canal du midi à la chaser Feb 2017

[Taran_Las]

David, there are two aires at Le Crotoy. My shocking incident was at the beach aire. Any risk/sound of thunder get out of there PDQ​

 

[DavidG58]

David, there are two aires at Le Crotoy. My shocking incident was at the beach aire. Any risk/sound of thunder get out of there PDQ​

thanks Phil, we are thinking of the town aire based on reviews, lightning can't strike twice anyway



can it

 

[Manic]

David, there are two aires at Le Crotoy. My shocking incident was at the beach aire. Any risk/sound of thunder get out of there PDQ​

No ,there is 3 aires, Camping car Parks have one there also.

 

[Taran_Las]

No ,there is 3 aires, Camping car Parks have one there also.

Thanks. I stand corrected.

 

[bigtree]

Montreuil sur Mer has a good aire with a good walk round the towns fortified walls.

http://www.fortified-places.com/montreuil/

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[DavidG58]

Montreuil sur Mer has a good aire with a good walk round the towns fortified walls.

http://www.fortified-places.com/montreuil/

thanks, we have stayed there a few times, but had a bad meal last time, trying somewhere new this trip

 

[Clarky]

Lamotte Beauvron, possibly wouldn't use it overnight, but nice location beside a canal basin, good place for a lunch stop and free dump and free water if turned on

Lamotte-Beauvron is fine for an overnight stop. Although it's close to the D2020 the road is quiet at night and if you go down the end, well away from the road, it is fine.
Nouan-le-Fuzelier is a nice spot for a lunch break but can be a bit noisy at night I think as it's very close to the busy rail line.

Shame they are putting barriers in at La Mailleraye but its not surprising as its such a popular aire. I guess it will stop the Frenchies arriving after the money is collected and clearing off early.
Will miss the chap calling for the money in the evening though, they are always very friendly.
We will be there on Thursday so will give an update on progress.

Richard.

 

[Neilfg]

Bev walked to vets to change booking for Lola for tomorrow at 18:00, now booked for 10:00 in morning, price is €15 which will be the cheapest we have paid by around €10, will confirm price tomorrow, but well worth the detour to here for any other dog travellers

So does that include the tablets as well? How did you book initially?

Cheapest we ever had was €17 including tablet, paid 47 in Montendre.

Love the updates, but have to get out and about ourselves and stop living vicariously

 

[Robert Clark]

Stunning pics and places David
We've never really spent much time in France, will certainly be using this thread for future reference.
Thanks for sharing !

 

[laird of Dunstan]

Thanks for the pictures David,Bev and Lola ,I'm at work on a dull grey Northamptonshire morning ,not one bit jealous ,not one bit

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[DavidG58]

morning all, the vets has turned out not to be quite the bargain we hoped for

€15 covered the consultation, but if we had taken our own worming tablet which we did the first couple of times, one used it, another wouldn't, then the bill would have been €15, but paid €31 including a pair of tablets due to Lolas size, still not bad and better than other we have paid. Will bring our tablets next time and use here again.

We rang ahead and booked a consultation (not an appointment, when ringing)

forget to mention yesterday bought our cheapest fuel so far, partly because I can't get the grips with the credit card in the 24/24 options with no caisse, we sue service areas on main roads and pay the penalty, or petrol stations in towns, favoured option and sometimes around the same price a the supermarket, but we have noticed a lot f these are converting to cards only

I might start another thread when home to see if there is a standard format to the auto pumps, it really cant be that hard can it

back to the cheapest fuel, on the route north between Dreux and Evreux there is a Total service area, paid €1,22 / litre yesterday, on a dual carriageway so only available travelling north west, I don't think there is one the other side, cant recall seeing one

Couple of photos of la Mailleraye aire new entrance, the barrier is still wrapped and the pay point not turned on yet, but the barrier can be moved manually and someone had closed it overnight, although it feel like there is no resistance and it might even have blown closed, slightly worrying when driving past but no problem, we lifted it by hand on way to vets on foot, it was still open as we left in MH later

 

[DavidG58]

headed north from La Mailleraye, planned destination Le Crotoy, weather absolutely awful, with hints of even worse

first thing done is cross the Seine on Pont de Brotonne (I think, or very similar), very impressive older than Honfleur but nearly as impressive although you cant see so far from it, but free

