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2010

Once again we used our Tesco Supermarket vouchers to pay for campsites with Siblu holidays, we booked four campsites along France's Atlantic coast.  A change to the usual ferry crossings though, not P&O Hull to Zeebrugge but Condor Ferries Poole to St Malo, longer drive in England but much shorter in France, about a 200 mile saving altogether.  As it was going to be a long drive in England and as the ferry sailed at 13:30 we planned to set off the night before and camp near Oxford, to give us plenty of time the next day.  We would be meeting up with Mick and Bren on our second day in France and travelling together for the rest of the trip.  Also a change from the usual, to save money the plan was to not use toll roads in France, as the tolls had been very expensive the previous year.

World Cup year again, so we have to be sure to be near a TV on England match days. 

Kidington The Highwayman Hotel 249 Banbury Road, Kidlington, Oxfordshire OX5 1BF Web Site

Arrived earlier than expected, asked in the bar where to pitch and was told anywhere but as we wanted electricity there was only one spot available, so we set up there.  Sat outside in the sun by the canal with couple of beers until it started to get a bit cold, then we had a couple more beers inside the pub before bed.

Day two 5th June

Up early for Poole, pretty uneventful journey except for the guy in a 4x4 that chased us and tried to run us off the road because we wouldn't leave a gap for him when he ran up the inside of the queue at road works.

Arrived in Poole before the check-in opened and then the ferry was delayed, so we eventually left for France via Jersey about an hour and a half late. 

On check in, we were informed that no motorhomes were booked on today and there wasn't room but after some polite conversation about how is said motorhome on our booking confirmation, there was room after all.  Our van is 3.07 meters high, the maximum height for the ferry is 3.1 meters, very scary loading, the people in the small van loading behind us said, they didn't think we wound make it.  

The ferry was quite nice but a lot smaller that we were used to, it didn't have much outside space and it isn't until it gets up to about 30mph that you realise why.  It was very crowded so we had to use the allocated seats, apparently you can usually sit where you want, also we stopped off in Jersey, something I hadn't expected, mustn't have read the brochure properly.  The trip took about five hours altogether, plus the one hour time difference, so we arrived at about  21:00.

St-Malo Camping la Cité d'Alet Allée Gaston Buy. 35400 Saint-Malo Web Site

The plan for St Malo was to check in to the campsite then head to the old town for a walk round the walls and have a couple of beers but as we where late we didn't think we would get this done.  When I arranged the site, I was told that there would be no one the site when we arrived and to just park up and pay in the morning.  Well there was and I had to fill in forms, then the pitch we set up on had no electricity, so we had to move, by this it was even later but we set off for the walk anyway.  By the time we got there it was about 21:45 and getting too dark for photos but we still managed to walk part of the walls and then as it started to rain, we popped into a bar for a beer.

As it was over a mile back to the site and already about 23:00 and still raining we set off back but called in to another very nice bar about two thirds of the way back for a nightcap.

Day three 6th June

Mick and Bren were due into St Malo at 09:30, so we had to be up and ready to meet up with them at a supermarket on the way out of town.  We had to fill up with diesel first, I had researched the price and there was a cheap Elf station on the way to the supermarket.  Filled up for about €1.14 / litre that's £1.00 / litre on the exchange we got before travelling, that's £0.20 / litre saving or £16.00 on a full tank (and that's based on supermarket prices). 

The route to the first campsite was about 130 mile, we took the D137 out of St Malo, to Rennes where we took a right around the ring road.  On the ring road the road name changes a couple of times but we just headed for Exit 6A, a right turn onto the N137.  From the N137 we turned right onto the N171, all the way to the outskirts of St Nazaire, then onto the D213 over the river Loire to the site.

SAINT-BREVIN Siblu's Les Pierres Couchees Avenue des Pierres Couchées, 44250 Saint-brevin-les-pins Web Site

The entrance to the site had changed from last year and there was even less space for us to park while we checked in (this and other things we noticed on this and the next three Siblu sites, suggested that they would cease to be touring sites in the very near future).  We were allocated pitches but unlike last year we were told to just choose where we wanted to pitch and let them know later.

