France & Germany Aug 2012

Trip to France & Germany August 2012




Tuesday Aug 14th



We were up very early, 0230, and having packed last night we set off at 0340, not a bad run, mostly dry but a bit of mist/low cloud around Oxford, we stopped at Maidstone services to let Crackers stretch her legs and arrived in Dover at 0815, it was raining. We went straight to the ferry desk and got on the 0925 sailing, we gave Crackers a tablet to keep her calm, it was an easy crossing, very calm and grey. When we got back to the van we woke Crackers up so she had obviously been relaxed enough to sleep.

We drove to Arques, near St Omer calling for fuel at a Carrefour, we arrived at 1340 local time, it was a nice, big Aire by a lake and a municipal camp site, we walked to reception to pay €3. I got a meal and we sat outside and chatted to a couple who had arrived alongside us, we then walked round the lake where there were a lot of people fishing and picnicking, it was grey but warm and humid. I sat outside and read while Rich had a doze then later we got a bit of supper before an early night. The chap from reception came round for fees,, there were about a dozen vans by now, he didn’t call on us so I assumed he knew we’d paid but a while later the chap next door called and said he’d paid for us as he thought we were asleep!



Miles travelled 254 + 38

Fuel €70

Site fees €3











Wed Aug 15th



We got up and had breakfast, said goodbye to the couple next door and gave them €3 for paying our fee, we then walked to reception to tell them we had paid twice, and we got the €3 back. We then walked around the lake, on which there must have been about 100 swans, as well as moorhen, grebe and shelduck. We set off at 10 o’clock; it was a hot, sunny morning. We came to the conclusion that it must be a public holiday as all shops seemed to be closed and there were very few lorries on the road. We passed through small towns and villages all very neat and clean with lovely floral displays, we also passed a few war cemeteries, mostly from the WW1 we think.

We found the Aire at Bellicourt, arriving at 12.30, we had a look at the, very impressive, American 1st World War Memorial and got a bit of lunch. We walked down to the canal where there was a tunnel, built on Napoleon’s orders, which has a chain link to pull boats through, we walked along the canal for a while, the tow boats that nowadays pull boats through the tunnel by electricity were moored up, we then back to the van and decided to move to another Aire not far away as this one had only 2 spaces and was on a slope. We left at 1.45 and arrived at the next Aire at Beautor at 2.45, again only a small one with 3 spaces but it had a very clean toilet block and was close to the canal, what we thought was the Council Depot was across the road. We took a walk along the canal and round a fishing pool, Crackers was very good and we let her off the lead, she even paddled a bit in a brook, it was very hot and humid again, we sat out for a while before tea but after it was starting to rain a bit, it came to nothing though and was still very close. There was free wifi at the Aire and I found out that it was a religious holiday, Feast of the Assumption.



Miles travelled 127





Thurs Aug 16th



We were woken by the Council workers arriving; it was a lovely, sunny morning with clear blue skies. Rich took Crackers a walk while I got breakfast and he was gone ages, he said he’d been watching barges fill up with gravel on the canal, there was a large quarry. Rich decided to fill up with water but when he put €2 in the machine it wouldn’t work, I went and asked one of the men at the depot and he came over and bought another man who had a key, he managed to get it working but it stopped again so he filled up for us from the toilet block, he was also watering the flowers which were lovely around the Aire. We went to Aldi which was just across the main road and then set off at 11.10, we passed lots of tractors piled high with huge bales of straw, there were many combines in the fields, huge fields of cereal crops, there were also some quarries, we realised that the lake we’d walked round yesterday was an old gravel pit. We seemed to go a roundabout route across country but it was very nice on quiet back roads passing small towns and villages with red brick houses and some very large farms, the towns and countryside were all very clean and lots of beautiful flowers in gardens and public areas. As we passed into the Ardennes region the country changed and was greener with root crops, sunflowers and beans in smaller fields, very different to the vast yellow fields we’d been seeing. The architecture was slightly different as well, taller house with very old red bricks, very pretty. We arrived at Charleville Mezier at 12.40 and found the Aire which was full with people who looked like they’d been there for a while camping, I asked at the camp site and she said it was nothing to do with them, we decided to book in at camp site as it was only €16.86 a night. We pitched up and had a bacon buttie before walking into the town, a lovely town with a big central square, we walked back to the site and sat in sun/shade for rest of afternoon. I cooked tea then we walked round the marina, we noticed that 2 more vans were at the Aire, parked outside the official spaces, we were not cheeky enough to do that. Back for a sit outside with a drink then showers and bed.



