18 Jan 25 Amboise France.
At last we managed to get away on our jaunt to Spain's med coast. Nothing booked just winging it so as long as we can service the van we will be fine.
Both ill from Christmas eve with colds (sure mine was man flu) unable to shake it off so delayed the ferry by a week.
Uneventful journey down to Newhaven but don't recommend the M25 on a Friday afternoon. Ever time I travel on the M25 I vow never to again but unless we go for a western channel crossing (in the winter?) there is no realistic alternative.
After reading recommendations for the Newhaven crossing decided to give it a go. Good price and the 'superior' cabin was as good as most hotels we've stayed in.
Managed a few hours sleep but we misunderstood the docking times so the staff were hammering on our door telling us we were holding up half the lower deck from disembarking as we were up against the ramp. (If you were behind us - sorry).
0°C when we got off with freezing mist then it went down to -1°C as we headed South. Missed the snow falling but a light sprinkling across the fields as we got further on. It was warmer at home than in north central France.
5am is a good time to traverse Rouen, I don't know where Google maps actually took us but we made it without seeing a low bridge.
Miserable cold damp/wet journey south to Amboise but the redeeming feature is a free municipal motorhome parking area (no services) within easy walking distance to town. Just us and another van on a space for at least 20.
You may have read that the heater in a ducato is poor and I can confirm that it is abysmal. Cranked right up and blower on full it just about kept the worst of the cold off. Can understand why some peeps have a thick curtain blocking off the cab area but ours is only a pvc. It was so cold in the back i was worried the dump valve would empty our fresh water.
Amboise is a major tourist attraction with it's massive chateau built by Charles (the something or other) but in the cold and damp it looses some of its charm. Since it's our first day we decided to treat ourselves to lunch and whilst it was good €70 for 2 courses and a half carafe it certainly was not cheap. The days of a plate du jour seem long gone but then the kids keep telling me I'm living in the past.
Onwards and downward tomorrow but the weather forecast looks no better for a few days
At last we managed to get away on our jaunt to Spain's med coast. Nothing booked just winging it so as long as we can service the van we will be fine.
Both ill from Christmas eve with colds (sure mine was man flu) unable to shake it off so delayed the ferry by a week.
Uneventful journey down to Newhaven but don't recommend the M25 on a Friday afternoon. Ever time I travel on the M25 I vow never to again but unless we go for a western channel crossing (in the winter?) there is no realistic alternative.
After reading recommendations for the Newhaven crossing decided to give it a go. Good price and the 'superior' cabin was as good as most hotels we've stayed in.
Managed a few hours sleep but we misunderstood the docking times so the staff were hammering on our door telling us we were holding up half the lower deck from disembarking as we were up against the ramp. (If you were behind us - sorry).
0°C when we got off with freezing mist then it went down to -1°C as we headed South. Missed the snow falling but a light sprinkling across the fields as we got further on. It was warmer at home than in north central France.
5am is a good time to traverse Rouen, I don't know where Google maps actually took us but we made it without seeing a low bridge.
Miserable cold damp/wet journey south to Amboise but the redeeming feature is a free municipal motorhome parking area (no services) within easy walking distance to town. Just us and another van on a space for at least 20.
You may have read that the heater in a ducato is poor and I can confirm that it is abysmal. Cranked right up and blower on full it just about kept the worst of the cold off. Can understand why some peeps have a thick curtain blocking off the cab area but ours is only a pvc. It was so cold in the back i was worried the dump valve would empty our fresh water.
Amboise is a major tourist attraction with it's massive chateau built by Charles (the something or other) but in the cold and damp it looses some of its charm. Since it's our first day we decided to treat ourselves to lunch and whilst it was good €70 for 2 courses and a half carafe it certainly was not cheap. The days of a plate du jour seem long gone but then the kids keep telling me I'm living in the past.
Onwards and downward tomorrow but the weather forecast looks no better for a few days