22nd -26th June 2017- Getting behind on the blog

As I have said before time, flies when you are having fun.

Well on the 22^nd The Denoven-smith family had the morning around the camp site and some swimming and then a visit to Pont L’Eveque for some shopping whilst Noel and Jen went down town to buy some large pieces of salmon for tonight’s dinner. During lunchtime however Noel ate something that upset him and his evening was not was expected and so he went to bed early but got out of the washing up however. John seems to enjoy his Cider given by Ingrid and would like to get some more before he leaves but where they will put it is a challenge for them to solve.

The family was due to return on the 11.00 vessel from Dieppe but that would have meant a very early start plus the risk of getting stuck in the Le Havre morning traffic and also stuck in the M25 traffic when they get home and so we changed the booking for the 1730 departure which gave them time in the morning and miss both set of traffic.

On Friday another swim for the family and then they returned the ‘Silver Cross’ pram which Ingrid had lent them for their stay which was great for Christopher.

Just before midday they headed off and had a safe journey home whilst the older ones had a restful two days but with a great steak BBQ on Saturday and then some nice lamb chops on Sunday, boy we know how to live.

Most of the weekend we spent taking it easy and also talking to our sister Mady and also our friend Gilles with a view to getting together with them all somewhere and so we spent some time communicating to make some arrangements.

So the outcome is that we shall go to Vannes and spend one night there and meet up for dinner with Mady and Ken and then go to Dinard and it looks like we shall spend a night there in Gilles house.

On Monday 26^th the weather was much better than expected and so we enjoyed the sun and mum went for a swim and then we had a quiet day although we did help some friends who we had met on the site previously work there caravan mover as they could not make it work however it would appear that neither of them had read the instruction booklet and were unable to fix the problem but we were able to help them resolve the issue. In the meantime we had booked hotels in Vitre and also Vannes staying in Ibis Hotels however this was to change on Tuesday when you can read the next exciting instalment.

By staying in Hotels hopefully the Wifi will be faster and I can sort out my photos which I have been unable to do so far.

Friday 15th June-21st June 2017- Gosh where does time go?

I am writing this update on 22^nd June a day before Joanne and family return to the UK via Dieppe.

Last weekend was very hot which we thought would be great news for when the family arrived on Monday night and  so on the Monday morning we were off bright and early, for us anyway, and headed in to Lisieux to the large Leclerc hypermarket to do some food shopping. We chose doing our shopping here as we know from experience that the local Carrefour stock is often depleted on a Monday morning whereas the big Leclerc always has loads of stuff. So after a couple of hours shopping we headed back and loaded up there and our refrigerators with all the shopping.

At about 1700 the family arrived after a long journey after having to leave home around 6.30 in the morning and so immediately off to the swimming pool they went and Jen and I prepared the table for the planned BBQ.  So we had a nice BBQ and Ingrid came to join us for the four course meal where we cooked, as usual, too much meat but it was delicious.

The following day was a day of rest and swimming and boy is it getting hot with temperatures getting around 32 C but it feels hotter than that and so we hid under the trees for some shade. Then a light evening meal and off to bed with two tired children et al.

We had decided that on Wednesday, half way through there short break we should give them a day out in an Air Conditioned Land cruiser as 34 C is promised today and so we took in the sites of Le Brevedent, and up over the hills to Cabourg where we purchased snacks and we had planned to sit on the sea front  but it was much to hot for all of us. Then a tour along the coast via Houlgate, to Deauville and Trouville and then slowly back via Pont L’Eveque for some food shopping for tonight’s tea. We had thought about having another BBQ but quite frankly for Noel to stand in front of a very hot grill in 33 C was too much and so we waited until almost 9pm when it was cool enough to consider eating.

Its promising to be cooler tomorrow. Let’s hope so as it far to hot to really do anything except sit and avoid the heat. The caravan got up to 37C at one point but thankfully cooled down to around 25 C also a bit hot for sleeping.

Tuesday 12th June until Thursday 14th June- Same old, Same old.

On Tuesday we planned a nice quiet day after yesterday’s travels and for lunch on Tuesday we thought we would have a proper French lunch of bread and cheese.