If anyone read last years write-up, this next bit may look remarkably similar, that's because it is, I have just copied it as we just did exactly the same thing.  Only the photos are different.

We left the beach and headed up some steps to take a short detour through Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef before we could get back down to the sea.  Actually we continued along the seafront on the promenade as the tide was still too high for a continuous walk on the beach.   We eventually came down from the promenade to a small marina at Tharon-Plage, where we had a walk along and a sit on the pier end (and a cold beer that just happened to be in my bag).  After a rest (and using the toilets at the marina) we continue along the promenade, passed hotels and bars, all very quiet at this time of year. 

Last year here we passed a group of school children learning how to use sail buggies, this year they were learning how to sail, all more than we ever did at school.

We found a bar on the front that was open, so called in for a couple of beers and another longer rest. 

The tide was now out, so we walked all the way back along the beach, I do not know why but it seems to be quicker walking that way.  Back at the campsite we had a couple of beers outside the bar before heading back to the van for tea. 

That night we returned to the bar and won the quiz, I though we were not doing very well with our answers but seemingly nobody else was either.  We got a beer each as a prize, I hadn't wanted to walk back to the bar as my feet were very painful (been having a lot of problems lately with my feet and knees) but wining a free beer made me feel much better.

Day five 8th June

Today we went for a drive in Mick's car, we had no particulate destination in mind but headed for St Nazaire, one thing we had to do though, was some shopping.  We did think of visiting the U Boat museum in St Nazaire but none of us was really bothered.  On the map, just passed St Nazaire, there appeared to be an Island with a causeway so we headed there, is wasn't an Island or a causeway, just a peninsular with a road through the salt beds.  Anyway we ended up at the nice little fishing town of Le Croisic, and went for a walk.  It was cooler than it had been and it looked like it could rain, so it was on with the cardigans and water proofs in bags ready. 

There were plenty of shops for the girls and we also looked into a small supermarket but it was quite expensive, so we headed back to the car and drove to a larger one, closer to the campsite.   Although we got plenty of meat for a BBQ we had lasagne for tea, it needed eating.

Day Six 9th June

One part of the trip I haven't motioned, is that I want to visit the Rochefort Transporter Bridge, we have one on Teesside and I want to visit all of the remaining Transporters in the world.   The second part of this wish is not likely to come true, I may manage all the Transporters in Europe one day but as for South America, maybe if I win the lottery.  We were only going to stop for one night but Mick had a tourist brochure from Rochefort, it looked interesting, maybe worth a two night stop.

It was quite a complicated drive to Rochefort avoiding tolls, we left the campsite back onto the D213 south, the road name changed to the D13.  At the D95 we turned right and again the road name changed to the D32, at the outskirts of Challans we joined the D948 to La Roche-sur-Yon.  Then round the ring road (D160, D948, A87) to the D746, just north of Lucon. there we skirt the town onto the D137.   We follow the D137 to the D10A which changes name to the D9 then back to the D10 (don't ask me), to La Rochelle.  Here we go round La Rochelle on the N237/ D137 then onto the D733 at Rochefort, then Boulevard Édouard Pouzet following the signs to the municipal campsite.

Rochefort Camping Municipal, Le Rayonnement, Rochefort 3 avenue de la Fosse-aux-Mâts, 17300 Rochefort Web Site

We had filled in a contact form for this site but had had no reply but assumed that there would be plenty of room this time of year.  We were in fact, lucky to get a pitch, as it was very full, it looked like many were here for the season and we were the only none French on the site.

As we set off to find the walk along the river Charente, with the town one way and the Transporter bridge the other way, the weather started to change.  It became overcast and and a lot cooler than it had been, good job we took waterproofs with us, as soon as we got to the river and sited the Transporter, is started to rain.  The rain got very heavy and we had to shelter under some trees until it stopped. 

