C'est La Vie ! French Flags Fly!

We had booked a crossing to France and thought we would go to the Ile de Re, near La Rochelle for a two week break. The French had other ideas, fuel shortages, floods and les temps! Being the hardy types, we decided there was no stopping us, a full tank of fuel should do, to take us to Normandy and back home, we hoped. We stocked up ( just in case the shops were empty ) and set off on the horrible road trip to Dover. Fortunately, not too bad this time and no "Operation Stack" to contend with, luckily I actually read the booking confirmation before we got to Dover, time correct, so no slip ups there, but we were actually going to Dunkirk not Calais, whoops!

The journey was fairly uneventful and surprisingly as it was half term week, the ferry was relatively quiet. Usually at this time of the year the ferry is heaving with kids on school trips, maybe lack of fuel had put people off. Arriving with plenty of time to spare we made for Les Erables, commonly referred to as, "The Farmer's Field". Monsieur, was pleased to see us and a distinct lack of happy campers meant there was loads of spaces. Clean toilet block, water, food and wine, a bit of sunshine would have been nice.

We looked back with fond memories of the early morning we almost lost Smartie off the back of the trailer when negotiating off the pitch here on the way home. No problems this time, we are smaller with no trailer to worry about.  We settled down for the evening and went for a roam around familiar places. The aire at the bottom of the hill was empty, it said "no overnight camping, 11 pm-6 am", strange that, because it's in the aire book. 

Escalles, Northern France, number 26. 

I expect the French ignore that, it looked to us if you parked up behind the hedge, no-one would know you were there. We searched for the hidden water tap but couldn't find it. Possibly could be used as an emergency stopping place, we prefer the campsite and a stroll into Escalles for a meal, although not this time, we used emergency provisions and a bottle of best English bought, French wine.

The following morning dawned bright, damp and cloudy, time to move on.We ate our croissants and bagged the baguette for later and said "au revoir" to Monsieur.

 We decided to aim for Chateau Hardelot, just south of Bologne, another old haunt. We hadn't been there for around 4 years. On the way we did another first, we stopped at the supermarket in Condette for provisions. As the car park was really quiet we thought we would try and fill up with fuel using our credit card. It worked! We were very impressed with ourselves. So much for the fuel shortage. Thank you Halifax Clarion and Martin Lewis for the suggesting it. Seriously, we were a bit concerned as so many fuel stations in France are now automatic and don't like UK cards, ours worked.

Again, we got a warm welcome from Madam at the half empty campsite, Chateau Hardalot at Condette. To be fair it wasn't exactly half empty but had grown more huts on site since our last visit, with a severely reduced number of touring pitches. We settled down on a nice, grassy, dampish space behind some trees and set off for a stroll to the beach.

Strange how small April appears in a field. We set off to explore the chateau. The path to the chateau is actually a lovely walk or ride. We decided our legs needed stretching.

As we approached the Lake of Mirrors, we discovered that EU funding was alive and well. At least in this part of the world. An extensive boardwalk had been built around the lake complete with bird hides and numerous information boards, it was a beautiful walk.

Den thought this one deserved a picture of it's own.

Trust the French to put in a gate with this complicated weighting system, we were most impressed with the engineering. The bird hide was also an education centre and all the information boards were also done in braille.

We are always so surprised in France, how small local councils can do so much more than ours.

A perfect spot for a bit of bird watching.

We continued our amble past the marsh cattle which were so well adapted to the landscape and were being re introduced to the area. Seemed used to visitors, with those horns I was glad they were behind a fence.

We followed the boardwalk to the end and made for the castle.

Chateau Hardelot


Chateau Hardelot is there for the entente cordiale and is really a glorified community centre with the emphasis on culture. Certainly it had grown in stature from the ruin it used to be and the grounds are being developed beautifully. The French are also building a reproduction Elizabethan Theatre in the grounds. Even our Queen has been on a visit.

http://www.Chateau-Hardelot Elizabethian Theatre

We tagged behind a visiting party of council officials as they went on a tour, I'm sure we looked a bit out of place. They were in their best clothes, we were in walking gear with a backpack, we didn't have the nerve to follow them into the marquee for the drinks and nibbles. Maybe they didn't notice us. Still, they went to the trouble to put up the flags for us. 

Just as well the visit was pre Brexit. 

After a peaceful couple of days we set off for a new destination. We had enjoyed our visit, the sun hadn't exactly shone but we did manage a BBQ, a few walks, a few bottles of wine and a visit to a French market where we bought some yummy, smelly cheese. We also managed a walk to the beach for a bit of sea air and an ice cream in a posh restaurant here on the beach at Hardelot.

Next stop, another sea side destination in Normandy and a glimpse of how the other half live.

Camping Clubs But Which One?

I am trying not to open a can of worms "my club is better than yours", but if we were to join all the clubs it would get pretty pricey. So I guess the question should be which club suits us best ?