The Brie cheese was really excellent and most enjoyable as Noel had avoided fatty stuff due to bowel issues but thought it would be ok only it was not. By mid-afternoon he was suffering which lasted pretty much through to Thursday. I won't go in to the details but needless to say it was quite uncomfortable but when typing this on Friday 15^th  matters seem to be improving. 

On Thursday evening we paid a visit to Ingrid in the Chateau for a glass of wine and to discuss a joint visit to Dinard to see a mutual friend Gilles who has just had an operation in St Malo to have a tumour removed from his kidney, but it would appear she now has a UTI, which is always most unpleasant and dangerous if not treated soon.

Ingrid is still frustrated with the progress on the sale of the site as they keep neither finding issues which are not really a problem. The last one being the historic swimming pool which they want to close as they say its dangerous, which is absolute rubbish. Afterwards we went to the Creperie for a light bite on the way back to the caravan.

The site is a little busier than May, which is to be expected, and yesterday evening an enormous Motor Home turned up towing a bright red Fiat 500. The earth seemed to move as the motor home went down the driveway and then they opened the slide out. Must have cost a bundle!!

We also met earlier in the week a very nice guy who is travelling alone on a remembrance trip as his wife died six weeks ago and they were due to come back to the site for a few days to relive a happy occasions when they first visited here in 2015. So to honour his wife he decided to come on the trip to try and relive the past experience, how sad.

Oh well shopping tomorrow…

Monday 11th June 2017- Site visits

Following breakfast we left the site around 10.00 and headed via the country roads to a place called Saint-Martin-des-Besaces  which is South of Bayeux and the name of the site was Camping Les Puits. The traffic had been quite slow that morning as our route when via Pont Leveque where we had not realised that there was a big market on and so the roads around the area were packed, oh well.

Anyway we arrived in the the town of Saint Martin etc and it was in a bad state with many empty houses and closed shops and hotels and it looks like its on it last legs and could not see any shops at all. We found the caravan site behind the local sport field and it looked uncared for with only about three caravans on site and all of them looked like they were being stored rather than in use. The reception and bar area looked as though it needed TLC and and so we turned round and headed off straight to the next when which is about 17 kilometres from Bayeux .

This site was called Les Picardy Hotels and was in better shape than the first and they do caravan storage and have mobile homes as well, ugghh!. We met the owner who showed us proudly around but quite frankly we were not impressed.

The Picardy countryside, we both agreed, was nowhere near so nice as Normandy and specifically where we stay and so we will not be pursuing any further sites in that area.  The only reason we look is for general interest and sometimes it makes a change.

In the evening we enjoyed some pork ribs and rice and a glass of wine and then had a quiet night watching UK rubbish TV. And so to bed.

Sunday 10th June 2017- An easy day

Spent most of the day taking it easy and enjoying the sun but in the afternoon the wind came up and we had a strange occurrence. Our large sun umbrella was suddenly blown out of its holder and landed upside down on the roof of the caravan and virtually out of reach. Within minutes two guys, one Dutch and the other German, were on out site armed with all sorts of equipment to get the ting down and thank heaven they were successful. Was worried the aluminium pole if it landed the other way up would have damaged the caravan rood but thankfully not.

We then spent some time planning out tomorrow’s trip looking at other caravan sites and decided to investigate two near to Bayeux and so an early morning start is planned, well early for us anyway.

In the evening we did another grill this time of of a sirloin steak and some nice hot dogs which went down very well indeed.

Saturday 9th June 2017- BBQ night

Did some shopping in Courmeilles in the morning and bought some salad stuff to go with the lamb chops we are having tonight.

So and easy afternoon resting and then about 4.30 on with the new grill and the lamb chops were huge mostly due to a misunderstanding between Noel and the butcher where Noel wanted four lamb chops and not four double lamb chops, oh well we just had to eat them they were so good.
Did some bird photo shooting today for fun. Not bad for first effort.

In the evening we wandered over to the TV Room to see if the F! From Canada is on but it’s on Pay TV only and the site don’t have that channel, oh well just have to watch the papers.

Friday8th June 2017- Light shopping and R & R what could be better

Tonight is also BBQ night and we had some lovely Salmon steaks from our favourite fishmonger and with a glass of Chardonnay life was looking good. In the evening we invited Ingrid back for an evening drink and also Terry and Jennifer the other English couple on site. By this time we could tell Ingrid that our daughter and family are coming on the 19^th for a few days and Ingrid is looking forward to meeting them all.