Eventually got to Crotoy, not sure if it was just the weather but the place has too little to offer in poor weather, went to both aires we knew of, (cant find a third) town one is a rough old gravel area, €7 just to park plus €2 more for water, so moved to look at the beach aire even poorer condition same charges, maybe if you could even see the sea it might be better but the arse end of the dunes and some houses didn't do it for us today

so we are now at Montreuil sur mer, been a few times before, wet horrible day, will have some lunch in MH, then brave the rain and head out for a few beers and a meal later

 

[chaser]

headed north from La Mailleraye, planned destination Le Crotoy, weather absolutely awful, with hints of even worse

first thing done is cross the Seine on Pont de Brotonne (I think, or very similar), very impressive older than Honfleur but nearly as impressive although you cant see so far from it, but free

Eventually got to Crotoy, not sure if it was just the weather but the place has too little to offer in poor weather, went to both aires we knew of, (cant find a third) town one is a rough old gravel area, €7 just to park plus €2 more for water, so moved to look at the beach aire even poorer condition same charges, maybe if you even see the sea it might be better but the arse end of the dunes and some houses didn't do it for us today

so we are now at Montreuil sur mer, been a few times before, wet horrible day, will have some lunch in MH, then brave the rain and head out for a few beers and a meal later

I am somehow glad of your opinion of le crotoy, I was going to comment earlier when you said you were going there, but quite a lot on here seem to like it so didn't want to appear stirring , but we have found it one of the worst Aires we have ever been to , just a pot holed stone car park , no view dog muck everywhere, and dear to boot, with more signs than a prison camp of the dire things that will happen to you if you don't pay up.
Loads of better free ones around there

 

[Clarky]

That smart new barrier system at La Mailleraye will have the freeloading Frenchies just drive round it.
I assume they intend to block off the left hand side but if they do how will people get to the bungalow there or to and from the old chapel?

Richard.

 

[bigtree]

headed north from La Mailleraye, planned destination Le Crotoy, weather absolutely awful, with hints of even worse

first thing done is cross the Seine on Pont de Brotonne (I think, or very similar), very impressive older than Honfleur but nearly as impressive although you cant see so far from it, but free

Eventually got to Crotoy, not sure if it was just the weather but the place has too little to offer in poor weather, went to both aires we knew of, (cant find a third) town one is a rough old gravel area, €7 just to park plus €2 more for water, so moved to look at the beach aire even poorer condition same charges, maybe if you could even see the sea it might be better but the arse end of the dunes and some houses didn't do it for us today

so we are now at Montreuil sur mer, been a few times before, wet horrible day, will have some lunch in MH, then brave the rain and head out for a few beers and a meal later

Never been to crotoy and have never had the inclination being way off route and any pictures I have saw. Plenty places to eat at Montreuil,just don't go back to the one that poisoned you.

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[Manic]

Just for future reference this is the third Le Crotoy aire.


Not used it myself.

 

[DavidG58]

Just for future reference this is the third Le Crotoy aire.


Not used it myself.

typical, didn't read your post till well, past there, but it one of the group we used as Castelnaudray, so we already have the pass card, good little system includes electrics in the entry fee, well the other one we used did at least, this one isn't obvious

 

[scousebird]

I am somehow glad of your opinion of le crotoy, I was going to comment earlier when you said you were going there, but quite a lot on here seem to like it so didn't want to appear stirring , but we have found it one of the worst Aires we have ever been to , just a pot holed stone car park , no view dog muck everywhere, and dear to boot, with more signs than a prison camp of the dire things that will happen to you if you don't pay up.
Loads of better free ones around there

We used Le Crotoy aire for 2 nights so that we could go on the Baie de Somme railway. We thought the aire was scruffy and cramped, won't rush back.

 

[Manic]

That's why I posted about the 3rd Aire because I knew you had used the Castelnaudray one, so had got the card.
I've not used any of them yet but they seem a good idea because you can come and go in your 24 hour period and the Le Crotoy one is only €1.40 dearer than the others and you get electric.
I'm sure Montrueil will be warmer than when we used it on 29th December, -7 at least all day.

 

[Manic]

We used Le Crotoy aire for 2 nights so that we could go on the Baie de Somme railway. We thought the aire was scruffy and cramped, won't rush back.

Nice train ride though.

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[scousebird]

Nice train ride though.

Yes it was, so was the pizza in a little restaurant at St Valery

 

[Manic]

Yes it was, so was the pizza in a little restaurant at St Valery

We've done it both ways but better to start at Le Crotoy as more to do at St Valery, we had Moules & Frites.

 

[FIDGET]

Hi David,
As to barriers with CC or diesel pumps , always remember to press the union jack or UK sign button then all instructions in english. Basically reasonably easy just take your time & read.