Our needs are pretty simple, tidy, easy campsites with good quality facilities, that are not too expensive. We are not into rallies, they suit some, but we prefer our own company, although we do meet some lovely people on our travels that we are happy to socialise with. We are happy to mix with other campers, but we are not into sitting in circles, or doing quizzes ( with or without our own cups). We do use the forums and campsite searches on line frequently. This is not a criticism of rally goers, many people really enjoy rallies but they are not for us. 

 Caravan Club. We have been members of the club for many years. Sadly the booking system is dire and in all this time we have only managed a very few sites as we like to go at the last minute. The magazine is rubbish,the print is so tiny even I have problems with my glasses on, the website is getting better. We really only joined for the international camping card, now called Key Camp, which we find useful and the Europe Camping Books. Should we stay members....probably not! However, there is always a "but," we did actually manage to get on a site recently, Hurn Lane in Somerset and we had a great time. So there is some hope. Review of that site to follow and it was featured in the magazine this month. On reflection, Hurn Lane is now likely to be full for the rest of the year.

Camping and Caravanning Club. Much nicer feel to this one, easier to book sites and appears more friendly. Choice of on line or paper magazines, a bit cheaper on line. Linked to the ASCI club, so possibly a better alternative to Key Camp and a good choice of campsites. On a recent trip to France we got ASCI prices at all the sites we went to and we are not members yet! We joined this year as we are looking at some of their escorted tours. We have just booked on the two presentation days in November/December, so something to look forward to.

Motorhome Fun. This has got to be my favourite. Cheap to join, lovely website, forum and Facebook page. Good fun. Rallies for those who want to attend, but really useful information on loads of topics. This is always my first stop for information.

IH Owners Club. Most marques have their own clubs. This one has been great for us for information about our van and sharing hints and tips.

UK Campsites. This is a great little site and I use it all the time. The virtual brochure is a clever little tool. We always read the reviews and find them generally very enlightening.

Trip Advisor. Again, useful for information.

Searchforsites. Someone put a lot of work into this. A really handy site.

Social Media. Loads of clubs here just find one that suits. 

Britstops. Lots of good feedback on this one from other travellers we have met but there is a limit to how many books you can carry.

All the Aires. BIG BOOKS. Hopefully we may get to try them out this year.

Finally, if you have a van join the National Trust, if you are over 60 ring them for a reduction! We use our membership a lot and find it well worth the pennies for us.

Hurn Lane Caravan Club Site.

Yippee!!! We did finally get onto a Caravan Club Site so all is not lost.

Caravan Club Site Hurn Lane

 Hurn Lane in sunny Somerset, actually Brean. The site is of the usual high standards expected. We used the gravel hard standings, although there are some grass pitches, they were waterlogged, so closed. Very pleasant site, although a bit of a walk to the beach, we used our bikes. Lovely bike trail from the site. We stopped at the cricket club on the way home.

Bike Trail from Hurn Lane

If you are really naughty you can use the supermarket in the next door site Unity Resort, another of our favourite places. The only downside to Hurn Lane is "seagulls", they lurk as soon as there is food about. We had a very peaceful weekend and will be going back soon (if we can get in!!! )

We are currently exploring motorhome escorted tours with The Camping and Caravanning Club and have booked to go on their presentation days in November/December this year, so watch this space.

Up Hill Down Dales. Just Like the Grand Old Duke of York.

Up Hill Down Dales.

We decided that we really needed to broaden our outlook on the local camping scene and with the May Day Bank holiday looming and the rush of happy campers booking up every available pitch we looked for a new place to go. Browsing UK Camp Sites I found a contender. Not too far away, near a small village and not far from a local pub. It was very rural with decent reviews, so a quick phone call and we were off. A beautiful drive through Somerset and a slight diversion down a rather narrow lane, found us at Batcombe Vale. We did follow Madam SatNag's directions, but I thought the turning suggested was a bit tight, so thought I would test Den's driving skills on a tighter, narrower course. Fortunately nothing was coming the other way. I should have read the camp site instructions!

Soon we were settled in on a flattish......  grassy pitch overlooking the boating lake, things looked promising. Our pitch was huge, if dry it would have been perfect, but the ground was damp, although relatively well drained.

Batcombe Vale is, as the name suggests a camp site nestling in the valley between Bruton and Batcombe. A rather hilly part of the world. We were pleased we came down in a spritely camper and not towing a caravan, the turn at the top was tight, we made it in two turns anything longer than 6.5 m would have been fun.

There was a promise in the air that the weather may be dry, warmth was a vain hope. 

As we had arrived relatively early and the weather was actually dry we decided to climb the mountain and take a trek into Bruton. Do not be beguiled by the gentle slope it's a mountain, we staggered to the top and wandered the 2.5 miles through lovely countryside to Bruton. A lovely little village filled with well heeled parents and kids who attend the local boarding schools. We mixed with the gentry at The Sanctuary and sampled the coffee before trekking back.

However, as the sun set over the boating lake it looked a promising weekend.

The next morning broke, dry and cold, but we had a snuggly night in April with the heating on low. We took a little jaunt around the site, I quite fancied a row but sadly we never quite got round to it,the boats and oars

were all lined up and expectantly waiting, perhaps next trip.

