Two Go to Provence

[DBK]

I was thinking of calling this Thread "Two Have Another Go at Reaching Provence" after breaking down near Toulouse last year on our way to Provence. However, I fear that would be tempting fate. So, with a positive mindset, this will be an account of us reaching Provence.

I hope.

The first post on a trip is usually made from the ferry queue but it is a glorious evening so here is the van poised on the drive ready for the off in a few hours.

The only snag with the sailing date is we are going to miss the wisteria flowering. We missed it last year but that was because a freak hailstorm destroyed 99% of the buds just before they were due to bloom. This year it looks as if it is going to put on a good show. It is a wisteria sinensis or Chinese wisteria which flowers before the leaves appear. Anyway, here are some buds and a hint of colour.

We are aiming for the Banon cheese festival on 18 May. This is on the western edge of the Haute Provence area but this date is only 10 days before we get the ferry back. This is a bit tight so I may amend the return sailing date as there is something else I want to do as we head home. I've booked the ferry crossings as two singles which allows me to do this. Otherwise, if you book a return with Brittany Ferries once you cross over the return sailing date is fixed.

I'll be posting updates as we potter down through France.

 

[Stoosal]

Interested in your travels as we’ll be a few weeks behind you hedn for Provence as well! Good luck!

 

[Ingwe]

Have a great, safe trip. Will be looking out for your posts and great photos as usual.
Bon Voyage et bon appetite!

 

[Just smiffy]

Have a good trip John, as my trip comes to an end yours is always a good read…

 

[scousebird]

Have a lovely trip.

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[Figaro]

Enjoy your trip to Provence and of course the cheese
Looking forward to the photos

 

[Langtoftlad]

Charlie's dog blog?

 

[gus-lopez]

Have a lovely trip.

ditto from me.

 

[Gaston aires]

Love Provence. If you haven’t already, the gorges of Verdon are amazing (as most of Provence is)
Phil

 

[Grianan]

Have a great trip … great to have a good thread starting off as others are coming to an end …

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[Two on Tour]

We are heading for Provence later this year John, so will be following you for tips and ideas, better luck this time and enjoy.

 

[Jane NotRog]

We’re thinking of heading to Provence too for a quick trip before the new van is ready. Maybe see you in Banon?

 

[jumar]

Have a safe and pleasing trip..will follow this thread...keep posting

 

[Go_buddy_go_]

Safe journey and look forward to reading your journal

 

[Shrimp]

Surely it should be ‘Three go to Provence’ ?

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[DBK]

Surely it should be ‘Three go to Provence’ ?

Charlie will post something on his blog soon along the lines of One Dog goes to Provence which added to our two makes up the three of us.

 

[DBK]

We've just landed in Roscoff after an uneventful crossing which is how they should be.

For the first time we were asked for Charlie's pet passport at the French border control point. Normally this is checked in Plymouth and that's all. We got a bit of grilling about how we had a Spanish passport for him. Did we have a house in Spain or was Charlie bought there. At the end he said "No problems, just questions". Is this the start of the French concern about UK pets having EU passports I've heard rumours of? maz might find this interesting. We have used his passport for several trips through Roscoff before without any issues being raised.

 

[rb62]

When we were working and had to take two week holidays back in the 80's Provence was the only place we ever went back to

Although we did go back to Forcalquier for my 70th birthday and to my favourite place on top of the Montagne de Lure

 

[maz]

For the first time we were asked for Charlie's pet passport at the French border control point. Normally this is checked in Plymouth and that's all. We got a bit of grilling about how we had a Spanish passport for him. Did we have a house in Spain or was Charlie bought there. At the end he said "No problems, just questions". Is this the start of the French concern about UK pets having EU passports I've heard rumours of? maz might find this interesting. We have used his passport for several trips through Roscoff before without any issues being raised.

Probably just an interested/curious Border Control officer. The new pet travel regulation that will replace EU 576/2013 on 21 April 2026 does, however, introduce the phrase 'Pet dogs, cats and ferrets kept in households situated in Member States' for the first time. I have just posted about it here:

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/foru...travel-legislation.317051/page-3#post-6580524

 

[nicholsong]

I was thinking of calling this Thread "Two Have Another Go at Reaching Provence" after breaking down near Toulouse last year on our way to Provence. However, I fear that would be tempting fate. So, with a positive mindset, this will be an account of us reaching Provence.

I hope.

The first post on a trip is usually made from the ferry queue but it is a glorious evening so here is the van poised on the drive ready for the off in a few hours.

View attachment 1040148

The only snag with the sailing date is we are going to miss the wisteria flowering. We missed it last year but that was because a freak hailstorm destroyed 99% of the buds just before they were due to bloom. This year it looks as if it is going to put on a good show. It is a wisteria sinensis or Chinese wisteria which flowers before the leaves appear. Anyway, here are some buds and a hint of colour.

View attachment 1040149

We are aiming for the Banon cheese festival on 18 May. This is on the western edge of the Haute Provence area but this date is only 10 days before we get the ferry back. This is a bit tight so I may amend the return sailing date as there is something else I want to do as we head home. I've booked the ferry crossings as two singles which allows me to do this. Otherwise, if you book a return with Brittany Ferries once you cross over the return sailing date is fixed.

I'll be posting updates as we potter down through France.

John

Informative tip about single bookings, thanks.

Geoff

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[Lenny HB]

Have a good trip John.
I'm envious we have had to give our spring trip a miss this year, would have normally gone away last week, but had an operation on my hand last week and wife's mother who is 94 is declining fast so decided it's best not to go.