 

[DavidG58]

so tonight we walked out into the wilds of northern France to seek sustenance

Bev was not a happy chicken, horizontal drizzle, bad drive in bad weather, end of holiday etc etc, but we walked out hand in hand defiant, deciding to walk round clockwise round the square in search of a new place to eat, with the last one having tried to kill me with half cooked or at least well under cooked mussels, but in so much sauce I couldn't easily tell

but glance to right, they are clearly closed up, so no chance for them tonight

first place had one person in, Bev not keen on being in on our own, (I know one already would make us not alone, but do not challenge Bev when getting wet) so continue, we cross the road to the middle of the car park and I make the mistake of walking in front of her towards the next option to eat. 'Why do you always walk across my path?' well I thought walking towards the next option to eat was the most logical, but dare not say so, not right now any way, or certainly not out loud

but head my way we do at least and what a result, not that we think we need it, but menu in French and English good range of beer and dogs very welcomed, well sort of.....

In we go and sit down, a group of four near us soon make themselves heard, loud English voices, well one of them at least, talking very loudly about dogs in eating places, not right blah blah

We are parked at Montreuil aire there are 2 other MH's here and although we don't know for sure we think the group of 4 are the occupants of the other 2, now we wonder did they meet here and simply agree to dine out together, are they travelling together? if so why are they parked 3 bays apart? matters not, just curious

well while we look at menus, chose drinks and relax, mr spokesman gets louder, not now about the dog, now telling the others at his table what the waiter had just said, but not getting it right, our French is far from excellent but we do know they mix up their sentences, for reason known only to the French and you can not translate literally as he had done. I don't give a damn myself and have already necked my first beer, but Bev is now anti Mr Anorak as I have named him

where do you think they are from says Bev, I have no idea so suggest anorak land, getting a glare, so suggest Sussex in honour of @peterc10, no real logic but mainly because he cant be bothered with an avatar picture

since returning to the MH I have double checked both MH's there are no fun badges in sight, not a guarantee as I found with @SuperMike who is above such things , but don't think either are members

back to restaurant, rentagob anorak man says they cant eat where there are dogs, to which the waiter suggests other tables, although another French couple have sneaked in with a dog almost dead opposite us and the place isn't big , they are offered downstairs as an option, 2 go to look, they confer and agree to stay where they are.

By now we have our food, see next post for details and GTB , conversation from 'middle' table is loudest and by far the most boring, we notice they still haven't got food, wonder has their order been lost or ignored, or have they not ordered waiting for us to take our hound out

Presuming the latter, when finished, we request another carafe of wine, take note, you could do with that for the GTB, then sit and chat for another half hour, the place is now stuffed full, a young French couple have sat next to us and are now loving Lola while ordering their dinner which soon arrives

Having kept the anoraks waiting nearly 2 hours we feel obliged to leave, now some may think we are the bad boys here, but if they have a serious allergy, an open restaurant is bad news all round, if they have a dog allergy, they surely couldn't have just waited 2 hours in the hope that we would leave, IMO they are Mr and Mrs and friends (who may be completely innocent) ignorant, to be fair it is all 'him' not them

anyway we left smiling like school kids and departed into the now very horizontal rain seemingly coming straight at us, maybe there is a god

double checked for MHF badges, poured another glass or red and typed

 

[DavidG58]

GTB, but not as we know it

forgot to take pictures before we started, mainly because I had consumed 500ml of Leffe before ordering and was well down the next before the meal arrived

so round one tonight is guess the meal

there are clues

while you guess what we had you might as well guess the bill, which includes more drink value than food I am too generous, we had no starters or desserts and didn't opt for plat de jours

to avoid confusion / conflict as always guess over you are disqualified

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[scousebird]

Steak fries and pasta carbonara. €42

 

[moulin 87]

Reminded me of the weekend we bought our house in France.. We stayed over in a local 'posh' hotel, restaurant was packed and the table next to us had a small dog....They received their meal and were eating steadily when the waitress squeezed past the guy to take an order...Stopped dead in her tracks, 'Monsieur' she shouted and SLAPPED the guy....

She apologised when she realised it was the cold nose of the dog 'up her skirt' not the guys hand, both of which were in sight above the table top...

No fuss, they laughed and she carried on...

 

[Al-Di]

Lola is not a dog, she is a third person in disguise,

 

[Anthea M]

€54 + tip

 

[Scout]

Steak fries and pasta carbonara. €42

How do you know thats what they had?

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