Miles travelled 78

Site fees €16.86



Fri Aug 17th



Up and had breakfast, away by 10 o’clock, another sunny morning with blue skies. We drove through more neat towns and villages and mile upon mile of crop fields, lots being combines and baled, there were a lot of tractors hauling bales again but going the other way today. We crossed another district border and the architecture changed again, one town seemed to be all terraced houses made of blocks with a wide road going through, again lots of flowers. There were fields of sunflowers and beans and it was quite wooded.

We arrived at Bar Du Luc Aire and it was very small and between a railway, canal and road, quite an urban area so we decided to move to Contrisson a few miles away. We called for fuel and arrived at 1 o’clock, it was very rural by a lake, no facilities except a toilet. It turned out to be a very busy place with dozens of people rolling up to swim, picnic; fish etc, there were families and groups of youngsters. We took a walk then sat in the shade all afternoon, Crackers was not as good as she had been getting a bit upset with all the people and dogs passing by. After tea we walked around the lake, managed to persuade Crackers to paddle briefly then sat outside till the sun went down playing cards.



Miles travelled 105

Fuel €77





Sat Aug 18th



We were up quite early and the lake was a picture, dead calm with all the trees reflected in it, as we had breakfast a man arrived and cleared himself a patch of grass and put down polythene and various blankets, he then unloaded his car of various boxes and bags laid a picnic table and lit a barbeque, this was at 8am! We presume he had a large family.

It was a lovely day again with clear blue skies, we had an uneventful journey except for a town called Chaumont where there were road works and deviations, and we ended up in the town centre but soon got out. We passed a lot of rivers and canals.

We arrived at Corgirnon at 11.30, it was more a mini site than an Aire with hedged pitches and electricity for €4, the only thing it didn’t have was toilets/showers. We had a bit of lunch then walked round the village, very quiet not a soul in sight, came back through the woods. There was a family in 2 vans opposite us 3 generations, they all got dressed up, looked like they were going to a party, when they left we sat and watched a nuthatch and marsh tit pecking round on the pitch. We had a quiet afternoon sitting in the shade then had steak and chips for tea, after which we played Triominoes outside for a while before another walk in the woods .



Miles travelled 95

Site fees €4



Sun Aug 19th



Up and away by 0925, another hot day but a bit hazy, we took D roads twisting across the country, more small villages, lots of sunflowers, bales and cattle, even some sheep, we were in more hilly, wooded country today, rising up quite high and back down again. We saw lots of buzzards on the hay fields and some kites.

We arrived in Toul and the road we needed was closed but we found the Aire by following the diversion signs arriving at 11.25.

We parked and paid €5 for a ticket and hooked up to electric.

We walked into the town and had a look around there was a cathedral which was impressive but looked very uncared for, we walked to the town centre to a big traffic island with a fountain and flowers and sat in the shade with a drink for awhile, it was very hot. Back to the van and we sat under a tree all afternoon reading and dozing. It got so hot that Rich decided to get the hose on the tap and stand under it, we got our bathers on and it was lovely, cooled us down for a few minutes, the chap in the next van, German from Hamburg, joined us. We had tea outside then took Crackers a walk round the marina, she was shattered, we played Triominoes and cards outside till the sun went down and it was still so hot we had another go with the hose, and the German, a van had just pulled in with a family and when we came in we saw the father with his hose and the children having the time of their lives, at 9.30 it was 30c out and hotter in. Crackers had been very good passing other dogs and even ignoring a cat someone in one of the vans had walking about, she made friends with the German and his wife as well.