We did get very wet, but headed along the river back into town anyway.  It wasn't long before the sun was back out and we soon dried off.  We passed the Napoleonic dry-docks and ended up at the Musée National de la Marine, it was late in the day and we didn't want to pay to get in.  So we headed into town and ended up by the marina for a beer in the sun.

After a beer we set off back into the centre but couldn't find it (couldn't find a bit with shops and bars that is, we must have just missed it), we did have another beer on our trek back though.

Day Seven 10th June

Two years ago when the Rochefort Transporter had its anniversary they used one of my photos the the Tees Transporter in their exhibition.  I wondered if t was still on display, anyway, on our visit today we would find out.

We arrived at the Transporter to find it closed, I was surprised at this as it was supposed to be running.  We discovered that a cable or cable anchor had given way and so the bridge was closed for maintenance.  I had written to the people who had run the exhibition at the bridge, to say we would be visiting but had heard nothing back, so was a tad upset to find it closed.   Anyway we took lots of photos (maybe some could be used by the Tees Transporter for their centenary in 2011) and went for a looks at some old photos in the bridge café.  Here the man running the cafe shouted at me for entering the cafe with dirty shoes, the day just got better and better. 

From the bridge we headed for the coast at Port des Barques and went for a walk along the shore line.  There was a causeway to an Island (Ile Madame) and we had wondered if we could walk or drive over but the tide came in at a very fast pace, we would never have made it.  The weather was back to being hot again today, so we had a nice sun tanning wander, there seemed to be a lot of storm damage long the coast from the winter storms.  Here many of the fishing contraptions seem to have been smashed to pieces, there are a lot old and abandoned about France but these look to have been damaged recently.  We didn't have any drinks with us and it was very hot, so we headed back to the car, we were also getting hungry by then.

We had passed a few small shops and cafes just before we parked so we drove back there to maybe get something to eat and drink but unfortunately it was at that time of day when you can not get anything in France, they had all just closed.  On the way back to Rochefort we stopped off at the opposite side of the Transporter and found the small museum where my photos was but again, unfortunately it was not open.  The sign on the door said it should be open but it wasn't (on our return home there was an email from the Transporter people, sent this day to say that the Transporter was not operating but that arrangements had been made to open the museum for our visit.) I did get a photo of my photo through the window.

Back at the campsite we did very little for the rest of the day but take advantage of the sun.  Dot an I did pop into reception to ask about tolls to Bordeaux and decided we would just do it to get to the next site faster.

Day Eight 11th June

It had rained overnight and we had to put the pop up tent away wet but we would have it up again in a few hours.

First stop, the supermarket, the next site was a bit out of the way, so we thought we would stock up with enough food, beer and cheep fuel for the next five days.  By the time we finished shopping it was dinner time so we made sandwiches before we set off on the road.

Using toll roads the route was much simpler, back on the D733 we came in on and onto the D137/A837/E602 (I wish the French would give roads just one number, I understand why they do it but it is confusing), until it joins the A10 south.  We stay on the A10 until it becomes the N230 round Bordeaux, as the road crosses the river Garonne its name changes to the A630,  We continued round Bordeaux on the A630 to exit 15 where we turned onto the A63, eventually the road name changes to the E4 and we turn off at exit 17, right onto the D43 and into Parentis-en-Born, here we turn left on to the D652 to Gastes here the D625 turns sharp left and we continue for about a mile to Avenue Félix Ducournau where we take a right straight to the site.

Gastes Siblu's La Réserve Gastes, 40160 Parentis En Born, France Web Site

Checked in and got the usual "here are you pitches but just go where you want and let us know", we did choose different sites and let them know.

No photos from today.

Day Nine 12th June

England game tonight.

Changeable weather again and still fairly cool.  First thing, we got Mick and Bren's awning up, second year with the van and the first time it has been put up.  And it all went remarkably smooth, with next to no problems.

In the middle of the lake, there appeared to be oil pumps, like the ones you see in Texas but that couldn't be right, could it (looked it up when we got home and yes there are oil pumps in the middle of the lake).  There were also little islands with sheds on, I assume these were for fishing and not to do with the oil industry but I could be wrong there as well.

