Don’t Bring the Camembert Home!

It’s been two and a half years since we last ventured overseas to Europe. Various medical conditions have prevented us from exploring abroad. Not that all things are back to normal but normal enough to allow us a month in France. We had to delay our departure as our eldest son was getting marriage in early September so it was not until 11^th of the month that we left home and headed for Black Horse Farm at Folkestone. We were billy no mates on the ferry pitches but we did acquire a few chums by the evening!!! I noticed in the site comments book that people were complaining about being disturbed by people leaving early. When we got up most of our neighbours had gone and we hadn’t heard a thing!!! Thinking it would only be a short journey to the Tunnel we soon discovered that one of the entrances had been sealed up which then involved a detour of a few miles. Luck clearly wasn’t with us because as we booked in the printer that prints the windscreen hangers ran out of paper, not to mention the rain rapidly washing my reference number off my booking form!!! 

Crossing went smoothly and we were soon heading along the coastal road following the signs for Rouen. If there is a town most asked about on Club Together it is Rouen and how to get through it or round it!!! We were heading for Pont de L’Arche which involved leaving the main route through Rouen and heading out on the D6015 so in effect going down the other side of the River Seine. When we got to the Municipal in the Town we had to wait a couple of hours so we parked in the handy motorhome Aire immediately outside the campsite. By the time the site opened the sun was out. Having set up we went for a walk around the rather pleasant little town. It was only a one night stop and the following morning we were on the road again, this time heading for Amboise in the Loire Valley. All the advice I have given people over the years about checking your route on the sat nav before setting off and what do I do, just ignore it. Ending up going down the A28 rather than the N154 which if nothing else was a more costly option. Another Municipal campsite on an island in the Loire and within walking distance of the town which was handy as we spent the next two days exploring. 

Time for the journey south to continue. Today heading for Issoire just south of Clermont Ferrand and yet another Municipal just off the A75. On the way down we kept seeing signs saying there were problems further south at Lodeve and the motorway was closed. The actual story was that during a torrential storm a culvert under the southbound carriage way was washed away with most of the road. We stayed another day to consider our plans and set off on what was eventually a cross country route via Ales and Nimes. Very pretty but also very much up and down dell so it took some concentration and fingers crossed that you did not meet an HGV coming towards you of the many bends!!! By the time we got to our planned destination at Marseillan Plage it was late afternoon. Our chosen site was full and despite being invited to stay on the car park to see what became available the following day set off for another campsite which we had used before, Camping Robinson. Fortunately they had plenty of room but the downside being that it is further from the centre and we would only be able to stay a week as they were then due to close on 26^th September. We quite like the simplicity of Robinson and enjoyed a pleasant week there of generally hot and sunny weather although it was windy at times. 

Time to move on but not very far as we headed for Camping de la Cite at Carcassonne, we had stayed before but it was over twenty years ago. I think the site might be larger now. It’s ideal for visiting the old city as there is a path along the river and it takes us oldies about 30 minutes to walk. The following day we rode into Carcassonne on our bikes to  explore the more modern town. Nearly the end of September and the site is still quite busy although its only open for another week. After our three night stay we were again heading north, well sort of as it was actually north west. Our destination was the Municipal at Montech which had previously been a Flower Camping site so don’t quite know what happened there. This campsite is adjacent to the Montauban Canal and a short ride down the towpath brings you to the  Canal Lateral a la Garonne which is the other half of the Canal du Midi route that eventually takes you to the Atlantic. Of particular interest and not far by foot or bike from the campsite is the Pente d’Eau inclined plane which allows boats to bypass several locks. I am not sure it is still in working condition as it does look a bit sad. 

After three days at Montech we moved north again this time to Limoges. Camping d'Uzurat gets its name from the lake next door to the campsite. There is a lovely man in reception that is willing to spend a lot of time giving you information on the City of Limoges. It was still nice and sunny but there was a chill in the air, well it is October now! Our plan was to explore the area near the campsite on the first day and sus out where the bus stop was and the following day catch the bus into Limoges. Unfortunately the plan to visit Limoges had to be abandoned as it poured with rain on the Saturday and we didn’t fancy getting soaked. The same was true of Vendome where our two nights at the campsite were very wet and during our last night we had a massive thunderstorm which put out the site electrics. When we left at 9.00am the following morning they were still off. We had made the decision that as the weather did not seem to be showing any improvement we would change our crossing to the Thursday rather than the Saturday and stay at Bearstead overnight before heading home on the Friday a day earlier than planned. No problem changing our crossing although we had to pay an extra £24. Our final two nights in France were spent at Camping de la Haye at Rue in Northern France not far from the Baie de Somme. The site has the advantage that there is a supermarket opposite the entrance for last minute shopping. We did have a wander around the town of Rue and its worth visiting the Tourist Office as they have an interesting exhibition on flying and planes in the local area pre-war. 

Rue is only 60 miles from Calais so handy for a first/last stop. No evidence of problems using Eurotunnel except perhaps a lot more fences in place. We had travelled about 2000 miles in all and spent about £360 on site fees. The two most expensive sites we used were the Club sites at either end of the trip!!! 

If you want to read more and see more photographs you can visit my Blog here http://www.davidklyne.co.uk/dont_bring_home.html