Miles travelled 75

Site fees €5



Mon Aug 20TH



Woken up very early by nearby building site and busy road, Rich hurt his back bending down to Crackers and was in a lot of pain. After breakfast we walked to bakery to get some bread and cakes, and I went to nearby pharmacy to get some cream, I had been bitten a few days ago and had some dreadfully itchy lumps. We left at 0920 Not a very nice run today mostly motorway through industrial area, 2 o3 big EDF energy plants, just before we left France we stopped at a Le Clerc, it was a huge one, the entrance was most confusing and we went under a barrier that said 2.9M and hit the roof, we got the few things we wanted then went for fuel as we left there was a barrier saying 2.8M (we are 2.9) but there was loads of room, thank goodness to get to the fuel we had to leave the site and go round a roundabout then re-enter and circumnavigate it, most weird but probably us misunderstanding things. As we entered Germany Gertie completely lost the plot and just wandered around in mid air giving no instructions, we found Trier alright but the Stellplatz seemed to be closed so we went to the campsite and booked in €43 with €20 returned when we returned keys, they were not proper pitches more like an Aire with vans close together but we had electric and showers. I did some washing and a bit of tidying up then we walked along the river for a while, we found that there is the world rally to be held this week and they were setting up in what we think should be the Stellplatz.. After tea we decided to walk to Trier, it was quite a way and we did not find the centre just walked round residential streets really, we went over one bridge and came back over another, this one a Roman bridge with World Heritage Status. It started to rain while we were out, there had been a couple of light showers in the afternoon. When we got back there was a very short storm, I paid €1 for wifi but couldn’t get a signal, I was told it was me every one else had no problem! Got a shower, not the best facilities, and bed. Did finally manage to get on internet with Ipad by crouching in the cab.

Miles travelled 106

Fuel €58

Site fees €23



Tue Aug 21st



We packed up and paid and left by 0950, it was not quite so hot today but still very warm. We were headed for a place called Reil where there is a Stellplatz; we think Gertie is terminally ill as she still refuses to find any roads, we headed along the Moselle and saw 2 or 3 nice looking Stellplatz right on the river bank so decided to stop at the next likely one which we did, it was €5 or €7 with electric, but it had no water or waste disposal, we got a spot right on the bank, it was lovely and peaceful, there was a light shower just as we set and it looked threatening for a while but it soon cleared. We hadn’t been there long when a baker’s van came round so I got some cakes for elevenses. After lunch we took a walk round the village which we discovered was called Ensch, a very pretty little village, lots of flowers and quite a few café/wineries. The site started filling up and a young chap came chatting to us, he was Belgian but spoke very good English, he is in the Air Force and had 2 little girls who thought Crackers was nice, he told us of a nice place to visit that has a stone and mineral museum/mine so we think we’ll go there tomorrow, Crackers took to him and he seems to be very good with dogs, they had a small Brichon Frise, in fact nearly every van that came in had at lest one dog, next to us had a dog and a cat, on small one came in with 4 large dogs, on the whole Crackers was very good. We sat outside all day just watching the barges and cruisers on the river, in the evening hotel boats came by. In the afternoon a grocery van came and I got a bit of fruit and veg then later an ice cream van so I had an ice cream! After tea we walked along the river through the vineyard along an avenue of walnut trees (not ripe) then played Triominoes and cards till bed time.



Miles travelled 21

Site fee €7











Wed Aug 22nd



We were up and away by 0930, Gertie still playing up so we had trouble finding our road, we went round and round a small town and eventually asked a young woman and she explained very well even though she didn’t speak English, it was a mountainous, scenic route but good roads with very little traffic, lots of forests, very little agriculture, a few cattle. We arrived at Idar-Oberstein at just gone 11oclock, we found the Stellplatz with difficulty as there were road works and diversions. We filled up with water and emptied the toilet then walked into the town, we found a café and had a glass of wine then walked round a bit, the town is famous for minerals and stones, I bought a small piece of amethyst, we didn’t find the museum, the town was very quiet. We moved on to the other place the Belgian had told us about, again difficulty finding it because of diversions, we eventually arrived at Oberbrombach at1.30, it was on top of a hill/mountain with panoramic views, a very well organised place with hard standing and usual facilities, except shower/toilets, €7 or €9 with electric. We had a bit of lunch, took the dog a walk then had a lazy afternoon; it was a lot fresher although still very sunny. After tea we sat outside and played games but it got a lot cooler so we took the dog a walk and had an early night, there was a splendid sunset.



