Post It from Camping Sainte Claire, Neufchatel-En-Bray, Normandy Monday 15th April 2013

We crossed the English Channel today aboard a DFDS ferry to Calais at midday. Traffic was light on board so we were soon off and on our way down the A16 to our planned destination arriving at 1800. The sun was shining and first impressions of the site were how green and picturesque it was. We quickly booked in using our ACSI card, at a total cost of 12.40 Euros, and were shown to our pitch by the owner on his cycle. We were about as far away from the reception area as we could possibly get, and all the facilities, but it was quiet and suited us fine.

The temperatures were quite warm and this made us feel that we were really on holiday. After a walk around this very relaxed site, chatting with some of the other campers, we settled down for a late evening meal of ASDA spicy meats pizza and fresh salad.

The hour on the clocks made it a late evening for us by the time we had washed all the pots whilst chatting with another motorhome owner who was travelling to northern Spain. We eventually returned to Bessie in the dark and I wanted to see what television programmes you could get in France. We found lots of digital channels, including one in English, so I typed and read the maps in readiness for the next day whilst Sharon watched TV with Smokee asleep on her knee. We did not know where we would end up the next day, particularly as we were travelling off the toll motorways, so I had planned a number of alternative stops.

Next morning I found the unheated shower block a little cold and I think I must have been the first to use the showers as it took an eternity for the water to become even warm. The site was lovely though and we shall undoubtedly return one day.

Positive, the better weather in France after such a long hard winter was a real bonus.

Negative, whilst the Ducato’s 2.2 litre engine did not struggle up the hills pulling the 3.85 tonnes we weighed I did expect it to have done so with a little more gusto, perhaps my expectations are a little high and I have nothing to compare it with after all.