Back at the campsite, the shop was a revelation after the shop at the first Siblu site, instead of three vegetables, there was two or three boxes of each.  The beer was also a good selection of booze, reasonably priced. 

We watched the second match of that day, sat in the sun through the window of Mick van as we had out tea, then it was off to the bar to watch England v USA.  It should have been an easy game but England made it look hard and in the end managed to give away a lead, to draw 1 - 1.  The atmosphere in the bar was very good though and the Leffe was on offer during happy hour (the Stella was off, bargain).

Day Ten 13th June

Cool day again to start with but we went to the lake anyway, just as we got there the sky went black and it started to rain, although it didn't last long but it did look like it was going to by a big storm for a while.  So we set off along the lake the opposite way from the day before, there wasn't much to see as the path moved inland so we took a turn up a small road away from the lake, this eventually brought us back round to the front on the campsite.  By now it was hot again and as we were passing the bar, we decided it would be a good idea to have a beer.  Back at the vans it was decided to do a camping version of a Sunday dinner, all cooked outside in the sun (except the Yorkshire puddings).

An F1 day from Canada , so most of what we did later in the day was based around the race.  We watched it sat in the sun through the window of Mick van again, as we had our food.  Result, a fantastic first and second for Lewis and Jenson.  At the end of the race there was another race to get to the bar before the end of happy hour, Dot and I got here first and ordered for all of us but just in time though.  Watched the Germany v Australia game, not a good day to be Australian.  The barman gave me a free round, no idea why, Mick also got a free drink as he was stood next to me. 

Day Eleven 14th June

Dot and I want over to the pool but it was too cool to use the outdoor pool so we went indoors and spent most of our time in the jacuzzi as we usually do when there is one.  The pool closed at midday for two hours (why), on our way out we met Mick and Bren just coming for a swim too late.

With the pool closed we want out for a drive in the car, we went to the mouth of the river Mimizan at Mimizan Plage.  Mimizan Plage is quite a nice seaside resort but the wind made it feel colder than it was, although in the shade it was boiling.

Holland were playing today and one bar in particular was very orange and very noisy.  We didn't go in, instead we want for a walk to the river mouth and then along the river for a short while.

Later back at the campsite we had a BBQ and then some beers during happy hour at the bar.  It was nice to see Italy doing as bad as England, only managing to draw with Paraguay.

Day Twelve 15th June

Today we had a lazy day in the sun, we got Mick's Awning back down ready for our move tomorrow, and in the afternoon all went over to the pool.  Mick didn't have the wrist band you have to wear to use the pool and was refused entry, Mick was not best pleased but rules are rules, no mater how daft they are.  Me and Mick had to go over to reception to get a new one, the girl on the desk was a bit off with Mick for losing the wrist band, that didn't help.  It was warm enough to use the outdoor pools and slides but pretty soon the storm clouds came back over and we had to move indoors and into the jacuzzi.

When we left the pool the sun was back out, so we went to the pool bar for a Leffe or two but no sooner than we had ordered and sat down, it started to rain and we had to shelter under the canopy round the bar.  It wasn't just the rain, in damp clothing the wind was bitter and the girls soon set off back to the vans to get warm and to change. 

We went over to the bar again for happy hour and the football, unfortunately the Stella was back on.

Day Thirteen 16th June

It rained all night, good job we got the awning down yesterday, the tent was wet again though.  By the time we were ready to go Mick van was totally surrounded by water.  We decided to go by toll roads again as it was going to be the longest drive of the holiday (in France that is), about 300 miles.  We went back the way we came D265 to D43 and onto the main road north the E4 / A63, by this time the rain was horrendous.  We got round Bordeaux via A636and N230 to the A10 north and the weather was still appalling.  We stayed on the A10 for about a hundred mile to exit 32, where we headed west on the A83.  By this time the rain had stopped and the sun was shining, at exit 6 we turned onto the D948 to Challans and then the D753 to St Jean de Monts.

