right about to shift that lot. They were 'causing' a traffic jam. French shoppers want markets, want them cleaned-up and want to be able to drive their wretched cars at full speed at all times and conditions of the day and night. Patience in the city is not thought to be much of a virtue.
And the last of the setting sun from the campsite that Saturday.
We drove straight to the next Beau Detour in our itinerary which was Montreuil Bellay, a delightful little tourist town high on a rampart. The campsite was near the river and very wet.
The municipality had created a very attractive garden walk between the road and the river. Here also was the aire parking for coaches and camping cars.
Obviously when motoring in one's classic roadster it's de rigeur to luncheon opposite the closed for lunch chateau.
We sought out the 2* Hotel Splendid for a coffee at a very reasonable price.
There's a walking trail round the town past such curiosities as the former apothecaries's shop. It's now a wine shop (closed, though it claimed to be open).
When the chateau re-opened at 2.30 we took the guided tour. No photographs.
So on to the Beau Detour rampart city (Is there a theme emerging? Chris thought so - it involved walking up a hill with a gammy knee) of Guérande.
The town is all about salt. It's for sale all over, nearly.
All very picturesque and such with loads of tourists.
But our campsite some 5 kilometres away was a real gem. The one drawback was that the bus into Guérande no longer stops at the bus stop at the end of the lane.
Despite the rain of previous days, the site was well drained.
And because it was the end of season the site was quite, calm and secluded.
With in my opinion one of the finest sanitaires in France, though Chris thought it rather open to the elements.
Chris's knee was at its worst whilst we were here.
We thought, as the weather had improved a lot we would re-visit one of our favourite campsites: Navalo at the entrance to the Gulf of Morbihan. It's still a municipal, very well run and appointed.
Chris managed to walk out some and do a little shopping in nearby Crouesty.
Now it was time to head towards Cherbourg, so we thought we would stay at another favourite campsite right in the town of Villedieu les Poêles. It was very near the end of its season but everything was running, clean, dry and welcoming.
By this stage we had had several days of warm sunshine, but it was coldish in the shade and the night time temperature was low.
This is on the edge of a car park, camping car aire and a little park to sit in, all right in the middle of town.
Back to Cherbourg via Ste. Mère Eglise, first French town to be liberated at 04.30hrs on D-day.
Is this the Rabbit of God eating of the Tree of Life? Are there rabbits in Palestine?
The 44th US Airborne arrived by glider and met stiff resistance which just got worse until the main US army came off Omaha beach and relieved the beleaguered special forces.
I decided that we would return home from Poole by a route through the Midlands avoiding the M4 & 6 for as long as possible. Fortunately this could involve another stay at a fave site, the waterlogged CCC in Oxers. I did not even try the sanitaire.
Chris was able to go round the Natural History Museum the afternoon of our first day, but did not attempt the trip, mainly on foot, to the Botanical Gardens. Good decision. It shuts at 4.15 and I arrived at 4.30.
So I photographed the street scene on the way back to the route 300 bus to Redbridge P&R.
Haven't a clue where I am or what I'm lookin at, not having been a 'varsity undergrad, with a balloon and a whistle.
Though it's quite charming. This shows the mail arriving at about 5 pm doubtless bringing news of more murders amongst the dreaming dons.
Oh come on Johnny this is the last collection. All those proof articles going to learned journals no one will read.
Then there is an incident of interest to the bus enthusiast. Note the silhouette of a man between camera and bus. He was wearing a rather natty suit, tie and clipboard and watching that bus, which was trying to effect a right turn on its rout against massive private car incursions.
The bus edges round with lights at red. What cannot be seen are the road works; and what is unclear is that it has meant a lot of traffic re-routing.
Minutes later I run for this very 300 and get a very old-fashioned look from driver and fellow driver in uniform.
A day that would have been perfect if I'd just had half an hour in the Botanical Gardens. Next time.
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