2nd honeymoon...

[Cleve]

Thanks for the beautiful pictures and the useful information, particularly Switzerland. I will be there for the last week and a bit of next month. As I am under 3.5 tonnes I have already got my annual vignette. I will make a point of getting well stocked up in France, I knew it was pricey but heh hoh. I will be Interlaken for about 7 days and Blonay another 4. I will be buying the regional pass for 6 days.

Keep the pictures and dialogue coming please I find it educational, amusing and informative. Thank you.

Clive

 

[Mousy]

all sorted but I best wait til tomorrow to further our tale.

 

[Fenman]

So enjoying this trip and randomly exploring Venice is just how we hope to do it -probably late autumn when schools etc., have gone back.
Many, many thanks.

 

[Mousy]

These are just some of the wonderful things I could of bought if I was married to a different husband...

Obviously I wouldn't want a pig..

But I was tempted by the cheese...

And I bet these smoked meats tasted amazing...

I couldn't think of a craft project quickly enough to justify buying any of these beautiful shell buttons..

Even I wouldn't want a boars head but I expect Libby and Tim (our daughter and son in law) would love to add him to their collection. Martin however was constantly repeating "non" "it's crap, just French crap, you don't need it, your life is complete "..

There could be the next Antiques roadshow latest gem in there.

My pleas of potentially starting a new hobby fell on deaf ears too. (No ukes @cliffandger, I did check).

What wonderful ornaments for the Moho dashboard..."Non, walk on..you must be mad".

So walk on we did, back to the van and out of Chatenois..

A few additional cars had joined us in the car park, for a minute it felt like we were back in time..

There was another row on the left, we saw one that had a clock in the middle of the steering wheel, but I couldn't work out how to open the door for a photo..

The normal aire was at the other end of the high street and we'd recommend Chatenois as a stopover if you are ever this way. We found this little car park fine for a night and despite Martins protest we both enjoyed the fete..

 

[Anthea M]

Loving your trip through the market!! I'm like you but would buy the tat while Rob was looking at old LPs etc!! Safe travels home and hope the ankle is better.

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[cliffanger]

No ukes but @SteveandDenise would have been in their element! Lovely photos, and the town looks good for a stopover. Safe travels back xx

 

[Spidey]

Loved reading about your trip I too have a hubby that moves me on quickly at shops, fetes and markets. His lastest trick is to ensure he has the money and just walks further on than me But I know I am an impulse buyer and if I have to get the money by catching him up then I usually see sense

 

[Mousy]

We left Chatenois and using the campercontact app decided an aire next to a lake looked nice. As we were in no rush we took the back roads.

We stopped along the way for a lunch break in the gorgeous sunshine.

Whilst rummaging around in the glove box I found an Austrian go box must remember we've got one next time..

We arrived at the aire and were lucky enough to bag the last space. Sainte Marie Du Lac Nuisemunt..

I left Martin to converse with our French neighbours and fanny around with the outside jobs whilst I walked Millie.

The kite surfers were lovin life.

But only a few hardy souls using the beach, well it was about 8.30pm.

When I got back Martin had obviously used the jacks in anger as I needed a step ladder to get into the van! But he assured me we were now perfectly level..

A nice place for bike rides around the lake, dog walks and I'm sure in the summer sunshine it's a great amenity.

Onwards tomorrow to Epernay and fizz.

 

[Mousy]

We drove past vast fields of rape seed, before the appearance of vineyards heralded our arrival in the champagne region.

Martin was in a buoyant mood, I suspect he was relying on Epernay being closed for labour day. We've previously shot past on our way south so I was happy to explore and have a wander.

Well worth the stop, the street of champagne houses was beautiful. The avenue du Champagne.

The trees lining the road were all in full bloom and smelt amazing.

And readers...this one was open....we were going in....

 

[rb62]

Those photos brought back memories of my A level 'see europe in 10 days' coach trip,off the ferry, coffee and croisant in Chartres then a trip round the Bollinger HQ,don't remember what we did for the rest of the day and what went on in Genoa put me off Martini for life

I've even found my souvenir

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[Mousy]

I like a glass of fizz as much the next girl and whilst I'm no wine snob I've always preferred Veuve Clicquot to Moet but I was prepared to slum it just to get a peek into their cellars.

We paid €24 each which would include tastings.

Our French but English speaking guide was great, she led us down the 22 km of cellars chock a block with bottles of champers.

She explained some of the magical process that makes champagne and I was genuinely surprised that every single bottle of Moet sold spends time in these cellars. I naively thought there would be a modern factory somewhere.

With one bottle opened world wide every second (she said) that's a lot of popping.

Martin of course was driving so I just had to have his.

At over €2,000 a pop I guess this is just for special occasions..

All tours end by exiting through the gift shop and by now I had a few glasses under my belt... Luckily Martin said non to this impulse buy....(Sorry Phebs, thought it would be a great welcome back from your honeymoon gift).

A slightly piddled selfie..

The sunshine was a shock after the cold and dark, we both really enjoyed our tour, perhaps because it was a very small group and everything was closed...we'd like to come back and see some more...

Millie wasn't bothered about being left in the van for an hour either...I think she was surprised by my enthusiastic greetings and slurred "I really love you"..

 

[Mousy]

After spending the night just outside Epernay we bolted up to Calais the next morning for our train home.

6 hours later we were back home in Wales having an Indian with our sons, daughter and son in law, we had been missed!

Millie was treated to a wash and blow dry so she now smells gorgeous.

We'd travelled 2530 miles, averaging about 23 mpg and used 14 liters of gas.

We hope you've enjoyed sharing our holibobs and look forward to seeing some of you in a field somewhere...

Oh and those other honeymooners...

Looks like they had a good time too..

Ciao bella xx

 

[Wombles]

Thank you for sharing your adventures & all the great photos

 

[scousebird]

Loved your hollibob. It's lovely to see other's holiday pics when I'm stuck in work

 

[denisejoe]

Really enjoyed your thread. Some amazing photos! Will miss seeing your fantastic photos and chat!

Denise

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[big map]

Great photos and fantastic blog @Mousy Thank you for posting.

 

[Just smiffy]

@Mousy where did you park up..? We are going to Epernay on Sunday for 4 days, we were going to try the aire by the church that's on campercontact....

Thanks...

 

[Mousy]

@Mousy where did you park up..? We are going to Epernay on Sunday for 4 days, we were going to try the aire by the church that's on campercontact....

Thanks...

In the day we parked by the bus station and swimming pool in town approx 1km from rue du Champagne. Then we moved and managed to park outside the champagne mansions but it was a bank holiday and very quiet. There is a big car park here...

The aire we stayed in at night was just through Dizy, up the hill turn left, left again and it was tucked in behind a school. I'm out at the moment so I'll find the co ords for you later. Unless you can identify the Aires from my feeble directions!