A busy departure day. (4 Viewers)

[Mr porky]

Hi everyone
We are currently parked at Shrewsbury after fitting in what seems like a week of things into 1 day.
The list includes

A meeting in Manchester
A site visit and measure in manchester
A pick up of wheel studs from a trailer company in Chester
A supermarket top up of silly things food wise which are sometimes difficult to find in continental Europe.
A filling at the dentist in Middlewich
A missed delivery of a new rim for a trailer
A conversation with rim supplier as the DHL app won't work
A conversation with farmer Jeff where I store some trailers, he's going to swap my tyre and fit the new rim (great relief)
2 pints of delicious Butty Bach beer In a local pub near to our sleepy spot
A well needed meal at Hickorys smokehouse
Waking up 2 hours ago thinking to myself I hope DHL find the farm/storage next time

Not too bad a start but it did seem as we deserved the beer and food last night, it should be a decent drive today to the camc site next to Folkestone.
We are looking forward to this trip as it seems we have been in the uk too long over this summer.
This was due to family time which is always nice and a bit of dental work that was overdue.
We decided to use the chunnel which does seem to have gotten quite pricy but when I gave Phil the options he insisted on tunnel even when I would have been happy with irish ferries.
Looking forward to a easy time in france with no set path just sticking to the east side as we are off to Dusseldorf salon to view electric bikes and other bits we need.
We may call into Luxembourg as its been over 5 years since we where last there and possibly the mosel region again, not sure we will see where the wind blows.

 

[Mr porky]

We are thinking to go to the airepark Arras as we haven't been to this town before, unfortunately the market was yesterday.
It's only about 1 1/2 hours journey time from calais.

 

[scousebird]

We are thinking to go to the airepark Arras as we haven't been to this town before, unfortunately the market was yesterday.
It's only about 1 1/2 hours journey time from calais.

Lovely aire and town with lots of bars & restaurants. There is a huge market on Saturday if you're still there.

 

[scotzsue]

Have a lovely time, I prefer to drive down overnight, to Newhaven, any extra time sleep at port, have a cabin and wake nice and fresh for the start of the rest of our journey.

 

[Mr porky]

Lovely aire and town with lots of bars & restaurants. There is a huge market on Saturday if you're still there.

Thank you.

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[Mr porky]

A bit breezy on the motorway with a few expletives coming from my mouth but we got to the aire fine and it's a great spot next to the river, I can even hear a donkey calling (love that sound). We chilled out for a bit then had a wander into town to grab a drink then some food in one of the main squares.
There a lot of restaurants and bars so we just chose one randomly.
It was very nice but I really should have used Google translate as I was expecting veal in a mustard sauce but I got veal kidneys in a mustard sauce (they where delicious) .
When phil wakes up I will see if he wants to do another day here (which I suspect he will) or move on.

 

[scousebird]

I'm glad the donkey performed for you

 

[Mr porky]

I'm glad the donkey performed for you

We also got a full chorus at 7.37am but I was awake so no issue.

 

[Carpmart]

Food looks fab!

 

[Mr porky]

Food looks fab!

P'tit Demon bar bistronomique, one of the few that had a small chalk board rather than a printed sign, it doesn't always work but it can signify they base the dishes around what's good from there suppliers. I must admit the oysters where very good quality.

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[The Coops]

A must do are the cellars/caves , go to the tourist information for what is where, before you leave

 

[Barryh]

There’s a nice walk or cycle down the canal/river from there. Turn left on the footpath. Or as above the caves and their use in WW1 are very interesting.

 

[Barryh]

If you do go on the cave tour with a lovely young lady as your guide, then there are no sharks in the caves. It took us a while but we eventually figured out it was chalk she was talking about.

 

[Hawkstone]

Have a great trip, we’re getting ready for the start of our first trip in our new van next week. Ours seemed to involve appointments, additions (awning) and food as well! Fortunately no toothache though , I saw the lovely Francisca 3 weeks ago and passed, phew.

We’re crossing from Poole as it’s only an hour from home.