A quite evening followed with some light reading and music.

Tuesday 6th June to Thursday 8th June 2017- A few days and a picnic with friends

Sometime cannot keep this writing up as a few things to do outside of the caravan. However on Tuesday we did some shopping and filled the refrigerator and the took it easy for the rest of the day as we were both tired from all the travel.

Wednesday 8^th June  was pretty much the same and mostly taking it easy and lying in the sun and enjoying the peace and quiet and the sound of birds.

Thursday 9^th June. Lunchtime we had been invited along with other regular camp site members to a lunch courtesy of Ingrid and to welcome back for a visit of Gilles and Felicitas who were visiting for the day and so we had a rather pleasant lunch in from of the Chateau which finished around 4 pm and so back home for some R & R.

Stupid politicians, there you have a perfectly good majority and then you decide on  a whim and also to pretend it was you that got elected and not David that you give away most of the gains made at the last elections.  As I say stupid politicians.

Ingrid and Gilles

Monday 5th June 2017- Time to go home to the Caravan.

Following an excellent breakfast which included scrambled eggs and bacon, yes in France, and some fresh strawberries which we ate in the breakfast room/restaurant with the sun coming down overlooking the old town, Oh yes we will be back.

Well we took it in turns to drive the approx. 7hours it took us to get back which included a couple of stops for food and Loo and arrived at the site around 5pm have returned via Courmeilles forgetting that’s its Monday in France and the shops shut on a Monday afternoon. So no choice we shall have to visit the Creperie for dinner later.

We collected our caravan keys from reception and then popped next door to talk to the Dutch RentaTent couple who we had emailed about our daughter Joanne and fairly wishing to rent a tent later in June for four nights and they had it all organised for us. So the family can stay just a few yards from our caravan and they can share our facilities.

Then off to the Creperie where Anthony the co joint Manager was on Chef duty and so we had a good chat and he prepared our Crepe’s perfectly and with a glass of wine, or two, we then headed back to the caravan in the light rain to watch the two finals episodes of the ‘The Bridge’

And so to bed as the rain started coming down much harder and th wind getting stronger, tomorrow is forecast to be a wet and windy one.

Sunday 4th June, Say goodbye to the Lot Valley

After breakfast which also wasn’t cheap for a couple of croissants and a yogurt we only had about 100 miles to go to our next Hotel in a historic town called Uzerche. So we used all the non-motorway routes going north and some of the roads going through the countryside were really quite beautiful.

We had bought some sandwiches for lunch and found a convenient stop and although we tried to find an open café its Sunday in France and most things close so a sandwich it is.

We arrived in Uzerche and we new that the Hotel Joyet  De Maubec (http://hotel-joyet-maubec.com/en/)  was at the top of the town and the SatNav said left and right with the streets getting narrower and narrower almost to point of having to bring in the wing mirrors. Clearly whoever designed and built this lovely old town did not consider at some later stage an idiot with a bloody big Land Cruiser would want to visit and drive through roads. However we came to the Hotel and it’s a really lovely place and so artfully decorated and so well kept with an amazing view over some of the old town. Whoops its Sunday Evening and so the restaurant was closed, keep forgetting this about France, but they gave us the names of two open restaurants and a pizza place which we decided to try. Apparently it was under new management but they were inundated with friends and others trying it out and so the service was rather to slow and we had to jockey them up a couple of times but eventually the pizzas arrived and they were almost OK

Back in the Hotel we sat in the reception lounge area reading and listening to music until the eyes started to close down and so off the bed.

This is a Hotel we shall try to return to at some stage in the future and the two guys who run have great choice and monitor everything.

Saturday 3rd June 2017- And so it really rained!!.

Well it chucked it down overnight together with rather noisy thunder which echoed around the valley and it was almost deafening at times. However we popped along for breakfast in between the raindrops and paid the Hotel bill and then had to load the car in the rain which is not always a good idea.

