NEC October 2024. Research Begins and Ends With An Order....but not at the show.

 We have had our lovely Vantage Neo called Krystal for 5 years now. Are we beginning to start a search for a new van? Absolutely nothing wrong with Krystal and she is good for many more years. However, we have begun to hanker after something slightly smaller and from a more local dealer. The annual pilgrimage journey to Leeds for a habitation check up is becoming slightly more onerous. We have had brilliant service from Vantage but perhaps a change is due!

We decided to do a "recce" visit and with the NEC show coming up a perfect opportunity for a trip. As we now live in Somerset, there and back in a day is a bit of a stretch so we booked  a two night stopover at the Camping and Caravanning Site, Kingsbury Waterpark. Right by the motorway, so slightly noisy, but only 7.5 miles from the NEC.

We had booked tickets for a Wednesday and as it turned out this was perfect and the halls were not too busy. Being rather sad people we had shortlisted loads of van ( 29 in all) which we wanted to look at, with hall numbers in order. This actually worked very well, just make sure you enter at the right hall.

It took 30 minutes to drive from Kingsley, beware the horrendous road works on the M42!! We arrived just before opening and parked in the North car park a five minute walk from the halls.

A few hours later we emerged from the halls. I guess we had looked at dozens of vans, but only PVC's. Our favourites were:

The Kaktus Nomad.

A Vanworx custom built van.

Sadly our favourite before the show, the new Eriba Camper didn't really pass muster for us on the day! A little too old fashioned we thought and not quite what we wanted. Therein, lies the dilemma😕😕😕

Do we go custom built at an eye watering cost and not QUITE what we want, or mass produced and nearer to what we really want, as well as more reasonably priced??

 Food for thought. 

We spent a long evening after the show back at Kingsbury Water Park and over a very nice meal at The Dog & Doublet again thinking about vans. We were becoming regulars.

Over the next week or so we pondered over brochures and looked at loads of videos and thought about our two number ones, Kaktus and Vanworx. Kaktus finally ruled itself out, too fussy ( not mad keen on all the soft furnishings ) Also a deal breaker was the bike rack being so high up ( we could have got round this) and lack of storage inside the van. Vanworx was becoming the favourite.

Fate always intervenes. 

There was a Vanworx open day at the Bridgwater factory. Off we went armed with our questions. To be fair to  Vanworx all our questions were answered and they were very helpful, we were still on the cusp of a decision!! One sticking point was the fact that they did not do part exchange, so we would have to sell privately. They did in fact put us in touch with a dealer but the price he offered was well off beam. We were still hesitating over, inside lack of storage in lockers and the deal breaker was how the toilet cassette was emptied which was from inside the van, meaning loads of stuff at the back, would have to be moved first. We did like the fact that it was all electric with a very nice induction hob and good standard of workmanship overall.

Once again, fate was waiting with open hands. 

We decided to see what the mass produced market had to offer. From brochures we had collected from the show we looked at local dealers and decided to see what they could offer. Our favourites came out as the Rapido Dreamer, we liked the huge internal space and loads of storage and the Knaus Boxlife MQ with the front diner and moveable bed. Both on a Fiat Ducato auto 6m chassis. We also looked long and hard at the Globebus Traveller. We looked at all of those vans again and talked to the dealers at length.

And the winner is....THE KNAUS BOXLIFE MQ!! 

6m Auto Fiat with a rising rear bed, front dinette, so four belted seats and loads of storage in lockers and under the bed. We travel light, but there is a reasonable payload. Bikes will go on the towbar with a Thule Velo Swing. We have configurated the van with all we need and will have a few extras fitted by the dealer.

Ordered from Davan Caravans in Weston Super Mare, just up the road.

Loads of options are available from Knaus. We did a test drive first, as Den thought he needed a 180bhp engine but settled on the 140bhp, which was lovely to drive and performed really well in very heavy traffic and up hills. We will keep the gas for some cooking. There is a two burner hob but heating will be on diesel. We have ordered two lithium batteries and a solar panel will be retro fitted. No oven, so we will have to find a new home for the tea towels.

The dealers seem really good and it's a family firm which for us is always a bonus. We have been offered a fair part exchange deal which means we get to keep our van until the new one arrives which should be around May 2025. This fits in well with our plans, as we will have a farewell trip to Spain in April with Krystal and if there is a delay it won't matter too much. So, exciting times ahead. We can now relax as we have made a decision and look forward to our new family addition.

Now what shall we call it????

