European tour

[stringa]

Nah then,
For those that might be interested in my little European tour blog...here goes
We was rather hoping to set of at around 10ish prompt, something like 11.40 we set off returning minutes later as phone was still on charge. Arrive for the tunnel late and missed the dam thing, luck would have it we're on the next 1 at 7.40 no charge, Now on this train was a fella that caught my eye so he came over as he saw our little dog milly ....now I don't normally catch blokes eyes ......too late he on to us like a fly around a cows arse ole ....loved.his own voice he did, I almost forgot what mine sounded like.......to cut the long story short, he says it would be best to head for Dunkirk and stop just past there , so there we were cruising down the road at 8.30, later on I decided to stop in sort of a free picnic stop area just outside Dunkirk.....in fact we were in Belgium in a little place called Verurn just pulled up, cuppa then bed.

So left just after some breakfast and sat naved our way to where ever the road takes us ...stopping here and there and then onto our random chosen campsite at Valkenswaard for €32 per night in Holand.
Stayed 2 nights very hot. There was swimming, tennis and all that jazz it was ok ....enjoyed it.
This place is sort of just south of Eindhoven.....drove 150 km nice and steady.
Just popping back up north into Eindhoven for a few minutes....sorted....and now for the journey ..from Eindhoven to Maastricht the bottom part of Holand could only spare 1 night .....like sardines in a can......a couple of stops here and there we are now in Luxembourg......very nice too........and a nice drive at 180 km settling down more the further south we go.

 

[MicknMew]

Hi Stringa, sorry to hear about the rain on your travels, but if its any consolation we've had downpours of rain, thunder, & lightening , so that's why you didn't see Noah, he was to busy in good old England Keep on posting the updates really enjoying them . and love the photos, keep them coming, happy MH Mew & Mick

 

[DBK]

Did you drive up the Gorge de Verdon? I've cycled up it on the south side but the north side is higher. There are other gorges, the Nesque is quiet, Gorge de Tarn spectacular, could be busy but could be on your return route.

 

[stringa]

DBK.
Thanks for that information, knowing absolutely nothing about France.....I'm a Spain fan myself.....my informant Richardo never mentioned this.....I will be having words with him....there was so much to see and do, we never found the time, but there's always a next time.....

We're still at Saint Maurice de Gourdans, the lake turned out to be a river absolutely stunning here's a few pics just to wet your appetites.....the village is very quiet not a lot was happening so we stayed by the river.

 

[Irishrover]

That looks stunning, would quite happily spend time there

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[Scrappie]

Loving the reports stringa and great pics. We can't start our adventure for another year but am planning like a woman with a gold Amex card and 2 hours in Oxford Street!
Love France, love the sun. It is awful weather here in the south west today so your photos are making me yearn ........

 

[irnbru]

Enjoying your blog, thanks for taking the time to write it. Hope the nasty rain moves away and the weather improves.

 

[Rob and Val]

Have only just discovered your thread, Stringa. Loved reading about all your travels. Your photos are stunning. We took our first trip to France 5 years ago but we weren't as brave as you - we just did Normandy and Picardy. You're obviously more adventurous than we were!

 

[stringa]

On the road again.
Instead of the toll roads thanks to sat nav information we went through 15 or so towns and hamlets .....2 hours by toll or 3 n ahalf hour drive .....we chose the towns , glad we did with the odd stop off here n there....
Pontailler sur saome about a half hour drive from Dijon ......fairly basic with toilets n showers that could do with a lick of paint, again this ones beside a river......

Going to do a spot of fishing tomorrow.......


I shouldn't have bothered.


Friday
A 5 hour drive .......as you can tell I'm heading home now,
Arriving in Luxembourg, a twenty minute train journey into the capital it's self......we went there on our travels down but this time staying at Esch sur alzette it was deserted which was kinda nice....one day there full the next there empty.

Although we've only stayed at campsites.....we felt safe.....next time if we do a long haul it will be the Aires, but for me the campsites were spot on, some of the facilities did vary.....

And this one........it made great cheese slices

Just a quick run through Luxembourg.......doesn't do a lot for me,
So here we are back in Belguim at ......I've forgotten the name.....beside a small river about ten feet from my door...

