The French Adventure

[Cal]

1 hour ago, ChrisB said:

Honfleur is a real jewel of La Manche.

This is if you are not stuck for hours on the outer pontoon awaiting the lock opening.

Beautiful place if not a tad touristy. Mind you a cruise ship full of US tourists is in dock which doesn't help!

[Cal]

Getting off the Honfleur aire was interesting this morning. The service point was super busy not helped by very slow taps but also the exit barrier was playing up which led to a long queue of vans waiting to get out and some frayed tempers from one or two van owners. 

 

We just sat back and watched and let themselves sort themselves out. Eventually a very patient French man took over the ticket barrier and got the queue moving along.

 

We are now at the supermarket stocking up for a few days. Our friends are still in the queue for the service point so we will wait here for them and get showered and give the inside of the van a quick wipe around

[Cal]

Gouviller sur mer

[Cal]

We are heading into Brittany today in search of a castle.

Well. That is the plan so far. They remain fluid and can change at short notice 🤣🤣🤣

[kpnut]

23 minutes ago, Cal said:

We are heading into Brittany today in search of a castle.

Plenty further south 😂😂😂

Your holiday sounds very relaxing and easygoing. Wonderful. 

[YnysMon]

1 hour ago, kpnut said:

Plenty further south 😂😂😂

Your holiday sounds very relaxing and easygoing. Wonderful. 

I’m sure it’s also hotter further south! A castle sounds like a good idea on a hot day. Nice and cool inside. I recall visiting the castle where William the Conqueror was born on a scorching day. It was bliss…inside anyway.

[MauriceMynah]

Isn't it clever how they can tell what the weather was like when William the Conqueror was born.  :-)

[YnysMon]

7 hours ago, MauriceMynah said:

Isn't it clever how they can tell what the weather was like when William the Conqueror was born.  :-)

Whoops, some punctuation missing there. At least it caused a laugh. 

[Cal]

Josselin.

 

A free aire for the next 48 hours.

 

Really pretty place. Not recommended to get lost in the town centre pedestrianised area in a motorhome though. Still we got out unscathed and unharmed.

 

Gave the locals a laugh 🤣🤣🤣

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Cal]

Another day in Josselin today.

We made the most of the cooler early morning temperatures to have a good walk with Syd this morning and collect some warm fresh croissants for breakfast on the way back. 

We are now back at the van shading from the worst of the heat. Has given us chance to have a bit of a clean up and tidy round of the van.

We will be back into town later for a couple of drinks before coming back and getting the Cadac out again. Too hot to cook in the van at the minute.

Supposed to be 34 degrees here today but it's already 33 so expect it will be hotter than forecast!

[Cal]

Once it has had cooled off enough yesterday chef made a really nice alfresco meal before we went for a walk around town.

Time to move on today. We need a service stop and a good walk before we go though.

[kpnut]

What a pretty place. 
 

Please can you tell me what regs are now needed to take the dog to France?

[Cal]

3 minutes ago, kpnut said:

What a pretty place. 
 

Please can you tell me what regs are now needed to take the dog to France?

They need an animal health certificate from your vets which must be dated 1 to 10 days prior to travel. 

That is then valid for 4 months onward travel in the EU.

Coming back they need a worming tablet and the relevant section of the certificate stamping by a vet, much the same as was required in the pet passport.

We got our certificate from our own vets and it cost £200 but there are places that do a click and collect type service for around £100. 

Check in at the tunnel was super smooth and we were done and on our way in about 5 minutes. 

[Cal]

It is hot hot hot here today. 37 degrees. Too hot to do anything really. 

We have the van tanks dealt with, rinsed some clothing out and hung out to dry, which doesn't take long and have hidden in the van for some shade.

Watching the hire boats on turn around day heading out in this heat. Really don't envy them.

We have managed to keep the van cooler with the roof fan on and the sun canopy shading the sunny side windows. The dog is asleep under a wet towel keeping cool.

Will get some pictures later when it's cooler.

[Cal]

It did eventually cool down enough for us to venture down the road where we found a lovely bar and chatted away the evening before getting what had to be the best takeaway pizza we have ever eaten sat by the river.

[Cal]

Just been for a walk round the marina and they still have Crapi, sorry Capri for hire. It was a terrible boat in 2018, can't imagine it has aged any better 🤣🤣🤣

[Vaughan]

You must be in Messac, by the look of it? 

I remember Josselin as well, which was the limit of a week's cruse from Messac and back.  A beautiful area to cruise but sadly, not connected to the rest of the French canal system.

[Cal]

8 minutes ago, Vaughan said:

You must be in Messac, by the look of it? 

I remember Josselin as well, which was the limit of a week's cruse from Messac and back.  A beautiful area to cruise but sadly, not connected to the rest of the French canal system.

Indeed we are. 

Lovely place. 

Heading to La Gacilly today. 

[Cal]

It was another hot and humid day yesterday. 

 

We travelled early and spent the afternoon shading from the sun on the free aire at La Gacilly. 

 

When the sun had gone down and the heat started to abate we head out to explore the town.

[kpnut]

This all reminds me of that heatwave in 2003. We were camping in the Vezere valley. Tony spent two weeks hiding under a tree, only venturing out during the day to go for a shower. 
On our last day the two kids and I left him under his tree and went caving. It was only then the real intensity of the heat hit me, as I crawled out through a narrow passage. As I got nearer the exit, the heat (41•C) was like a wave coming in.  And then we had a long walk down the hill in full caving gear. Hot or what?

Thankyou for your holiday tale and the beautiful photos. 

[Cal]

Looking forward to a cooler day today. Its only forecast to get to 28 degrees today with the chance of some rain.

We have driven through a few heavy showers and the air feels much fresher for it.

[Cal]

A much cooler day today and we had some rain which cooled it down further.

 

We are a commercial aire which at €16 is the most expensive we have visited but it is like a UK campsite and fully serviced.

 

We have a lovely view of tomorrow's destination. 

 

[Cal]

It warmed up again yesterday after the rain so we had seafood alfresco again for dinner. We will miss the amazing seafood here. 

Wasn't long after that the sun started setting so we took the dog for a walk before retiring into the van.

It is much fresher and cooler this morning. I have had to put trousers on for the first time in over a week 🤣🤣🤣

[Cal]

Utah Beach

 

[grendel]

you are not kidding me, they are plastic soldiers- look you can see the bases