Camping France 2024. Review Camping Du Lac Eulalie en Born

 Our final destination this year in France. We decided to return to one of our old haunts from the 80's when we used to windsail. Many a happy summer with the kids was spent in this area.

Sadly the campsites we used to use are now full of huts and no longer taking touring units. However, we settled on trying a small municipal site by the lake near Biscarosse, south of Bordeaux.

Camping Du Lac Eulalie en Born

We had stayed here many years ago and remembered it as a small municipal site. Our stand out memories were of the "announcements" ( reminiscent of "Hi de Hi")A ding dong, was followed by the announcement, usually telling a camper to go to reception as there was a phone call waiting. Those were the days!!

The site was right on the edge of Biscarosse Lake in a beautiful setting.

We arrived in the afternoon to a half empty site. I had rung to check there were spaces. As it turned out it was beautifully quiet.

We had an enormous pitch under a tree and the sun was shining. 

The lake beach had expanded considerably since our last visit. Supervised by lifeguards in the high season.

A board walk led down to the lake. There was also a beach bar with restaurant a marina  and swimming pool..

The campsite reception opened at 2.30, so we wandered into the beach bar and ordered lunch. Very nice it was too!!

We stayed on the campsite but there was also a large Aire next door with facilities for 10 Euros a night. We paid 23.36 Euros a night including electric but thought it was well worth it. 

Toilet and showers were unisex but very clean with loads of hot water. Shopping was a short bike ride away on a dedicated bike track. There were small local supermarkets in either direction which stocked all the essentials. Bread was available daily from the restaurant which also had a small stock of emergency provisions, shampoo, shower gel, toilet rolls and a good local wine selection.

Bike riding in the area was so easy. Loads of dedicated bike paths everywhere. The nearest beach was Mimizan Plage but we were quite happy with the lake. The village of Gastes was a short ride away where there was a bakery, pizza bar, small supermarket but not much else. In the opposite direction was the village of Eulalie en Born where there is a small supermarket and bar. About 5k to Mimizan town, which we will try next time.

For Christmas our lovely children bought us a paddle board which Den was itching to try! The perfect place as the lake was so near and very shallow. Also this time of the year very warm, so no wet suit required! We pumped it up ( note to self, buy an electric pump!)

A bit of excitement and a few splashes later.

It worked!!! I happily took the photos and held the towel. Sorry kids...next time, once Dad has mastered it.

Denis on the paddleboard!  Watch the video.

Sadly the next day the lake was closed! The first time that blue algae had appeared in this area. No more swimming or paddleboarding, such a shame. At least we got to try it, so we will have to go back next year.

Eleven nights flew by. Time to go home. 

We followed the familiar route back to Calais via St Jean D'Angeley,  Rouen and Escalles. Rather a damp overcast drive back through France.  The blue algae had also brought the wet weather and a feeling that Autumn was on the horizon.

 Still, we had a great holiday and can't wait for next year. A return to Eulalie and the lake definitely on the cards. Au Revoir France😊😎

 

Camping France 2024. Review Camping Sandaya Soulac Sur Mer.

 A little rendezvous had been arranged this year in France with our son and family. We had arranged to meet at the site they were staying on which was a Sandaya site at Soulac Sur Mer. We had visited that part of France many years ago and felt at the time the whole area was a bit run down. It would be very interesting to make a return visit. 

We hadn't booked the site and the website said "complet!" We got our son to check with  Reception and we managed to get a pitch for 4 nights near theirs. Not cheap at 208 Euros, but it was mid August! We decided to get the bac ( ferry) from Royan to avoid the long slog around Bordeaux.

A warm sunny morning found us on the dock waiting for the ferry. A 45minutes crossing to Verdon sur Mer followed by a short drive. Luckily it was a mid week morning, so no queues! A quick loading procedure and 45 minutes later we had arrived. Such a difference from the small scruffy ferry of 20 odd years ago. The short trip was very pleasant.

The ship was full but not rammed. Quite modern and much larger than the one we travelled on many years ago. Loading and unloading was relatively easy with no waiting around. There was a bar on board and loads of seating. We had been told not to attempt the crossing on a weekend when it was very busy, with waits up to 3 hours. When we arrived mid week there were very few vehicles waiting in the boarding lanes. Everything was well organised and nowhere near as chaotic as we remembered.

A short drive after disembarkation at Verdon Sur Mer and we had soon settled onto our new home for the next 4 nights. The campsite at Soulac was easy to find, huge and pretty full..

