Loire, Brittany and Tour de France

This was a trip primarily to see two stages of the Tour de France in Brittany.  As getting Hebe to Dover takes a while we stayed at a nearby Travelodge with dinner and a few drinks at the White Hart in Lower Horsebridge.  Early start the following morning and off to Dover.

On the Ferry

Final destination was the Loire Valley but traffic in Rouen was bad so didn't arrive till after midnight.  Very long and tiring journey.  Don't think I'd do a journey in Hebe this long again.

Parked up in the Val du Loir

After a few days to recover it was a couple of hours driving to Camping Le Deffay at Saint Reine de Bretagne on the route of the Tour de France.

Camping Le Deffay

As we got closer to the Tour route, the decorations started to appear.  Also the parking spaces were beginning to fill up with Camper Vans and Motorhomes.  Soon set up at the Campsite and ready for the race the following day. I needed to visit the shops to get supplies so cycled part of Stage 4 of the Tour de France

Tour de France – Stage 4 at Saint Reine de Bretagne

In the morning it was bit of a walk to the road, so claimed a space at the side of the road as the roads closed at 11:30.  Deck chairs set up and a box of wine in the coolbag ready for the couple of hours until the Tour de France passed by.  There were various race cars and police on the road before the Caravan turned up This was a spectacle of floats and decorated vehicles from the sponsors of the Tour - basically an advertising campaign but great fun as they starting throwing items to the spectators. 

About 45 mins later the cyclists turned up.  There was a breakaway group followed by the Peleton.  There were going really fast and tightly bunched together and passed within a few inches.  Then it was all over, pack up and back to Hebe for a refreshing glass or two before heading to the campsite restaurant for dinner.

Camping Le Deffay was OK but is was a bit too "English" for my liking.  I don't see any particular reason to go back there.

Following morning off to Camping de la Rivière d'Argent at Huelgoat.  As before, set up ready for the race the following morning.

Camping de la Rivière d'Argent

This time it was a short walk to the route and were soon set up in a shady spot.  This was more French and the (French) party next to us invited us to sample what they were drinking - still don't know what it was but it was certainly potent.  Better organised this time with a picnic as well.  As before the Caravan came along but was a bit more spread out as it was further from the start. 

The whole thing seemed to develop a bit of a party atmosphere with the campsite owner turning up to wave at the helicopters. 

Again a breakaway then the Peleton and this time they were going even faster as it was a slight down hill.  Some people started moving away, then the second stage of the Peleton came along.  Again the speed they travel at while bunched tightly together is quite something.

That evening, the Campsite had laid on a dinner of Sangria and roast pig.  Before this, I cycled into Huelgoat to get some cash and to ride a bit of Stage 6.  On the way back I lost my Fitbit but despite searching i couldn't find it.

Dinner was great washed down with the bottle or two of wine.  I liked this campsite, there was a good atmosphere, Huelgoat and the forest around it is a very scenic area and it's a very nice place.  I would go back here.

Huelgoat and the Enchanted Forest

Following morning, pack up and head back to the Loire Valley - a four hour drive.

Following morning a very early start for the drive to Calais.  Despite driving fast (and using a lot of fuel) we only made the Ferry as it was running a bit late.  Too close for comfort.  Then it was drive from Dover to Hailsham, park Hebe up, get out the car and drive back to Bromley.  Again a very long day and not something I would probably do again.

Tour de France was great.  Fantastic atmosphere and quite a spectacle.  I'll be back....

Hopefully next year they will have stages in Northern France.

Horam Again

This is just a short trip to sort things out in advance of the forthcoming Tour de France trip.  An opportunity to organise a Dragon (called Norbert) and sort out some ladders, so a lot of running around.

Lake at Horam and a Dragon in Hebe

Did have Penny's cousin over for a rather good Barbeque on the first evening so did get a few beers in.

Brittany

This is Hebe’s first “proper” trip to France and first longer drive.  The Ypres trip was shorter.

Anyway, bit of a rush getting to Hailsham, getting things sorted out and heading off to Portsmouth took some time but we got there ok for check-in at Brittany Ferries to St. Malo..  Almost immediately we were moved to the Quayside where we waited and waited and waited.  Eventually we were loaded but were 2nd last on the boat.  Then Brittany Ferries tried to put us into a space where the doors wouldn’t open so then a lot of reversing and moving was needed.  All pointless as the doors had shut and there was plenty of space.  One of the worst ferry boarding experiences I’ve ever had.

Anyway, on board, got to the restaurant and some sleep before arriving in St. Malo the following morning.  Road works in St Malo but got through and headed off to a Supermarket and then to La Moulerie de la Baie at Jospinet Plage.

Thankfully lots of parking places free so soon parked up with a sea view.  I wasn’t feeling too good so didn’t go to the Restaurant so had a look around instead.

After lunch. headed off to Camping Belle Vue Mer at Hillion.  We were put on a site facing the sea with a private terrace – fantastic.

Walk on the beach, dinner in the on-site restaurant and watch the sunset over the sea.

Following morning it was back to Jospinet Plage. to visit the Le Panier Iodé seafood place to get a platter de fruits de mer.

Got it in the fridge (just) and then headed off to Camping Saint-Michel at Erquy.  We got there at lunchtime and they were closed so parked up and headed for the beach.

I went back to the campsite when it had opened but despite having booked a seaside space three months before, they put me in the middle of a field.  After an hour of fafffing about, I finally got given what I had booked.  So it was settle down for a very late lunch, chilled white wine and then a walk to explore a nearby bar.

Following lunchtime it was off to Le Petit Saint Michel, 15 mins walk from the campsite.  Fantastic place with fantastic views and they had spider crab on the menu.