Nothing was planned within this trip the destinations were talked over breakfast and we just went for it....

 

[MicknMew]

Thanks for all the great pics and all the stories you have shared with us . We haven't booked any destinations either, just go where the road leads us. Have a good journey home and I bet your already planning your next trip.

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[stringa]

On the way home.

After what has been a fab little break away from the norm, I must now face reality and head home.
The southern part of this tour was absolutely fantastic, mainly because we were going on holiday and each new destination was something to look forward to.....then the northern part...well...we just new it was to lead us back to work, but never the less it was a good all round trip.....as soon as we left Luxembourg it was down hill all the way ....and fast.....before we new it we were at Calais....like a smack in the mouth, we arrived with no booking, no tickets, nothing.....it has never been a problem before but today is a French bank holiday, it was extremely busy.......not a cat in hells chance of going anywhere today ........so it was the main car park for the night......was we safe?
I would like to thank everyone who spent time to read my blog, I certainly had a good time writing it.

Now in the middle of the night I heard a noise coming from the back door, what the hell do I do, do I confront them........I looked around in the dark for a object to wack em.....and saw my kitchen knives hanging up ........although one was missing, I just couldn't because that's just not me, I could see the door being slowly prized away from its hinges and the I saw his blade.........which happens to be my missing knife and then Aaarrrrh

 

[Irishrover]

Thanks for the wonderful blog and pics Stringa....very enjoyable............

Now in the middle of the night I heard a noise coming from the back door, what the hell do I do, do I confront them........I looked around in the dark for a object to wack em.....and saw my kitchen knives hanging up ........although one was missing, I just couldn't because that's just not me, I could see the door being slowly prized away from its hinges and the I saw his blade.........which happens to be my missing knife and then Aaarrrrh

 

[MicknMew]

Thanks again for all the great stories and pics of your trip have a safe journey home.Don't leave us in suspense Stringa ? who was at the door with the knife.[.

 

[kev&caz]

Love the blog & pics @stringa !

 

[stringa]

Just to put an end to the tour we got home safe n sound.
We took 2 full bottles of gas, the 6 kilo ones and we only used 1 in all 34 days away it was probably used about twice a day .....good value for money don't ya think. We ......we I mean I drove just under 3000 miles it really was nice and steady.....but It wasn't cheap most of our money went on camp sites and diesel ....we chose camp sites because we new we were going to be safe and to be honest we didn't understand the aires, we plan to use the aires next time we go, the next trip will be planned because the sat nav which was new to me took us on the toll roads and I didn't know that you could make a selection on your routes...but we know now. I'm going to look on google earth for some nice areas and cities and plan ahead.
I hope you enjoyed reading about my tour as much as we enjoyed it and thank you for the comments. And by the way there was no knife I just thought I'd add a little twist at the end for you all to ponder on.....shame really I was hoping to make a few quid.....like 2 grand we drove straight through with no custom checks, on the last night we camped in the car park at the Calais terminal, we never saw a soul all night so don't believe all the rubbish you read in the papers.

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[TallBlonde]

Sounds like a brilliant trip and lots of things to do/bear in mind for next time. Welcome home!

 

[Ja63]

Really enjoyed your blog, Stringa.....even though I was green with envy reading it (well, except for the knife bit!!). Glad to hear that you didn't really have any problems at Calais as we'll be venturing through the tunnel at Christmas

Hope you've settled back in at home, not suffering the post holiday blues too badly.... but that's the best thing about motorhoming, there's always another trip to plan !

 

[MicknMew]

Glad your back safe and sound and had a good time, roll on the next trip, bet its already in the planning stage

 

[dac5]

Really enjoyed reading about your trip,
We made a very sad journey from York to Sanguinet for the funeral of my best friend who died on the 18th August aged 80.
We did the whole 1700+ miles in the motorhome in 5 days. We stopped on Aires each night and on the return journey even sleeping in a layby outside a small village. We even managed a short tour of Boulogne-sur-mer. Calais was a doddle to navigate. Got home safe and sound but very very tired.
Hope to have a proper relaxing break in France next time.