Our little Krystal parked up next to a new friend, Paul's van. Must be a family thing!!

Paul and Kim had a tent up on their pitch for the kids as well as their van but there was still a good bit of room, though moving in and out could be tricky.

Soulac Plage site is massive, more of a resort really. Bars, shops, gym, pool complex and right by the sea. Perfect for teenagers with loads to do. Facilities were plentiful and clean. It was a big resort though and easy to get lost, especially at night. Very busy with loads of kids and a mixture of nationalities. Pitches were sometimes on sand, fortunately we were on firm ground in the shade.

Shopping was a bit of a trek although there was a camp shop, luckily we stocked up before we arrived. Bikes are needed here too as it's a good 15 minutes into Soulac town, really too far to walk, we didn't explore taxis.

Soulac town was a real surprise. Very modern, clean and full of tourists. Nothing like we remembered and obviously now well on the up!! Loads of restaurants, bars and  clothes shopping. A very large and busy food market was right in the center of town. Fish in great abundance though a tad on the pricy side.

I kind of got the impression there were two prices one for locals and one for tourists.

We tried out a few local bars, this seemed to be the favourite.

A very enjoyable afternoon spent here taking in the town atmosphere.

The beach at Soulac was lovely. Paul and Kim went for a surf lesson. We were trying to take picture, sadly the heavens opened just at that point! They enjoyed it though.

 

A long walk to find the sea that day.

All too soon and 4 days had flown by. We did manage to return to have a paddle as the sun did come out again.

We had some lovely meals and drinks out with the kids. Soon time to say au revoir! It was a great place to spend some family time, the beach bar was great fun! Maybe another year. 

Our next stop, the lakes, to try out the paddleboard, the kids had brought us for Christmas. Now that should be interesting. Thanks Paul, Kim and the girls for a lovely few days. Safe travel home.

Camping France 2024 Review Camping du Sans Souci Fresnay Sur Sarthe and Venise Verte Coulon.

 Our third campsite this trip and another short stop on our way south. Generally speaking 2 nights makes for a good break, while 3 nights is probably the best for a good look around, a bike ride or walk.

This was a short stop as we wanted to check it out from earlier in the year. As it was August we rang to check for spaces and booked two nights. As it turned out the site was "complet" so just as well we had booked! We ended up with almost the same pitch we had last time.

A nice hedge enclosed pitch with the river behind us. The site was much as we remembered it from our earlier stop. A few more people on site and the cabins and tents all had customers, though the site did not feel crowded. Slightly more people using the facilities however and the showers were only just warm. The small on- site shop sold a few bits and bobs but the village was just a short walk away.

The village of Fresnay Sur Sarthe is quite an interesting place to wander about. There is the medieval heart of the town with the old castle at it's heart. We missed the Sunday market but the town was still busy with tourists. We stopped at the main bar for a bit of liquid refreshment.

The castle is built on the cliff side overlooking the town with very pretty gardens. The old town still shows it's medieval roots with very narrow streets and timbered buildings. The views of the river are stunning. There is an electric boat that travels up and down the waterways. Looked pretty busy and fun.

Lots of cafes and restaurants, we had a very nice pizza for dinner.

Two days sped by rapidly but we were ready to move on to our next stop. Back to another old haunt Coulon and Camping Venise Verte.

Last year we stayed at Venise Verte for the first time and it was very busy. We managed to book 2 nights online with thoughts of using our brand new paddleboard.

An uneventful 3 hour drive and we had arrived at Venise Verte near Niort. A good stop if you are travelling south or north!!

The campsite was busy but not full. There were a few huge campers on site we were pleased it wasn't us. The first pitch offered was very tight so we moved to one with more space in a better spot. It was actually a nice spot with plenty of shade, if slightly a tight fit in and out.

We took the bikes into the village of Coulon and walked along the canal. Pretty full with tourists, maybe not quite as busy as last year.

 

The weather was warm but not as sunny as last year, so fewer people on the water. We noticed that prices in the restaurants by the canal were much more expensive. We found a small restaurant further into the village and had a pleasant lunch with wine.

A wander around the pretty little church finished the afternoon off.

 

All in all a happy little interlude before moving on. Not sure if we would go back to the site when its so busy. Sadly we did not get to use the paddleboard here, the river was slightly mirky and we felt not the best place to start.