Miles travelled 58

Site fees €9



Thurs Aug 23rd



A nice clear morning, we were away by 0945 heading for Bernkastel, quite a scenic route with forested hills, we have noticed quite a lot of wildflower meadows around, at one town there were paper mills, obviously using the wood from the forests. When we arrived at Bernkastel we called at an Aldi then found the Stellplatz, I booked in with the winery for one night, the owner was an old chap who spoke good English, we parked right by the river. After lunch we walked along the river, along a “promenade” to a small town, Wehlen, there were beautiful, scented roses all along the bank, back at the van we decided to stay for 2 nights so went up to pay, the old chap didn’t recognise me from earlier and had difficulty finding our booking. We sat and watched the river traffic, lots of pleasure boats with very few passengers, barges and “Boatels” also with very few passengers. We had a BBQ of fish we’d bought at Aldi, while we were having tea the owner came around checking pitches and said we shouldn’t have parked where we were, row E, for just one night, he’d told me A, B, or C, I hadn’t noticed the letters thought there were just the 3 terraces, I apologised and offered to move but said we had paid for a 2nd night, again he hadn’t recognised me! He said it was okay in the end but I felt a bit bad about it. After tea we had another short walk and bed, the evening was cooler, still 23c though.



Miles travelled 66

Site fees €18





Fri Aug 24th



Got up slowly this morning as we were not moving, it had rained quite a bit in the night and a thunder storm but it wasn’t too wet underfoot. We walked into Bernkastel, 3km; it was a very pleasant walk along the river under trees, we let Crackers off the lead a lot of the way but it was very busy with walkers and cyclists. We arrived in the town and called for a drink before crossing the bridge into the centre, we were very surprised as we thought that it would be quite a small town just along the river as the vineyard rise steeply from the river banks, it was actually quite rambling and very picturesque with half timbered buildings, quite touristy but some nice shops, the Boatels tie up so there were big groups of people about, there were also an awful lot of dogs but Crackers was very good and ignored most of them which pleased us. We had a good wander then stopped for a drink and a piece of apple strudel then decided to take a trip up to the castle on a big, yellow wagon, not much up there just a view, quite spectacular, and a café, we decided to have something to eat as we had to wait an hour for wagon back down, very ordinary meal, schnitzel and chips. We walked back (¾ hr) and sat for the rest of the afternoon. Had a bit if tea then a game of cards before bed. It had been a nice day but not as hot as previous days and a bit overcast.



Sat Aug 25th



Rain overnight again and a cooler morning. We packed up and left the site by 0845 and went to Aldi to get some cheap booze, we then set off along the river for Senheim arriving at 11.30, went to book in but the site does not take dogs but they have a few places just outside that can be used and then you can use the shower/toilet facilities so we took one of those, near the main road but we were ready for a shower after a few days without. We walked along the river and marina for a while then it went cool so sat inside and wrote this, have got free wifi so hope to publish it.



Miles travelled 40

Site fee €€ 21.50




Sun 26th Aug



It was grey and overcast this morning and raining, I lost internet connection last night but got it back this morning, the people next door, a nice Dutch family, said they had been kept awake by the dog next to them, they told the owner who said it was the first time they’d left it, they did not get in till 2am, the dog had done some damage, it was an awful long time to leave him for the first time, he was very distressed. We packed up and headed for Cochem, we couldn’t get on the Stellplatz but managed to park and we walked into town, the rain got heavier and heavier, the town was crowded with coach parties, there was a wine festival going on and bands playing but it was too wet to hang around, we found a café with an awning we could sit and have a drink and then made our way back to the van, I bought some glasses in a sale for €1 each.

We did not see any Stellplatz by the river and ended up in Bodenbach in a quiet car park, it is a nice little village on the river but it continued grey and damp. We walked along the river then sat and read before I got tea. After tea we took another walk through the village and had a few games before bed, the clouds did break up a bit as the evening progressed.