ST Jean de Monts Siblu's Le Bois Masson Rue des Sables, 85160 ST Jean de Monts. Web Site

Usual thing at reception they gave us a small dark pitch and we moved to a larger brighter one.  Got the vans and satellites set up and had a BBQ for tea.  Then we had a walk over to the bar to watch the football.   No photos again.

Day Fourteen 17th June

At lunch time in the hottest part of the day, we set off to walk the mile and a half into town, so by the time we got there we were very hot and just about all off the shops were shut.  There was what looked like a good market we had just missed but it was on every day so we would come back tomorrow.  Mick wanted something from the pharmacy but it wasn't due to reopen for an hour.  So after a quick look around we settled outside a bar to wait.  

We then had the long walk back to the campsites, we did part of the walk along the front and then through a wooded area.  Is was a better walk that just walking along the road, although the bit through the woods seemed to be never ending.  In the woods Brenda collected a lot of large pine cones (for decoration at home) and let Mick carry them for her.

At half time the girls came inside as it was cooing down outside, so for more room, we moved up to the bar's mezzanine level.  When Mexico got their first goal we were very surprised when a large section of the bar stood and cheered.  We were just as surprised when it happened for the second one and a bit embarrassed to be British, it was only latter we realised, that the people cheering were from Ireland, the country cheated out of a world cup place by France. 

Day Fifteen 18th June

We did go back in to town earlier to catch the market but we went in the car instead of walking.  After a look round we got sandwiches for lunch and had them in the sun by the church in the town square.  The wine stall on he market had advertised they had a great beer selection but you had to go their warehouse close by.  So on the way back to the site we looked for it, stopped off and got a few beers I hadn't had before, including a can of Duff.  Mick also filled the tank on the car ready for moving on in a couple of days, he had to pay using his card in the pump, as the payment booth wasn't manned.

When we got back Dot and I went for a look at the Siblu other, sister site here, it was just over the road and all facilities were open to residents on both sites.  It was a slightly smarter site but there were no touring vans, we nearly had a beer over there but they only had Stella, the Leffe was not on yet.  So we walked back to our site and went in the pool, then the jacuzzi.

Brenda wasn't feeling well, so just me and Dot went over to the bar for the football and got a seat outside in the sun, with a good view of a TV.  Mick did come over to join us later.  I did something I rarely do when England are playing, I wore an England t-shirt but as we were only playing Algeria, I thought I would try and break the superstition of England not winning when I do.  Never again though, we could only manage a 0 - 0 draw, a disgraceful and very poor result. 

Day Sixteen 19th June

Not that sure what we did on this day, besides getting read to move on, I do know the girls went in to pool and  jacuzzi, and me and Mick watched a football match outside the bar while they did.  After their soak, the girls joined us outside for another beer.  Later we all watched a film back at Mick and Bren's van.

Day Seventeen 20th June

First I had to get fuel, we had been with Mick so knew the way (approximately), pulled in at the pump and got my card out and tried to get in it the pump but a sign came up, no cards.  Now I knew, Mick had used his card two day previous but it just would not work, then a man came over and said to pay at the booth.  So the payment booth wasn't manned on Friday but it was on Sunday, go figure.  Then we got on the wrong road as we left the supermarket and the sat nav went off and we had to restart the computer, such fun.

We eventually left St Jean de Monts for Pont Aven on the D51, then right on the D22 which changes to the D758 at Beauvoir-sur-Mer.  At Bourgneuf-en-Retz we turned left on to the D13, which changes to the D213, passed the first site we stopped on.  Over the river Lorie we took a right on to the N171,  we took a left on the D4/D773 to the N165.  As we crossed over the river Vilaine we could see a suspension bridge we went to look at last year, so we headed off the road into the service area (Aire de Marzan) to show Mick and Bren.  