Our next little excursion was out for lunch. We decided to try "The Three Horseshoes", a little jaunt over the hills and along a few country paths. We got suitably togged up, coats, hats, gloves, boots and rucksacks, nothing like "Being Prepared". Den carried the rucksack, I took the camera! 

The walk was actually beautiful and through some stunning scenery. Part of it was tramping across the muddy cows field, but we found a better route back.

Passed The Old Post Office, that used to be the Old Telegraph Office.

A few more trips down beautiful country lanes and we found the pub. Gastro, very busy a bit pricey and all the tables were booked. Luckily, pleasant enough to sit outside for travellers.

For foodies, we had the ploughman's and very tasty it was too! I don't normally like publishing pictures of food in the blog, there is a limit to how much we want to share! However,this one did deserve a picture. All homemade, except for the crisps.

We drank the wine, stuffed cheese and wandered home for a pleasant evening watching the sun go down, over the boat lake.

Our final day was spent being just like "The Grand Old Duke of York". Marching up to the top of the hill and back again. This hill in the picture , twice and believe me it was steep. Half way to Bruton we marched and back again, in the rain. 

Someone, forgot his wallet.........

The hill was a lot STEEPER than it looked ( have I said this before?). The road we marched up and down was also steep and a long way! 

Would we go back? Possibly on a predicted warm weekend. Lovely rural retreat, great for wildlife , birds and bees, good for walking, friendly wardens and lovely views. Pick a flat pitch and make sure the water in the showers are warm, before stripping off.The toilet block is rustic but clean. Homemade cider on site. Yes, I think another visit is on the cards.

Back to the IH Factory and a Day Out in Leeds.

Perhaps not  a " Weekend Destination" place but a weekend back to the IH factory at Knottingly just outside Leeds and a day out! 

Back to the IH factory we went with April for a habitation check and a bit of a bodywork makeover. Over the winter we noticed a small spider shaped mark in the back door and realised it had been caused during manufacture. We had to take April back for a habitation check and a few other bits and bobs outstanding from the last visit. So back to Leeds it was.

We arranged for a hire car to pick us up at the Premier Inn in Pontifract just by the factory. We had stayed there on our previous visit, so knew it would be comfy and good value for a couple of nights. As the van had to go into the paint shop, we knew we would have to return in a week to pick it up, we had already booked 2 nights at the Premier Inn so thought we would have a day out in Leeds. Hardly a "Destination" place but we were very pleasantly surprised.

After dropping the van at the IH factory in the capable hands of Carol, we wandered up to the station at Knottingly a short 10 minute stroll up the road. Our luck was in, at 10.15, the train into Leeds was waiting at the station, so we hopped on.

Two off peak returns, good value at £7.50, the train journey to Leeds was around 40 minutes. Leeds station is in the heart of the city centre so we decided to go and have a mooch around the docks. The architecture was brilliant, with ancient and modern jostling for space by the water. The buildings around the docks stretched up without being overpowering.

We ambled around the Granary Wharf, looking at bridges, locks and barges.

It looks a dreary day in the pictures, but it was actually dry and the sun was trying desperately to be happy. We meandered around the Leeds and Liverpool Canal before deciding to find the local visitor centre back towards the town centre. The Burghers of Leeds certainly knew how to put up buildings, the Town Hall was magnificent and there were loads of huge statues of the great and good. The city showed wealth and splendour at every corner, pity the poor people who worked in the factories and coal mines.

We eventually decided to go and explore Leeds Armoury, a short walk from the station, so back we trudged. Actually the walk was very pleasant, back along the canal we tripped, more boats and barges moored up and loads of flats with snazzy balconies at the waters edge. Some even had roof gardens.

We wondered if water side property was expensive in Leeds?

We arrived at the Leeds Armoury, another imposing water side building, with flags flying. Perhaps they knew we were coming!

We weaved around the barges, peeking in on wood burning stoves, huge televisions, bikes and all the flotsam and jetsam of life on the ocean waves. Life on a barge looks interesting and eccentric, judging by the looks of some of the boats and the paraphernalia they seemed to need! 

We found the entrance The Royal Armouries, unbelievably FREE!! It was crowded but so huge it hardly mattered. Brilliantly put together a wonderful place to spend a few hours. Some of the exhibits were breathtaking.

The Hall of Steel, which was jammed with hundreds of swords, shields and helmets was so well done. The displays were staged to make maximum impact in size and action, which they certainly did.

Many thought provoking and possibly controversial displays on the weapons of war, a great educational centre. There were also staged sword fights and other attractions going on, we spent a long time wandering through the numerous galleries.

By the time we came out of the Armouries, we were relieved to find a free water taxi moored outside waiting to take us back to The Granary Wharf, thank you Leeds Council. 
We stopped on the way back to help a couple who were getting their new barge through one of the locks, Den pretended to help. We spent some time having a chat about life on the ocean wave, a cheap alternative to life on dry land.

We headed back to town and found a very nice Thai Restaurant which finished off a lovely day. Back on the train to the Premier Lodge and a drive home the next day. Looking forward to the next trip to Knottingly next weekend to collect April.