Millau Thursday 16th May 2019

Our arrival in Millau made me suddenly realise that this trip is fast becoming Phil and Barbs tour of French rivers. Our first night was on the Somme, second on the Seine, third on the Loire. 4th on the Allier and 5th on the Tarn. All stops have been on riverside sites or Aires. Millau is a pleasant town with chic bars and spacious parks. Its surrounded by mountains with deep gorges so it consequently attracts the active types that enjoy mountain biking, hill walking, canoeing and paragliding. Most sites are positioned on the riverside and we chose Les Erables a well shaded site with large pitches and good facilities. Cost was 12 euros a night. The weather is due to change for a couple of days with rain expected so we will probably head to the Med coast.

Millau centre

The Tarn river.

15th May in Vichy

The Aire at Vichy

Most sites are on the river. Presently the whole area is undergoing a big tidy up with a promenade being built along the river bank.

Nice drive down to Vichy a spa town in central France. We've stayed here before a couple of times before. We headed for a site we'd previously used with the kids but found an Aire just outside the gates that belonged to the site. Cost 10 euros a night with 16 amps electricity, shower, toilets, water etc. Campers can use the site facilities apart from the pool. Great stopover see photos above.

12th May 2019

The lingering Brexit uncertainties and the purchase of our new motorhome resulted in a late departure for Europe. We got the Eurotunnel out at 5:30pm after watching the Premier League climax on the laptop in the Eurotunnel car park. Not the conclusion we wanted but still we have the Champions League final to look forward to when we reach Spain.
We arrived fairly late in the St Valery Sur Somme/ Le Crotoy area, too late for campsites so we stopped at the aire in St Valery (12 euros with 'lecky but no toilets). A well positioned aire close to the town centre. Unfortunately we were also too late for the restaurants so settled for a tinned curry and rice washed down with a few tins of Boddingtons...how French.

St Valery Sur Somme

The following day we headed to one of our favourites Les Andelys, a beautiful riverside town with a great ACSI site. Walking along the riverside in the warm sunshine made us feel like we were on holiday. The site has good facilities although the electric connection wasn't strong enough for the heating in the van.

 Les Andelys on the river Seine

Early Tuesday we decided to 'bite the bullet' and take the shorter route to The Loire which meant touching Paris. For the last 20 years we've always avoided Paris but I felt confident that we would avoid traffic and just 'skirt' the capital. How wrong , the sat nav kept to the main artery route but got pretty close to the Eiffel Tower. Yes we hit traffic but we still made decent time and arrived at the aire in Chatillon Sur Loire just after noon. A lovely location close to the Loire river and on the banks of a canal port. The cost was just under 10 euros with electric, toilets, showers, water, dump and a large pitch. We discovered some lovely walks in the area but only stayed one night.

First trip out in new motorhome.

Picked up our new motorhome on Friday (26th April 2019) the first brand new vehicle we have ever bought, an Adria Matrix Supreme 670DC. The following Sunday we headed off to the south coast stopping overnight for a free night at Cornish Farm caravan park just outside Taunton. Here we had a Growler alarm and tracker fitted. We then drove a further 5 miles to have mirror protectors fitted. Now we were ready for the off and went to Beer Head Caravan park. 3 really nice days walking the cliff path trails. We walked into Seaton along a really nice waterfront. Of an evening we ate in the pubs watching the Champions League semis (Spurs v Ajax, Barcelona v Lpool). Tomorrow (Thursday) we are booked into Ladram Bay.

Jonesy, the original Growler.

Looking down on Beer with Seaton in the background.

Clifftops heading towards Branscombe

Beach at Branscombe

Thursday morning we moved to Ladram Bay for 3 nights. Walked into Sidmouth on one of the days and also Budleigh Salterton another day. Ate out at the Kings Head in the lovely village of Otterton

Looking towards Ladram Bay

Waterfront at Budleigh Salterton

The river Otter near Otterton

"Who me"?

Day out Ramsbottom Chocolate festival 7th April.

Mainly Food but described as a Chocolate Festival. We decided to park at Heywood station and take Aiden on the steam train. He really enjoyed this trip out, again lovely weather and well worth the trip.

6 Glorious days on South Coast.13 February - 18th.

Well we agreed that we wanted to trade our motorhome in for a 4 berth so that Aiden and maybe Sophie could occasionally join us. We had a good offer from Signature in Preston on a brand new Adria Matrix Supreme but wanted to look at more so we headed south to the dealers there. The weather was now around 21c most days so after looking in Highbridge we went to Cofton Park for 3 days (13,14,15th February). Beautiful long walks around this area, relaxing evenings in the nearby pubs drinking tasty real ales with good food and just an enjoyable relaxing time.
Then we headed to the New Forest for the Weltaf walk on the Saturday staying overnight at Three Trees Camping at Romsey. 42 Welsh Terriers on the walk and we managed to chat with and share stories with a few Weltaf members.
 After this we headed to Wells, nice site but some distance to the town and pubs, found a good one where we were given a free round of drinks because they brought Barb the wrong meal, she wasn't bothered. From Wells we had our final evening at Moreton in Marsh. In between we visited Premier motorhomes near Portsmouth and had a final look at a Rapido in Highbridge. On the way home we stopped at the NEC motorhome show as guests of Brownhills (morning coffee and lunch provided by them). We also met up with Richard from Signature and managed to re-negotiate an even better deal on the Adria. Every day of the trip was warm sunshine amazing for February.

7am walk around Moreton in Marsh.

October 22, 2018 ·

Spent last night on the aire at Peruwelz , Belgium. Talked to a scouser who used to live about a mile from where I lived. Then he moved to Newton le Willow....a couple of miles from where I live now...small world. Now at our last stop, the aire at Wissant, usual walk on beach, then a beer , now waiting for our steak meal at the nearby restaurant...they think we're regulars now.