Then it was back on to the N165 until we turned off left onto the D24, then right on the C3 / D77 to the site.  Dot and I visited this site last year so knew the way there

PONT AVEN Siblu's Domaine de Kerlann Rue de l'Ocean, 29930 Pont-Aven Web Site

Same routine at reception again, they gave us a small dark pitch and we moved to a larger brighter one, very strange why they do this every time.  Very different from last year, most of the touring pitches are now taken by static mobile homes, more evidence that soon these sites will no longer take touring vans.

Dot and I went over to Reception to inform them of our move but never got all the way back to the van, we took a detour to the bar (just to check out the prices you understand).  But first we got a couple of portions of chips from the takeaway and I did text Mick, to let him know where we where.  Not long after, we got a phone call from Mick, to ask how to get to the bar, they had lost their map of the campsite.  When they fond us we had a couple of beers together and they also got some chips.

Back at the van we got the satellites working (and I had my can of Duff), before heading back to the bar area to see what the entertainment was and to possibly watch some football.  The entertainment was the reps show, most of it was not too bad, except for a skit two of them did about sound effects, it was dreadful and it went on and on, me and Mike went inside to watch the football until they finished it. 

Day Eighteen 21st June

Spent the morning sunbathing, then after lunch we drove into Pont Aven, last year Dot and I, walked the 2.5 miles each way.  We had a stroll along the river and had a beer in the same bar as last year, La Chaumière Roz Aven, a very nice bar.  After the beer we looked round the shops and I bought a gift box of different beers as a Fathers Day present from Nicole.

That night only Dot and me went over to the bar, the entertainment was was some sort of family quiz/competition that we didn't understand, so we just sat in soft seats the bar.

Day Nineteen 22nd June

Mick and Bren had to be up early to get to St Malo for the early ferry tomorrow, whereas we had the whole day to get there.  So our days today were very different, Mick and Bren had to get ready to go and also use the remaining Siblu vouchers they had and we could relax and enjoy our last day. 

Mick and Bren went to the reastraunt for lunch while dot and I went to the pool and after the pool went straight to the bar before meeting up again back at the van for supper sat in the sun.  We found a very large stag beetle that was climbing a tree and Mick and Bren never did get an early night.

Day Twenty 23rd June

The 135 mile to St Malo should have taken about 2.5 hours but we arrived just before kick-off time, the SatNav had tried so send us up a dirt track and I did do a wrong turn and had to repeat the last part of the journey into St Malo, it took about 4 hours.

We left the site the way we came in D77/C3 to the N165 East, to exit 39 into the N24, to the D768/D700 to Loudéac and the N164.  We stayed in the N164 (even though we were asked to turn off) to Saint-Méen-le-Grand and the D166/D766 to the N176 then on to the D137 and St Malo, we did fill up with cheep fuel just on the outskirts.

We looked for somewhere to park for free and the didn't appear to be anywhere and lots of other car parks had height barriers, so we paid €5 to park at the port.  We then rushed into the centre to find a TV, a TV showing the right match.  We found one with good beer and we were not loosing, a half time we looked for some food but didn't find anything we wanted, so it was back to the pub for the second half.  We manage to hold on to a one goal first half lead to win and qualify for the next round.

We got back to the van had a sandwich, paid the €5 parking and set off the the ferry, the car park barrier lifted I drove through and there was a loud bang and a loud hissing sound.  I got out and we had clipped a low concrete block, which had put a dent in the rear wheel, deflating the tire.  We had, had a debate as to whether to carry the spare wheel, as most new motorhomes don't even have them, well I am glad we did take it.  It was not an easy job but I managed, got very hot, very sweaty and very dirty.

Then when we checked in we where informed that we would be calling at Guernsey as well as Jersey on route adding about an hour to the sailing time.  We did not mind that much as we were only going to park and sleep at the port until morning anyway. 

I had to reverse on to the ferry, the supervisor loading didn't believe we had drove on forward coming, it was very scary but the direction given were excellent and would have been even better if I could remember left from right. 

On arrival at Pool I asked where to park and where to pay and was told to park by the side of the building and not bother with any payment.  So we parked with the others, had a beer and went to bed.

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