Sunday 6th

Sunday 6^th May

5:30am …..All ready to go and yes …..the motorhome is stuck in the mud. At 6am I knock up the campsite owner who arrives at the door in a very elegant silk dressing gown. He promises to bring his 4wd and tow rope. After a short wait he arrives. He’s a nice man who is very optimistic and experienced in such matters, even though we’re the first. He hitches up gives me instructions as to how I should drive “smooth,with little acceleration, I’ve seen this done in the French Alps in the snow on ski holidays”

Eventually we set off, the motorhome glides across the field, slightly swaying from left to right, we move, we stop, we move again. All the time the motorhome wheels spin and rip into the muddy earth. Eventually just as he gets me onto the safety of his pebbled drive, the tow rope breaks, but we’re safe on firm ground. After untying the tow rope we both look back to survey the two perfectly parallel mud tracks spread across his neatly manicured field………”Trailblazers” I say!

We thank him sincerely for all he’s done and I promise that these events wont stop us from returning next year. Off to the port where we make the 8am ferry with minutes to spare. Meanwhile the campsite owner eats a well earned breakfast wondering what he’ll do with the 6 tons of stone he’ll order on Monday and how he’ll prepare the field for the return of The Trailblazers next year.

After driving off the ferry at 11am French time we drive about 275 miles. Its very cool so the quicker we get to the south the better. With the motorhome we’ve been looking forward to using the French Aires and we find a real gem.  A place on the canal bank at Froncles about50 miles south of Reims. There is also a river behind us. There is electricity to plug into and showers and toilets available all for 3 euros. A great location, a great price.