Miles travelled 29



Mon 27th Aug



It was only 11c this morning but the sky was blue above low cloud on the top of the hills, we set of at 0850 and headed over the hills to Boppard, when we got there the car park charged €5 for motorhomes, we went to the bottle shop to buy something to get change and it had gone upmarket and was not as cheap as we remembered. We walked into the town along the river it was nice and warm by now, we went into the square by the church and had a drink then Rich went down by the river while I had a look round the shops. We went back to the van and then found a Lidl to get a few groceries, we decided to go back up the Moselle to one of the nice Stellplatz we’d passed on the way down and stay for a couple of days, there did not seem to be many on the Rhine and upper Moselle. We went back over the hills and along the Moselle, we called for fuel at a small town and then found a Stellplatz at Eller-Ediger, it was between the road and on the river bank, there were no services but a garage just up the road had them so we emptied the toilet (€1.50) then went back to pitch up. I had a bit of a tidy up and then we walked along the river for a while and sat for the rest of the afternoon, after tea we had a walk across to the town and then sat outside watching martins swooping over the water till the midges got too bad.



Miles travelled 78

Fuel €78.55

Site fee €9 (4.50 per night)



Tue 28th Aug



A bit overcast this morning and a light rain for a while but it cleared up quite quickly. Mid morning we walked over to the town and had a look round , it is a very pretty little town with lots of old houses, they are mostly half timbered with the wood painted red and decorative patterns on the eaves, they are quite tall houses, some 5 or 6 stories high with steeply pitched rooves, every other one is a winery; we walked to the church which has an amazing, decorative spire and back to a little café for a coffee and roll, another short stroll round the back streets and back to the van for a lazy afternoon. We walked along the river bank for a while later and then went for a meal in the town.



Wed 29th Aug



Up and away by 0930 but we had trouble getting past Koblenz, without Gertie we were struggling but eventually managed it after going the wrong way for a while, road numbers and signage are very confusing, we ended up on a motorway so all in all quite a stressful journey, the last bit was along a very twisty road and we were stuck behind a lorry for all of it, we arrived at Warstein at 2.45, it is not the place I thought it was, we had been before on the way to Gutersloh but I’d got it mixed up with another place we stopped at, it is at a brewery with a hot air balloon site attached. It was a very hot evening but discovered there were showers so I enjoyed one.



Miles travelled 191 (should have been less)

Site fee €15 (should have been less)



Thurs 30st Aug



There were thunderstorms last night rumbling round for hours with very heavy rain but it was quite a nice morning but cool, when I went to pay €7.50 as the book said I was asked for €15, I showed him the book and he said that was not where we were but 2km down the road, that was why it did not look familiar to us, I had remembered in the night driving to this place and then carrying on down the road a bit, with Gertie playing up though we didn’t do that this time, we were both very tired last night after a stressful drive and were just glad to stop.

We set off at 0915 and arrived in Gutersloh an hour later, we were sure we could find the railway station but got lost, we ended up in the town centre, then realised it was a branch station by Wyn’s, we called Karen as Wyn had not answered our texts, she said he was in a meeting and directed us to a Shell garage where he could come and find us, he found us eventually, he was looking at a different Shell garage! When we got to their house we parked by their garage we found that Karen was not very well, she had hurt her neck and was in a lot of pain, Wyn had to go back to work so we let Karen have a rest and sat in the van with Crackers for a couple of hours. When Wyn got home he, Rich and I walked the dogs, Crackers was very good, we then went to the Chinese restaurant for a super buffet. It had been a lovely hot day.

Miles travelled 46



Fri 31st Aug



This morning Karen went to a chiropractor, when she came back she looked really ill, Rich gave her some of his painkillers which seemed to help her. Wyn went in to work so we left her to rest and went into the van to keep Crackers company, it rained quite heavily and came in through the roof light. When Wyn got back we walked the dogs again, 3miles! We took Crackers into the garden for a couple of minutes when we got back but it was a bit unfair on Rossi. We took Crackers to the vets for her tapeworm treatment, we had to wait a long time, she was the best behaved dog there, there were one or two making a fuss, there was an old chap there with a very old, very thin dog, it was very sad as he came out without the dog. We then went to a supermarket to get some meat for a BBQ which Wyn cooked.



