Sun sun sun here we come

[berni109]

Sat 8 Mar 160mls 3460 total
Feels like a lot of driving today without covering all that many miles. Lots of twisty mountain and valley roads with a surprising number still with 80 limits.
It's been very windy but the temperature is still about 16°. Guess the wind is the precursor to the storm that expected to sweep across France tomorrow.
First stop of the day was in Figeac for our last launderette experience this holiday.
Then onwards to Rocamador for a bimble around. Was a little disappointed with the place perhaps expectations were too high.

Intention was to spend the night up in the carpark but the van was being seriously blown about.
Moved on to a little village free aire at Saint Ybard for the night and the bar is just across the square.

 

[Chickie]

That's a nice bar we have been there twice the couple are very friendly also they have a little shop next door. The food was good.

 

[berni109]

Unfortunately the bar did not open last night and is not open this morning.
Thanks to the village for a great aire and services but no way to put a little into their economy.

 

[berni109]

Sun 9 Mar 150mls 3610 total.
Started today in torrential rain on the free bit of the A20. Been raining on and off ever since but due to stop soon so will have a wander around sainte-maure-de-touraine. Free parkup near centre with extra long spaces but no services.
Saw a massive cycle race pass us today while we were stopped having lunch. Would have though it's a bit early in the year - the top professional teams are usually off in the sun somewhere training. This all looked professional though with motorcycle outrider's and team cars wizing by.
No photos today. I suppose I could have posted a video of the wipers going.
Sun sun sun not today but forecast to improve over the last few days of our hols.

 

[Cliffyboy16]

Sun 9 Mar 150mls 3610 total.
Started today in torrential rain on the free bit of the A20. Been raining on and off ever since but due to stop soon so will have a wander around sainte-maure-de-touraine. Free parkup near centre with extra long spaces but no services.
Saw a massive cycle race pass us today while we were stopped having lunch. Would have though it's a bit early in the year - the top professional teams are usually off in the sun somewhere training. This all looked professional though with motorcycle outrider's and team cars wizing by.
No photos today. I suppose I could have posted a video of the wipers going.
Sun sun sun not today but forecast to improve over the last few days of our hols.

Funny enough I left sainte-maure-de-touraine yesterday in the sunshine going south via Angouleme to Arcachon via N10.
You can empty your loo in the first toilet by twisting off the cap on the pipe - no fresh water though.

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[berni109]

Mon 10 Mar 80mls 3690 total.
A mear jaunt up to Le Mans this morning through gloomy overcast sky's and a few fog patches. So much for the weather forecast although it has been bright and sunny this afternoon.
All of a sudden the road surface improved dramatically and it was then I realised we were driving on the 24hr circuit. Yes let's see what this van can do but it's all 90klm limited or less.

The old city walls in need of a bit of loving restoration.

Massive cathedral on top of the hill and the medieval centre.

Not forgetting a medieval shop front.

 

[berni109]

Tue 11 Mar 45mls 3735 total.
Shortish journey to la-roche-mabile via alencon for a coffee and a mooch.
As we were leaving le mans there were a couple of low underpasses at 2.6mts - vans 2.55 so that was slightly bottom clenching.

The village we're at had good reviews on p4n and we needed to water the van. (Water was off in le mans aire).
Had a good basic meal in the café that was full of workmen (good sign). Buffet starter, main, cheese board, desert, water, bottle cider, 1/2 carafe and coffee €15 great value for money.
Found a bit of washing we missed the other day so set out to find the launderette.

Needless to say the washing did not get done.
Very cold overnight but woke to brilliant sun.
As the journey progresses it got very murky then foggy now it's just totally overcast 13°.

 

[berni109]

Wed 12 Mar 70mls 3805 total
Currently sitting in a little car park in pont-l'eveque waiting for the light rain to stop before we head out for a wander.
Was dry with sunshine first thing but only 4° as we set out to Lisieux for a look at the basilica and the town.

Some nice half-timbered buildings have survived but progress has wiped most of them out of the town centre.
Can you use stylish and jeans in the same sentence and would we buy some for €40 that you could get in primarny for a tenner?

 

[berni109]

Had a wander around pont-l'eveque. Not much here but the main street with a few shops and bars but plesent enough. Saw some photos in town of the devistation caused during the war. Difficult to comprehend how the population had the fortitude to rebuild after that.

