For some reason, our first trip abroad in Nessa feels like our first real trip ever. Nervous in a good way. Excitement of the unknown is the essence of #vanlife.
We've just had the floors replaced because of a shower leak. Then last weekend at Carfest, the hot water pipe burst and soaked everything again. To put that in perspective, my patient says he has sex twice a day in the showers, exercises twice a day and lives completely free of charge, but still complains about prison life. Yes, perspective needed, water pipes and flooring are a minor problem.
Early start heading for Newhaven to Dieppe ferry. I had assumed we would be the only people heading for France outside school holidays. Not so. Every ex-police officer in England has seemingly converted, bought, hired or otherwise procured a van for today. Grey hair, pet passport, and a miserable long face seemed the main requirements.
An apparently friendly chap behind us in the queue, who used to be on "the force , The Job, Traffic", helped me fit my headlight deflectors in the queue. Life skills. Then he checked my van was officially registered as a motor caravan and that my laden weight was compliant. Old habits die hard.
The four hour crossing was perfectly calm and Dieppe appeared perfectly horrid, so we exited stopping only to find a Carrefour Express. First stop, south towards Deauville.
Les Castels which is part of LeFrenchTime
Website gives access to loads of Chateaux with camping in the grounds which sounded fun. So we booked into one at Le Brévedent. One night stop over, the facilities were good. The fact that there is a rather tatty castle in the garden was a bonus. The bar opened at 9pm but we never made it there. Next time.
The price shown above is per week! We just popped in for the night. By 6.30pm we were in the pool, barbecue going by 8pm, bed by wine o'clock.
Next day we were headed off for Marais Poitevin an hour or so short of Ile de Re.
Lunch in France is 12-2pm, if you are late, don't bother! But if you make it, you'll not be disappointed. Google maps offered lunch stops along our route south, and so just short of Le Mans we followed instructions to arrive in the tiny hamlet of St-Marceau. We were mid journey, a Happy Eater would be the best England could offer. Here however Restaurant Mariette is certainly the better option.
The Sole with prawn and scallop was rich creamy and delicious. England's best motorway offer, the Little Chef's Happy Fish flavoured finger and fries, is something of a poor comparison to be honest.
"Shared" 1/2 carafe of local vin rosé and it seemed it was my job to drive after lunch. The passenger seat snoring was a comfort.
Onwards to Frances own Green Venice. I thought the description was a slight overstatement. But it is a lovely national park, criss crossed by waterways. Our stop at St-Hilaire-La-Palud in the centre of the Marais Poitevin was no disappointment with a canal side pitch for around £20. We trekked out, and came across a family of otters, hard at work, which was a joy.
Next day we head for the much recommended Ile de Re. With some trepidation that we may be heading for Salcombe-en-France, we crossed the impressive bridge onto the island from La Rochelle.
The rains started......
I will stop my running commentary about how great our life is. Two very sad events, one for our nation, and one so very personal occurred while we were away in France. So out of respect for both Her Majesty the Queen and my best friend Dr Frank Kelly, both of whom passed away this same week, I shall stop my report here. May they both rest in peace.
Before I go, I did last year tell Frank we had a campervan. I always sought his approval. "Oh Mick what has happened to you? You sad wanker"
This is the content I'm here for. Francophile heaven, keep it up. x