Sat 1st Sept



Karen was a little bit better this morning; Wyn had to go into work and to the NAAFI for a while we then walked dogs again, we took Crackers into the garden and they put Rossi on his rope, Crackers had a go at him so was put into her cage, this was better than leaving her in the van on her own, she settled down and slept except for the odd grumble if Rossi pounced, it was a nice, sunny afternoon. Wyn took us to a couple of shops where we got a rug and a hose and some dog food, we all went for a lie down and then later got showered and dolled up ready to go out. A car called for us and took us to the barracks, the ball was all very formal with every item and guests being announced all the members of the WO & Sergeant’s mess, looked splendid in their dress uniforms, and also the ladies in their ball gowns. Their was as much champagne as you wanted and then we paraded into the dining room, it all looked impressive laid out with the regimental silver, candelabras and crystal glasses, the food was very good, main course lamb shank on mash with roasted vegetables, while we were eating a six piece band played, they were excellent, with an extensive repertoire. Wyn made a short speech which went down well and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. We were very proud of Wyn’s skill at being able to organise such an event and being included in it.

We had some photos taken by the official photographer, he was very flattering to me, didn’t believe I was old enough to be Wyn’s mum, said I was “fit”, I said I did zumba but he said he didn’t mean fit like that! He also said I had a lovely smile! Don’t know what he was on! After the photos the car was called and Rich, Karen and I went home, we don’t know what time Wyn got home.



Sun 2nd Sept



Karen was a lot better today and moving a lot more easily, we decided to stay and go for lunch then set off after that, Wyn had to go back to bed for a while though, I tidied the van then Karen and I played about with photos on the computer,then Rich started to watch the grand prix, we asked Wyn to put his uniform on so we could take some photos, it took him 2 hours to press and polish it! By the time we’d taken the photos it was gone 2pm so I had to get a snack then it was too late to go for lunch so we set off at 3pm, Gertie started working as soon as we left Germany, we think her German maps were not updated. We arrived at Grobbendonk, at 6.40, it looked a nice town and the parking place looked very new and was good though the services were out of order, I got a meal and we sat outside for a while, it was a lovely evening but went cool as soon as the sun went down, we were too tired to walk round the town.



Miles travelled 198

Fuel €64.50





Mon 3rd Sept



Up and away by 0915, a nice, fine morning. We decided to go to Brugge for a couple of hours and get lunch before carrying on to Calais. We had co-ordinates for motorhome parking in Brugge but after about an hour trying to find them gave up and decided to go to Dunkirk, we had the same trouble there and couldn’t find parking or anywhere to eat so carried on to Gravelines where we went to the dunes and climbed over them to the beach where we let Crackers have a good run then headed for the ferry. We arrived at about 2pm and saw the ferry that Wyn was booked on leaving. We booked in and got onto the 4.10 sailing, we heard a shout and there was Wyn behind us in the queue! His office had held him up waiting for paperwork so we were on the same ferry, what are the odds of that?



Miles travelled 174

Fuel €73

Total miles 2016 Total fuel £366

Wales Aug 2012

Sun 5th Aug

We set off at 12.25 and travelled through some awful weather, very heavy rain, and arrived at Teifi Meadows Caravan Site at 3pm, it was raining very heavily so the owner told us to site up and he'd see us later.  It was a very pleasant CL with a new shower block, quite small and unisex but very clean and with flowers growing up it.  We contacted Caron and arranged for her to visit us tomorrow.  After tea it stopped raining and we walked Crackers up the road to the nearest village, it was quite a warm, pleasant evening.
Game of triominoes before bed.

iles
travelled 92 Site fees  £30


Mon Aug 6th

Rain overnight and most of the morning but it cleared up mid day when Caron and the children arrived, we sat and chatted most of the afternoon watching all the other residents play cricket, hampered by the owners dog who kept running off with the ball.
Caron went home then came to pick us up at 6pm to take us to an Indian restaurant in Lampeter, we had a super meal and it was a very nice restaurant, not cheap!
Caron took us back to the van and we said goodbye to them, then it was bedtime.

Tue Aug 7th

A couple of light showers overnight and mizzly this morning.  We packed up and left at 0950, the weather was a bit better, no rain but grey and chilly.  We called at Llanrhystud and took Crackers a walk on the beach then carried on home arriving at 1.50.

Miles travelled 112