 

[berni109]

Thu 13 Mar 55mls 3860mls total
Wandered up through the countryside to duville for some gpl on the way to honfleur.
Still not cracked reading the gas gauge but at least managed to get 12lts in. What a faff at the petrol station - brain was in autopilot and fillers for gas and diesel are on opposite sides - wonder what the girl on the till must have thought.
Was originally intending to stop overnight at honfleur aire but meet an English guy last night and he gave me a parking suggestion that was ideal for a day visit.

Detached wooden bell tower built to reduce the likelyhood of lightening destroying the church.

Inside of the biggest wooden church in France. Honfleur is a nice place for a wander but an obvious tourist trap.
Found a really good 5star aire at Saint-Romain-de-Colbosc but it's a long way from anywhere walkable.

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[carolyn]

Thu 13 Mar 55mls 3860mls total
Wandered up through the countryside to duville for some gpl on the way to honfleur.
Still not cracked reading the gas gauge but at least managed to get 12lts in. What a faff at the petrol station - brain was in autopilot and fillers for gas and diesel are on opposite sides - wonder what the girl on the till must have thought.
Was originally intending to stop overnight at honfleur aire but meet an English guy last night and he gave me a parking suggestion that was ideal for a day visit.
View attachment 1027882
View attachment 1027883
Detached wooden bell tower built to reduce the likelyhood of lightening destroying the church.
View attachment 1027884
Inside of the biggest wooden church in France. Honfleur is a nice place for a wander but an obvious tourist trap.
Found a really good 5star aire at Saint-Romain-de-Colbosc but it's a long way from anywhere walkable.

Our diesel and lpg are on different sides on the new van. Mind you we’ve got diesel heating plus a compressor fridge now plus lithium so won’t fill it often. It would have been handy on previous vans though when parked up in Beni as we could have used a local standalone gas cylinder for heating and the fridge with an adapter. We never could as the sliding door would have knocked it off!

I know some don’t approve of course.

 

[berni109]

Fri 14 Mar 60mls 3920 total.
Final leg of our sun sun sun adventure now it's back to UK tomorrow and cold cold cold.
Brilliant wall to wall sunshine all day but a very cold wind today don't think it got above 7° at any time.
Called in for a lunch stop at Saint Valery en Caux and it was market day so the height restriction barrier was open. Nice view over the harbour while we ate.
Onwards to Dieppe where we parked up by the maritime police station to walk into town.

Not much worth a photo except the intricate stone work on the church.
France seems to have got rather expensive over the last few years and I don't recall seeing beggars in the streets. It's saving grace for us motorhomers is the number of free Aires of good quality that are still available. Long may it remains so but I doubt it can last.

 

[carolyn]

It’s been lovely following your trip. Will it be back to Cyprus though next winter for more guaranteed sun?

 

[manners]

Fri 14 Mar 60mls 3920 total.
Final leg of our sun sun sun adventure now it's back to UK tomorrow and cold cold cold.
Brilliant wall to wall sunshine all day but a very cold wind today don't think it got above 7° at any time.
Called in for a lunch stop at Saint Valery en Caux and it was market day so the height restriction barrier was open. Nice view over the harbour while we ate.
Onwards to Dieppe where we parked up by the maritime police station to walk into town.

Yor not missing anything its wet wet wet and cold cold cold 7 deg at Otos inland from Gandia.

 

[KASPAR]

Thank you for taking us with you on your travels, appreciated. Safe hop home tomorrow.

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[rolosroller]

Thank you for taking us on your

 

[Cliff D]

I've thoroughly enjoyed following your trip. Thank you for taking the time and effort to post - greatly appreciated.

 

[suavecarve]

Yor not missing anything its wet wet wet and cold cold cold 7 deg at Otos inland from Gandia.

Aha. Just looking at potentially going here in the morning and yours was the only hit on "Otos" on here.
Is it full ?

 

[manners]

Aha. Just looking at potentially going here in the morning and yours was the only hit on "Otos" on here.
Is it full ?

No there's room for probably three more but at the moment only in big puddles or on the slope. We were hoping to stop at Biar supposed to be 8 spaces there were about 18 vans never had a problem getting on in the past, just shows how busy it is when inland places with crap weather are over full.

 

[3DOM]

Thanks for taking the time to post your journey.
Safe travels

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