Enjoy your trip. We have just returned from 7 very chilled nights in Normandy. We have done 260 miles and had 5 different stopovers. One was an ordinary aire, the others were Camping-car Park sites. We prebooked our first night at Briquebec then 2 nights at the Mont Saint Michel site as we knew it may be very busy …and it was. The other at Utah Beach, we just checked availability as we headed that way and swiped our card in entry. Choppy crossing back to Poole yesterday in that wind. Fortunately I have a good stomach. We were in with the trucks so almost last off but they were pretty quick at customs. Arrived at 9.45…home by 10

 

[Ven]

A great start to the trip - good looks very tasty

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[Mr porky]

We started off this morning with a trip up to the top of the belfry in the centre of town which gave us great views across the roof tops.
Next up or down I should say was a guided tour underneath starting from the base of the belfry to look at the original spaces which are from the 9th century that a lot of houses and merchants then used as cellars up to the start of world war 1.
This space was then used to house troops to surprise the Germans. Loads more history is involved with this space.
Total cost for 2 persons for both trips came to €18.
We then enjoyed a delicious set lunch in a old cellar off the square. (On the way to lunch we noticed a red British phonebox)

Another overnight will be enjoyed here so we can have a look around the market tommorow.
Not sure of our next sleepy spot.

 

[Mr porky]

We headed out this morning to the Saturday market and it was nice but we only got a few bits from the market the rest we got from the local deli next to the belfry called Le Prairie and a local boulangerie which had superb bread.

 

[scousebird]

When we were wandering round the market in Arras one time I shocked a stall holder by asking for just 1 pink lady apple

 

[Mr porky]

As we didn't get everything on my shopping list we called into a intermarche supermarket to complete our weekend shopping and I know we are in france for a little bit before we go into Germany but I'm not a great fan of German wines so we took this opportunity to fill up our cellar (yes morelos come equipped with wine cellars).
We also got a new anti mossy racket hopefully this is a better one as the last one didn't last.
Camping behaviour is now on the cards as we are at camping de mon village which is an old municipal campsite run by the aire company camping cars and it's very peaceful until the local French airforce decided to use us as a fake bombing spot (we could be in mar menor in spain )
We are paid up till tommorow lunch we may move on or just chill .
Lunch was a clara beer and a light lunch.

 

[Mr porky]

When we were wandering round the market in Arras one time I shocked a stall holder by asking for just 1 pink lady apple

€4.99 for 6 pink lady's in the intermarche supermarket. They are still there obviously

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[scousebird]

we are at camping de mon village

Which one?

 

[Mr porky]

Which one?

Sorry Cappy

 

[scousebird]

Sorry Cappy

We've been there too

 

[Mr porky]

We've been there too

Anywhere around here you think we shouldn't miss

 

[scousebird]

Anywhere around here you think we shouldn't miss

You said you're heading to Germany?

Charleville-Mezieres is a nice town with a municipal site and CCP aire and depending on your route there's Metz with a municipal site on the riverside, and Strasbourg where there is a Citycamp a short tram ride from the wonderful town centre.

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[Mr porky]

Yes I agree we have done metz and strasbourg before. I will look at Charleville-Mezieres thank you

 

[Mr porky]

We are eventually heading to dusseldorf for the dusseldorf salon

 

[scousebird]

We are eventually heading to dusseldorf for the dusseldorf salon

We've done very little of Germany

 

[Mr porky]

We've done very little of Germany

We have done a little, the mosel and the rhine and the romantic road, so much more to do I feel.

 

[The Coops]

If you want a detour after Dusseldorf head for Prora on the island of Rugen up on the Baltic, its where a certain A Hitler had built his Strength Through Joy Hotel complex, its huge. The sands are that clean and light that they whistle as you walk on it, carry on to Peenemunde and the old Baltic Hansa Towns and drop back down via the German Lake District, Mecklenburg on to Dresden, just an idea for you culture vultures

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[Mr porky]

If you want a detour after Dusseldorf head for Prora on the island of Rugen up on the Baltic, its where a certain A Hitler had built his Strength Through Joy Hotel complex, its huge. The sands are that clean and light that they whistle as you walk on it, carry on to Peenemunde and the old Baltic Hansa Towns and drop back down via the German Lake District, Mecklenburg on to Dresden, just an idea for you culture vultures

I will pass this onto Philip so he can check his lonely planet. Then plan accordingly. Thank you for the pointers.