We are checking in to rather an expensive Chateau Hotel tonight with a Michelin two star restaurant which is going to be more expensive that the room I think looking at their web menu, but oh well you can’t take it with you. So we dribbled along by the side of the Lot valley and through Cahors for some light shopping and continued along very small roads with the rain pouring down until we came to a place that rented out canoes etc but that also had a little bar and so we ordered a coffee and then immediately they said we are now closing but stay as long as you like and then they buggered off. So we watched the rain get heavier and heavier until there was a short break and we made a dash for the car. We passed through a little town called Grezels where my sister says there is a great restaurant however the town looked closed and no sign of any open restaurants or even cars parking for same. Via Puy LeVeque and then back towards Cahors to arrive at the Chateau Mercues

 (http://chateaudemercues.com/)    which is on the top a of a hill overlooking the lot valley. The Hotel is very impressive and they have done a good job of renovating it and in the bathroom the shower room was big enough to have two separate shower heads for two people to shower at the same time. Noel rang reception and asked if there were any willing female staff but got a negative reply. Joking aside the room was very impressive and the view also rather nice.

We had booked a table for the evening meal and the food was ver Noveau style so in other words bloody expensive for very little and the wine was not cheap either but we both enjoyed the experience with more waiters than guests it seemed at times. Will have to take out a second mortgage to pay for this dinner!

On the way to the Hotel we decided to fill up the diesel in the car ready for tomorrows departure at a fully automatic machine where you use your card. Well as I had been having problems with my prepaid card I used my usual Lloyds Bank Mastercard and whoa!! Only to find that I had been done again this time for the original amount, times three. So now a call to Lloyds Card people was required and all this take time and effort.

So to finish things off we watched the European Cup Final from Wales where Real Madrid took Juventas to the cleaners in a big way. Now to try out this big bed..

Friday 2nd June- A nice lunch in Villefranche De Rouergue

Looks like a nice day again and as we had decided that wew would prefer to have a main course lunch rather than an evening meal we decided to go and visit one of our old haunts in Villefranche at an always busy restaurant right by the river.

So we took a leisurely drive via Limogne, near the farmhouse we used to rent some years ago until it was sold, and then on to Villefranche. The place was packed as usual with local workers and only a couple of tourists and so we enjoyed their three course lunch including a glass of wine for Euros 22.00 for the both of us, nothing like splashing out is there.

On the way back we stopped in to the large Intermarch Hypermarket for some evening grub including a nice bottle of rose which was demolished quite nicely whilst sitting outside our room amongst the vineyards. One minor problem we suddenly discovered that we did not have a bottle opener in the room but the Hotel soon overcame that problem.

In the meantime my fight with FairFX MasterCard continues. I may have mentioned iut before but now on two occasions when using this prepaid MasterCard at restaurants, at the first run of the card machine it shows a failed attempt and then we try again and it happens again and then I end up having to pay using my normal Lloyds Bank MasterCard but in the meantime the two previous failed attempt amounts have been deducted from my cash availability. One one of the occasions they asked me to go back to the restaurant some 50 miles away and get them to sign some forms but no way was I going to do that as its there system that is at fault.

So I sent off another rude email and also wrote a negative report on ‘trustPilot’ and see if that helps move the matter along.

And so to bed and rain is forecast overnight and tomorrow

Thursday 1st June 2017- A nice day in Le Lot

We awoke to the sun burning down and went and had breakfast in the lounge overlooking Saint Cirq. Usual French breakfast of croissants, orange juice and a few other goodies.

We then went on a brief photo shooting trip around the area as it’s so beautiful here and the Lot Valley in the sun with all the pleasure boats is a pleasure to behold. We crossed the river at Vers and then drove through the hills to St Cirq and took some photos on the way down the hill. We stopped by the Hotel for a few minutes and then drove along the Lot Valley to Carjac where there used to be a nice casual restaurant by the river and overlooking the bridge but it was closed or not there anymore, perhaps its only open in the height of the tourist season. Then by some chance we spotted a restaurant we had frequented several times

before which is owned by a couple where the husband did his training in the Novotel in Leeds and there he met a Russian lady and got married and then came back to open this excellent restaurant. So we enjoyed a meal in the courtyard and suddenly the weather changed and we had a heavy shower but continued sitting under the extra-large parasols. A lovely lunch indeed.

A quick trip to the supermarket for some evening tea of Smoked salmon and baguette, which we later ate on our little balcony area overlooking the town of St Cirq and the vineyards.

This was followed by a short walk around the Hotel property and then some reading and Blogging..

A very pleasant day indeed with no food challenges for Noel.