 

[barryd]

I love Provence. Probably one of my favourite if not "the" favourite regions in France. I am never sure why until I get there and then it just feels right. It seems to have everything from the fabulous mountains, lakes and gorges to "year in Provence" country to the fabulous Côte d'Azur. Will be heading there ourselves in the summer. Hoping to take in the Tour de France if it fits in. Have a great trip.

 

[Puddleduck]

With your implied permission I will be virtually stalking you - well watching your thread!!!

 

[pagey]

we were about to go on a trip down to spain for 2 months but i had a fall on friday and messed my face and eye up so now its france for 4 weeks so i will follow your thread eagerly

 

[Kurt and Ko]

Have a great trip, I always enjoy reading about your travels

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[DBK]

We've stopped at our regular aire for the start of a trip, the CCP aire at Cléder which was almost empty mid-morning when I took this photo although a few more MHs have arrived this afternoon.

It needs a tidy - the grass is a bit long but otherwise it's fine.

Here is where we are in Brittany, under the blue blob a little west of Roscoff.

There's not much to do here, no shops, bars or restaurants but we enjoy the calm and it helps us unwind.

Here are some shots which might help explain why we keep returning here.

We did see someone in bathing trunks approach the water. It reached his ankles before he turned around and literally sprinted back up the beach!

There is an easy coastal path running in both directions from the aire. We walked west this morning and for a moment I though I had seen the first Swallow but it was a sand martin and several were flying in and out of holes in a low cliff of sand above a beach. There were also a few dozen Brent geese, the smallest of the winter-visiting geese and easily recognised by their bright, white bottoms. I suspect they will be heading off to their Arctic breeding grounds soon.

A less welcome visitor was this.

A brown marmorated stink bug I think and these have been periodically appearing in the van since our last visit to France in the autumn when we stopped at a place where there were thousands of them. I assume they have hibernated in the van, some we find are dead but there are still lots of live ones. I doubt today's example will be the last. Tough little critters.

This was more attractive.

Danish scurvy grass which gets its name from a high vitamin C content and sailers used to chew it to prevent scurvy. I had a nibble and it won't be featuring in any salads but if my teeth start falling out I might give it another go.

It is found near the coast and the UK distribution is intriguing.

It has been spreading inland from the coast along main roads which are regularly salted, creating the growing conditions it likes. Apparently, it has a particular liking for central reservations where it grows under the crash barrier and can enjoy a regular dose of salt each winter.

I photographed the Monkey Rock yet again today on our walk. It always makes me smile.

Before arriving here we did a quick shop in the Super U supermarket in Cléder. We bought supplies for about 3 days all of it fresh except for tonight we bought a large tin of cassoulet which we enjoy and is an easy meal for the first night.

While in the tins aisle we did notice a few alternatives for this evening.

Tinned Brussels sprouts anyone?

Perhaps paired with confit duck gizzards on the left or tripe on the right? We are going to be spoilt for choice here in France!

 

[scousebird]

I've often wondered how good the canned sprouts would be?

 

[MichaelT]

Have a great trip.

 

[Ingwe]

We've stopped at our regular aire for the start of a trip, the CCP aire at Cléder which was almost empty mid-morning when I took this photo although a few more MHs have arrived this afternoon.

View attachment 1040701

It needs a tidy - the grass is a bit long but otherwise it's fine.

Here is where we are in Brittany, under the blue blob a little west of Roscoff.

View attachment 1040702

There's not much to do here, no shops, bars or restaurants but we enjoy the calm and it helps us unwind.

Here are some shots which might help explain why we keep returning here.

View attachment 1040703

View attachment 1040704

View attachment 1040705

We did see someone in bathing trunks approach the water. It reached his ankles before he turned around and literally sprinted back up the beach!

There is an easy coastal path running in both directions from the aire. We walked west this morning and for a moment I though I had seen the first Swallow but it was a sand martin and several were flying in and out of holes in a low cliff of sand above a beach. There were also a few dozen Brent geese, the smallest of the winter-visiting geese and easily recognised by their bright, white bottoms. I suspect they will be heading off to their Arctic breeding grounds soon.

A less welcome visitor was this.

View attachment 1040718

A brown marmorated stink bug I think and these have been periodically appearing in the van since our last visit to France in the autumn when we stopped at a place where there were thousands of them. I assume they have hibernated in the van, some we find are dead but there are still lots of live ones. I doubt today's example will be the last. Tough little critters.

This was more attractive.

View attachment 1040723

Danish scurvy grass which gets its name from a high vitamin C content and sailers used to chew it to prevent scurvy. I had a nibble and it won't be featuring in any salads but if my teeth start falling out I might give it another go.

It is found near the coast and the UK distribution is intriguing.

View attachment 1040724

It has been spreading inland from the coast along main roads which are regularly salted, creating the growing conditions it likes. Apparently, it has a particular liking for central reservations where it grows under the crash barrier and can enjoy a regular dose of salt each winter.

I photographed the Monkey Rock yet again today on our walk. It always makes me smile.

View attachment 1040730

Before arriving here we did a quick shop in the Super U supermarket in Cléder. We bought supplies for about 3 days all of it fresh except for tonight we bought large tin of cassoulet which we enjoy and is an easy meal for the first night.

While in the tins aisle we did notice a few alternatives for this evening.

Tinned Brussels sprouts anyone?

View attachment 1040728

Perhaps paired with confit duck gizzards on the left or tripe on the right? We are going to be spoilt for choice here in France!

View attachment 1040729

Lovely photos and narratives. Thank you

One tip: keep away from naked flames after ingesting the tinned sprouts……..

 

[carolyn]

There were half a dozen people in the sea at West Bay yesterday the fools. A friend of our daughter’s indulges in this madness and has done since childhood. Strangely her Nigerian husband hasn’t joined her yet

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