Motorhoming is certainly a life of contrast.

[MichaelT]

Great trip and photos thank you

 

[MichaelT]

Dealers yard tour update. After a nice stop over at the vineyard at Blaye, we've moved onto the free camper parking at Saint Émilion. Got a decent space near the grassy area.

It's quite warm here and the 500w solar is more than keeping the lithium topped up whilst the AC is on. Now off for a large Cremant and Coq-au-vin Saint Émilion
View attachment 757632

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daveclare Where is the aire in Saint emilion please, can't seem to find it on p4n or sfs only parking?

 

[daveclare]

It's where the top purple dot is. Basically motorhome overnight parking for about 6 or so.

 

[daveclare]

If you fancy a nice meal. Avoid the restaurants at the top of the town and walk down the hill. At the very bottom of the road, is a nice small restaurant. Their Coq au vin St. Émilion is very nice. I'll find the name and post it later.

 

[MichaelT]

It's where the top purple dot is. Basically motorhome overnight parking for about 6 or so.
View attachment 786967

Looks like it could be this one. https://www.searchforsites.co.uk/marker.php?id=2851

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[Norma D]

Well we went from one extreme to another. Instead of staying in the perfectly respectable looking aire at Mont Saint Michel (MSM). Well 6km out from it. Because that's as close as you can get. We stayed in another overpriced campsite just over the other side of the road. Well we live and learn.
View attachment 786819
Later on we went up to the Abbey for a dusk light show. Well 900 steps later and a completely ridiculous €8.50 to park just a scooter. We won't be going back there again. If we hadn't already seen one of the best light and music shows at Carrières de Loumieres. Then we might have thought the one at MSM was alright. But it was a bit naff. That's just our opinion. Others might think it's fab. We didn't.

Contrast time again. Normal freeloading was resumed for our trip to Deauville. Which was a bit spoiled by crappy rain, for hours. Welcome to the North. I think we'd only had three days rain in the previous 70 days away. Anyway the free spot along the river wasn't too bad and pretty quiet. It's in p4n.
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We'll definitely return to Deauville. Hopefully when the weather's a bit better.

Out last night was to be spent at the large aire at Saint Valery Sur Somme. But we decided to go to Le Crotoy instead. Which to be blunt is another dealer yard type aire. But it's close to town and there a little grass around the edge to sit out on.

If you've never stayed at a French aire before. It's not too bad to pop your cherry here. It's close to the tunnel too and the town is quite nice. With a decent number of places to eat and drink. As long as you don't go to the one where Al n Val spent all their holiday money on one round.
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Well that's it. Well for three weeks back home, before we go off again. If anyone interested I'll post a list of where we stayed, after we get back.

Cheers everybody who've been reading this.
View attachment 786827

Yes please to list of where you went. Norma

 

[MichaelT]

As you say.. It's Basic Parking, definitely not for me, looks like a dealer's yard.

I'd rather spend a bit of money for something a bit more luxurious when on holiday.

You're obviously not going to the right places. This is our current view from the dealers yard we are in. €11.50 a night plus tourist tax, services and leccy included and theres even a toilet.

 

[Al n Val]

You're obviously not going to the right places. This is our current view from the dealers yard we are in. €11.50 a night plus tourist tax, services and leccy included and theres even a toilet. View attachment 787152

But you need to tell us where this is or it doesn’t exist

 

[MichaelT]

But you need to tell us where this is or it doesn’t exist

St Croix du Verdon

 

[daveclare]

We passed that one last year. I bet the lavender is looking spectacular this time of year.

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[daveclare]

Looks like it could be this one. https://www.searchforsites.co.uk/marker.php?id=2851

That spot is a little further down the road. The one we stopped at is the triangular bit just next to the large area of grass. There are picnic tables laid out and toilets about 20m from the parking.

 

[daveclare]

Here's a better aerial view of the parking. The restaurant we had a nice meal at us called Le Mediéval.

 

[MichaelT]

We passed that one last year. I bet the lavender is looking spectacular this time of year.

Most has been harvest now but we did come through several fields of uncut and it really smelt wonderful.

 

[MichaelT]

Here's a better aerial view of the parking. The restaurant we had a nice meal at us called Le Mediéval.
View attachment 787330

Thanks will be that way in a couple of weeks, not been since the kids were small about 25 years ago