After a long lunch in the sunshine involving several bottles of wine it was a slow walk along the beach back to the campsite for a few more glasses of wine.

Following morning it was time to move on.  Packed everything up, parked outside the campsite and back to Le Petit Saint Michel for another lunch.  Bit less wine this time as I was driving.

Then it was off to Camping Domaine de la Ville Huchet near Saint Malo for the final night.  Very hot and sunny so thought I’d try out the Awning for the first time to give a bit of shade.  Bit fiddly but finally got there.

Evening was a takeaway Crepe from the on-site restaurant all washed down with a few glasses of wine.  Needed to pack up in the evening as an early start the following morning for the ferry.

Very easy drive to the Ferry port, were loaded on without any problems and left for Portsmouth.

 

Lunch in the on-board restaurant and then a rest as it is a long trip. 

Got into Portsmouth in the evening and passed the new Royal Navy aircraft carrier and some other ships.

Then it was a long drive back to Hebe’s parking and then back home very late.

Great trip, Brittany is fantastic and great for Motorhomes.  Will definitely be back, just wish we had a longer time.

Joe

Piccadilly Camping, Lacock

Bit of a longer trip this time, all the way to Lacock, Wiltshire to stay at Piccadilly Caravan Park.  Also different as there are three of us so I need to make up the second bed in Hebe - something I've not done before and it's a bit of a kit of parts.

Got there late afternoon, set up and headed for the pub.  In this case the George Inn in Lacock.  Really nice pub with excellent Wadsworth beers.

Something to eat, then back to Hebe to have a glass of wine and work out how to put the bed together.  Sort of got it eventually and only had a few bits left over.

Following morning the weather had improved and it was almost sunny.  I had recently bought a Cadac Chef BBQ so spent a good hour trying to work out how to put it together.  After a pre-lunch pint or two in the Red Lion in Lacock, it was back to Hebe and fire up the “Barbie”.  We had got some supplies from Nick's Butchers at Hartfield earlier so had some good sausages and bacon.  BBQ worked well and all washed down with a bottle of wine.

We settled in for the evening when I noticed I was just short of my daily target of 10,000 steps.  Only one solution, a brisk walk to the Red Lion pub in Lacock for a pint or two.  Steps target achieved, in for the night and in the morning it was raining again.

Got packed up and sorted out (although getting rid of the waste water was interesting) and then hit the road.  Again nothing to eat so a stop at the White Hart at Lower Horsebridge for a late Sunday lunch (again) was called for.

Piccadilly Camping at Lacock is a really nice place and I'll definitely be back there again. Just wish water disposal was a bit easier but practice makes perfect.

Horam Manor Camping.

This trip was meant to be before the Ypres trip and was originally scheduled for 2nd March.  However the snow put a stop to that.

The site is only a short drive from where Hebe is stored but by the time we got there, sorted Hebe out and headed off to the campsite, we were starving as we had nothing to eat all day and it was now mid afternoon.

So, parked up, then off to the Horam Lakeside bar for a couple of beers and an all day breakfast.  The weather was improving, the rain had stopped and the sun was even showing some signs of coming out from behind the clouds.

Penny's cousin turned up around 4:30pm so I got the deckchairs out, some M&S cakes, a pot of tea, a beer for me and a bottle of wine for the girls.

During the night, it rained.  The following day, I want into Horam for supplies - it was raining.  After lunch, I did another trip into Horam via the Lakeside bar and the May Garland Inn.  A swift pint in each and then back to the campsite.

Despite a nice sunset, it rained during the night and the following morning it rained, but I still had to pack up and get Hebe ready for the road.  A quick stop at the White Hart at Lower Horsebridge for a late Sunday lunch (really nice pub) then it was off back home.

The weather is never going to be good in early April but the campsite at Horam Manor was really nice with great facilities and staff.  Good weekend and I'll definitely be back here.

First trip of 2018 and also first trip to France & Belgium

Plan was to do a UK trip the previous week to get everything ready but the snow put a stop to that.

Anyway got Hebe sorted and set off for a friend’s house near Maidstone, plan was to park on their driveway overnight then head to Dover for the ferry. Getting there was “interesting” with narrow roads, parked cars and the Sun low on the horizon. Frist time I’ve driven her since September.

Anyway, got there and after a bite to eat and a few glasses of wine it was off to the “driveway” for the night.

Hebe at Dover ready to board the Ferry

Following morning, off to Dover for P&O Ferries to Calais. Motorway driving was much easier and made it to Dover on time. Trip to Ypres was uneventful and we were soon parked up at “Camping Jeugdstadion”

Camping Jeugdstadion

Weather was a bit wet and thankfully Hebe proved to be waterproof and warm. Campsite was a fairly easy walk to a supermarket , Ypres centre and the Menin Gate. We went to the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate on the Saturday evening – a moving experience.

Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate

Ypres had a good selection of restaurants and bars so spent a good few hours exploring a few as well as a local chocolate shop.

Bar and later view from the Restaurant

Lots of wildlife around Ypres, we saw a hedgehog, lots of rabbits and birds

Hedgehog at the Campsite

Then it was Sunday, so pack up and head back to Calais and a ferry to the UK. Drive to the parking area in East Sussex was a lot easier despite the torrential rain, then it was pack everything up and a drive back home in the car.

Hebe’s interior before packing up

Great trip, Hebe worked well, was warm and comfortable (and waterproof) so looking forward to future trips when hopefully the weather will be a bit better.

Hebe is a Pilote P740C Sensation

Hebe’s internal layout.

Island bed, separate WC and shower, two sofa’s, a table and rotatable cab seats.

Also a 3 hob cooker, sink and a large fridge freezer.

Very nice