France Summer 2024. Review Camping Saint Nicolas .Le Bec Hellouin

 Our second night of the summer road trip and we were off to Camping Saint Nicolas. First we had the relaxing, stress free jaunt through Rouen to contend with. To add to the stress I had very cleverly forgotten the essential electric toothbrush. Fortunately, we had the brush heads in the van, so our teeth did sparkle, but not as brightly.

Thank goodness for Madam Satnag!!

Denis was reluctant to return to Euro Cite from Escalles, opting instead for searching the joys of hypermarkets near Rouen for toothbrushes! We diverted to the back streets of Rouen, fortunately we had our trusty Crit Air, so at least we were legal. Through the town we sped, avoiding buss lanes, no entries and other obstacles to arrive at a hypermarket somewhere in the suburbs. Job done, our teeth would sparkle again!! Now to navigate through the centre of Rouen. Done, over the bridge and we made it through, with never a cross word, just a few scowls and the odd expletive.

On route to Le Bec. Beautiful sunny day and quite a nice drive all things considered. We were soon parked up and in the bar, sampling the local plonk, we needed a drink or two.

Saint Nicolas is a beautifully maintained site. Clean, tidy facilities, small swimming pool, tennis courts, outdoor play area with a bar and restaurant. It has been transformed by the new owners from our first visit many years ago, when it had a been a municipal. Primarily used by Dutch and Germans, with a sprinkling of French and a few Brits. handily placed for trips South and North. Usually quiet in the morning it quickly fills up after 2.00pm, booking can be done on line.

A beautiful walk through the woods takes you to the village and Abbey of Le Bec Hellouin. The walk down through the trees, easy for a mountain goat, mere mortals need stout shoes and a stick is handy. Don't even think about the walk on a wet day!!

Even on a dry day, the walk back can be challenging. Getting lost is another option which we managed once before. Take water!! Machetes are also an optional extra which could prove useful. Oh, and don't forget the mozzie cream.

Once in the village, all is well. With God on your side and He's around in abundance at the Abbey, the village is well worth a visit. The French, the just and good, were around in their Sunday best, it was a feast day with a few priests and nuns in attendance.

Absolutely picture perfect. Restaurants, cafes and culture abounds. The is a picture gallery and other " arty" things. We especially liked the gallery selling reconstructed metal things.

Too heavy to take home!!

Two expressos later and we were ready to climb the mountain back. Our friend Colin and his strimmer would have come in handy.

All in all, a friendly relaxing 3 night stay. Two lovely restaurant meals and we were ready for our next stop.

Moments to remember. 

A visit from a few dozen horses taking the air around the campsite and obviously on holiday.

The bells, the bells...... the Abbey is down the road. God is in attendance.

The bus stop is outside the campsite, only in France...the bus driver parks the bus with customers and nips into the bar for a quick coffee ( well here's hoping it was coffee!)

The almond brandy is very nice.

Don't park at the top of the site by the hedge there is a local bottle bank behind you. We didn't care!!

A horse holiday.

France Summer 2024 Review Les Erables Escalles

Off on another road trip France. This year we looked at various cross channel offerings and after pricing a few, settled for Le Shuttle again. pretty easy crossing as usual and we arrived in France around 3.30pm. No channel checks and a rapid wave through at customs after we had been asked about our gas. We arrived early so we were quickly shunted onto an early crossing.

Two sandwiches and a quick read of the paper and we were in France. Quickly settled onto the very busy Les Erables site at Escalles. Just as well we had e mailed Sabine as the "complet" sign was on the door and the campsite was packed, mainly with Dutch and Germans. An uneventful night followed. We walked into the village and managed to bag a table at Les Falaises, just as well we went pretty early because by 7.00pm it was rammed. Lovely meal and a sunny evening walk home.

All clear across Le Manche and no signs of migrants.

A great start to the hoilday.

10 day Road Trip. Leeds Habitation, Kingsbury Water Park, Cheshire, Review Port Merion & Hereford.

 Time for the annual pilgrimage to Leeds for the habitation check at the Vantage factory and a little road trip.

Each year around July we trundle up to Leeds for Krystal's annual check up. I guess we could find somewhere nearer but the Vantage factory is excellent at keeping everything up together and great at repairing anything that needs it! We usually have one night in a Premier Inn and do a little road trip combined with a visit to rellies in the Cheshire  village of Tarporley. Not too much of an arduous journey overall and makes a pleasant mid summer break.

