The Big France Trip - Summer 2014

This story happened on: 04/09/2014

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It's really difficult to give the details of our visit to France this year as we did so much. As photo's are the main aim of this 'story', and as it is difficult to add photos to the main text, I will add them in the reply boxes below. Look at the date below and scroll down to the reply boxes and look for the appropriate date. Hope some of the photos and comments might inspire someone to visit some of the places on our list. Fingers crossed that this works!!! Add any comments and questions and I will do my best to answer.

20 July SUNDAY Travel from Polesworth to Folkestone Eurotunnel Terminal. Train at 10.26pm. Travel through the night to Gueret, La Creuse.
21 July MONDAY (Gueret, France) Travel from Eurotunnel Terminal at Calais to Gueret - arr. Approx 2pm
22 July TUESDAY (Gueret, France) Visit Sous-Parsat Church and Franseches/Masgot
23 July WEDNESDAY (Gueret, France) Visit sister and brother-in-law at Fresselines
24 July THURSDAY (Gueret, France) Visit Benevent-L'Abbaye and Cascade des Jarrauds
25 July FRIDAY (Aubignan) Travel from Gueret to Camping Le Bregoux, Aubignan, France
26 July SATURDAY (Aubignan) Visit Mont Ventoux
27 July SUNDAY (Aubignan) Visit Vaison La Romaine
28 July MONDAY (Aubignan) Visit Rousillion, drive to Bonnieux, Lacoste, Menerbes
29 July TUESDAY (Aubignan) Visit Orange
30 July WEDNESDAY (Frejus) Travel from Aubignan to Frejus: Caravanning L'Etoile d'Argens
31 July THURSDAY (Frejus) Visit some 'old haunts' in the locality.
1 August FRIDAY (Frejus) Day at Campsite
2 August SATURDAY (Frejus) Visit Grand Canyon du Verdon
3 August SUNDAY (Frejus) Day at Campsite
4 August MONDAY (Frejus) Visit Mons
5 August TUESDAY (Frejus) Day at Campsite
6 August WEDNESDAY (Frejus) a.m. campsite; p.m St Raphael beach
7 August THURSDAY (Frejus) Visit Madonne D'Utelle & Gorge de la Vesubie
8 August FRIDAY (Frejus) Day at Campsite - picnic lunch out
9 August SATURDAY (Frejus) Day in Monaco
10 August SUNDAY (Frejus) a.m. campsite; p.m St Raphael beach
11 August MONDAY (Frejus) Visit Gourdon
12 August TUESDAY (Frejus) Day at Campsite - picnic lunch out
13 August WEDNESDAY (Neydens) Travel from Frejus to La Columbiere
14 August THURSDAY (Neydens) Visit Old Bridge at Cruiselles and La Saleve
15 August FRIDAY (Neydens) Visit Yvoire
16 August SATURDAY (Neydens) Vist Lake Annecy
17 August SUNDAY (Neydens) Visit Geneva & Switzerland
18 August MONDAY (La Rochette, Melun) Travel from La Columbiere to Camping La Belle Etoile, Quai Maréchal Joffre, La Rochette, France
19 August TUESDAY (La Rochette) Carol & Anna visit Paris
20 August WEDNESDAY (La Rochette) Visit Gorges d'Apremont, towns on the Seine
21 August THURSDAY (Chalon-en-Champagne) Travel from La Rochette to Chalons-en-Champagne
22 August FRIDAY (Chalon-en-Champagne) Visit Epernay and Champagne Route (Vets @ 17h.30)
23 August SATURDAY (Chalon-en-Champagne) Day at Campsite - picnic lunch out. Pack up day.
24 August SUNDAY Travel from Chalons-en-Champagne to Calais. Eurotunnel 10.50pm
25 August MONDAY Travel through the nigh from Eurotunnel to Home

Now for the details and photos.........

David

52 comments

paul56 commented on 09/09/2014 19:31

Member

paul56

Caravanner

Commented on 09/09/2014 19:31

Thanks for all the effort you have put in to write this D. Much appreciated. Didn't take the 'van abroad this summer - your post makes me realise what we missed!

royandsharont commented on 10/09/2014 08:27

Member

royandsharont

Motorhomer

Commented on 10/09/2014 08:27

Thanks for the additional info David. I have never been to Monaco but I did have a friend who was Captain on John Paul Getty's yacht and he was always in port there with his guests. How the other half live eh! Regards, Roy

DSB commented on 10/09/2014 17:47

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DSB

Caravanner

Commented on 10/09/2014 17:47

Thanks for all the effort you have put in to write this D. Much appreciated. Didn't take the 'van abroad this summer - your post makes me realise what we missed!

Thanks Paul. Still have a handful of photos to go...

David

DSB commented on 10/09/2014 17:52

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DSB

Caravanner

Commented on 10/09/2014 17:52

Thanks for the additional info David. I have never been to Monaco but I did have a friend who was Captain on John Paul Getty's yacht and he was always in port there with his guests. How the other half live eh! Regards, Roy

It's worth going just for the fireworks, but it's heavy going on the feet!! When we were waiting for the fireworks, we were approached by a young lady who actually spotted the dog and approached us because she was missing her own dog (the same breed) at home. She was working on a large boat owned by some rich Australian lady and seemed to be enjoying herself, although she said the work was hardand the hours long. How the other half live indeed!!!

David

DSB commented on 14/09/2014 15:23

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DSB

Caravanner

Commented on 14/09/2014 15:23

14 August THURSDAY (Neydens) Visit Old Bridge at Cruiselles and La Saleve.

We arrived at Neyden's, still in France, but near Geneva on 13 August. It was damp and a little wet underfoot.

On the 14th we went to visit an old bridge just South of Cruseilles. The floor of the bridge still had wooden slats - luckily closed to traffic but you could walk across...

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After a stoll across the bridge and back we drove up to Mt Soleve for lunch and a view over Geneva...

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David

DSB commented on 14/09/2014 15:28

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DSB

Caravanner

Commented on 14/09/2014 15:28

15 August FRIDAY (Neydens) Visit Yvoire

We started off by aiming for Evian, but the place was so busy we decided not to stop. Instead we went to Yvoire - a medieval village on the banks of Lake Geneva (Lac Leman). Very busy little place - full of tourists. Lots of tourist type shops!!

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David

DSB commented on 14/09/2014 15:35

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DSB

Caravanner

Commented on 14/09/2014 15:35

16 August SATURDAY (Neydens) Vist Lake Annecy

We couldn't even park the car when we went to Annecy - it was so busy. Instead we drove up into the hill for lunch and then on the way down bumped into a French bride on the way to the church..

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...then we did a circular tour of Lake Annecy stopping off at various points...

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In the meantime, back at the campsite, the English had arrived! A Caravan Club Rally organised by the North London Centre...

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David

DSB commented on 14/09/2014 15:42

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DSB

Caravanner

Commented on 14/09/2014 15:42

17 August SUNDAY (Neydens) Visit Geneva & Switzerland

We certainly chose a good day for our little visit to Geneva and Switzerland. A good view of the lake and famous fountain....

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As we drove out of Geneva the Swiss side we go a view we weren't expecting. Mt Blanc in all it's glory....

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David

DSB commented on 14/09/2014 15:45

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DSB

Caravanner

Commented on 14/09/2014 15:45

18 August MONDAY (La Rochette, Melun) Travel from La Columbiere to Camping La Belle Etoile, Quai Maréchal Joffre, La Rochette, France

One final photo of the pitch at La Columbiere, before packing up and setting off for Melun. This would have been a grass pitch but they put down some stones so that we didn't get the full effect of the soft ground.

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