This year we decided to stop enroute to Leeds and break the journey just outside Birmingham at the Camping & Caravanning site Kingsbury Water Park. An easy quiet motorway journey and we made good time. The site is just off the M6 and easy to find. A usual club standard site, clean and tidy. The shower block could do with a little update, not my favourite showers but overall well looked after   and surprisingly not too busy.  A little noisy as it is very near the motorway, but a good stopover nevertheless with a handy pub a short walk away.

It was a lovely afternoon so we set off for The Dog and Doublet just up the road. A nice walk through the park to the river.

The pub is right by the lock so on a nice afternoon a quiet place to sit.

 Food served here all day but we decided to cook. The following morning just enough time for a quick sashay around the lake for bit of feathered friend spotting. A good spot for fishing too.

Next port of call later that day, Leeds, to drop Krystal off. A couple of hours later and we had arrived. Dropping the van at the factory, we made our to a local Premier Inn at Whitehall Road opposite the railway station, for £89 a night we thought it was reasonable and in the town centre as an added bonus. Just a 35 minute stroll back to the factory the next morning.

Krystal flew through all her checks and after picking her up the following morning we were off the Moor Lodge at Bardsley.

Always a good stop over. Beautifully kept site. The owner told us the only tourers he was accepting now were clients from Vantage and Consort. The site was primarily for holiday lodges. We wandered off down the lanes to the Bingley Arms  and had a lovely meal. It gets very busy so you do need to book if you want food. Another very pleasant night spent in Krystal.

Our next stop was Shays Farm near Tarporley in Cheshire. A lovely friendly site with a short walk to the Shrewsbury Arms, anothr great English pub. There is also a campsite there, but we love Shays Farm, quiet and very clean and tidy.

Fabulous glamping pods complete with hot tubs also on site. We wandered up for a look.

Certainly very inviting. We spent a great two days here and met up with Paul and Ann-Maria for a trip to Chester. Very busy and full of tourists. We went into the Cathedral where a very tuneless organ recital was underway. Ann-Maria and I clocked in to listen....very avant-garde!! Um...not really a quiet meditative experience! Den and Paul went off to explore the shops, Ann-Maria and I drew the short straw. Still, it was an experience.

The grounds and gardens were certainly more tranquil.

Soon time to say goodbye and move on! We were on our way to Port Merion in North Wales. The Italianate village where the 70's cult series The Prisoner was filmed we were looking forward to a return visit, the last time we went was in the eighties.

A very promising start and a warm welcome at Port Merion. Check in time wasn't until 2.00pm, we joined the queue. We were given a welcome pack and everything was explained. All the facilities were open to us as we were residents. We could eat at the hotel but we would need to book. All the other places that served food and there were quite a few, closed at 4pm. On checkout day we would have to leave our pitch by 10am but we could park up in the free carpark and enjoy the facilities for the rest of the day. We had booked two nights.

The campsite was all hard standing with water TV point and electric. We thought the pitches were a fair size we had opted for a medium pitch. £130 for two nights!! Toilet and shower facilities were OK, pretty standard, sadly only three showers and three loos in the ladies. Open wash basins with no privacy cubicles. Washing up sinks were limited to two but the water was hot!

We had a good look around the village finding it mildly disappointing. Everything was a lot shabbier than we remembered. We were also unable to get a table in the restaurant on the following evening so had to settle for a table that night. We had a pleasant lunch on the terrace outside one of the numerous cafes.

The village was pretty busy, but not as exciting as we remembered. A Few shops and more cafes selling mediocre food. Lots of nice walks though difficult to get away from the crowds.

Dinner was at The Port Merion Hotel, overlooking the estuary. Not a fabulous experience, fine dining and well over priced. The steak was nice though, the "heritage carrot" was a joke. the bill  was £203 for two. Not one to go back for. The view of the estuary was stunning, shall we say it was an experience!

The following day showed the site in all it's glory and it was raining. We were woken up early to the gentle sounds of smashing glass as the bottle bank next to our pitch was emptied. Unfortunately the position of the motorhome park is next to housekeeping. We were also serenaded by the gentle peeping of back up delivery lorries. The showers were disgusting, running in water and not too clean, I gave it a miss. We tried more food in a very grubby café, where the ladies loo was blocked, Port Merion really needs to get a grip on it's facilities. Needless to say we will not be back. Port Merion is well and truly out of our system. The moral or the story, never look back!!

Last stop and suddenly the sun came out. Back to Luckshall near Hereford. A lovely meal in the riverside restaurant, a peaceful night on a beautifully kept site. Sadly no paddle board with us as we could have gone up the river. Always next time.

Have 9 nights really flown by? Another lovely trip. Next stop France.