September 2014 Blue Dormobile goes overseas

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AlexB
Posts: 466
Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:01 am

September 2014 Blue Dormobile goes overseas

Post by AlexB » Sun Nov 02, 2014 6:17 pm

September 2014 – it must be Spain then!
We had a couple of weeks holiday in September and were convinced by Marc (Treasurer of the Temps des Series Club) that, as it would coincide with the Bal de Series in the Auvergne, we should attend. We also had a rendezvous planned with our grandchild (and family and friends) in the Vendee. That gave us the locations for the middle and last weekend so it didn’t take much to add Spain for the first.
Ferry tickets were booked Poole / Santander (on the last LD Lines crossing) and return Caen / Portsmouth for the Blue Dormobile’s first European tour.
Setting off in a rather slack, we are on holiday mode and Poole isn’t far off Portsmouth is it, we called in on Michael in Buxton to drop off a hood stick he needed. After an hour or two the Sat nav was giving some strong indications that getting to Poole a couple of hours before leaving was going to be a challenge. Coupled with the fact that the Dormobile’s throttle only opened ½ way and at (relatively) high speeds it lost oil, the drive got more challenging as it went on. Esther rang the LD Lines hot line 3 times to see what our plan B was, but was always told that we should execute (and fail at) Plan A first! There’s Customer Service for you.
We were obviously panicking far too much as we arrived in Poole and checked in with 45 seconds to spare. Last on (had to reverse on) and first off!
Good crossing but an empty duty free shop. Good job we took our own 47% Bombay Saphire and tonic!
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Due to the time of year, we had decided to make our first stop only an hour and a half from Santander at Ramales de la Victoria – quite posh, but quiet with a lovely bar in which we managed a few beers before evening meal and bed.
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Next stop was in the Pyrennes, not far from the border
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Checking out the local wine
T he following day, we headed for St Jean Pied de Port – up into and over the mountains through the cloud, stopping on the border for a view check.
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We had wondered what had been eating all available grass on the verges and the culprit(s) was here to see.
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After stopping off to purchase some wine and cheese, we trundled along to a place called La Bastide d’Armagnac, in, surprisingly enough, the Armagnac region of France. Lovely village but it was dead hot , so decided to find our next evening stop.
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Lunch stop
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La Bastide
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Now last year, we spotted a website (France Passion) that offers free camping at a list of approx 1800 different farms, vinyards and producers. The book (and membership) costs £25 ish and, as long as you are self contained (own toilet facilities, own water and take your rubbish) allows free camping. All they ask is that you say hallo and goodbye – but, as most are producers ,they also sell their wares, however, there is no obligation to buy.
We had found such a site in Armagnac, in a chateau and museum. It had it’s own shop and tasting session. We had free entry to the museum, secure camping (they locked the gates!) access to a toilet and tasted several armagnacs from 5 years old to a wonderful 1985 variety which retailed at 100 euro a bottle. An interesting night was passed due to non stop crow scarers ! Allegedly to discourage wild boar from eating poultry.
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Mobile still from a few years ago
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Can’t not have coffee and cake at 4 pm !
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And a glass of red once the sun has gone down
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Sunrise
We came away with a couple of bottles of Floc Armagnac, (for our Grandchild’s Fete) which is 1/3 Armagnac and 2/3 wine, 2/3 bottle of a 2000 Armagnac and a 1/3 bottle of the delectable 1985. Too soon it was morning and,after a final wander around the grounds, we departed for Perigeaux.
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Perigeaux is a wonderful old town, with medieval , roman and modern bits. We enjoyed a stroll round, some lunch before arriving at our campsite for the night at Saint Antionne et Trigonont.
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A pair of teeth (not quite sun down though)
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Perigeaux
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Over the years, we have developed a preference to not drive any more than 3hours unless we have to with a target of 2 ½ hours. This allows us to enjoy our travelling and to stop where and when we want to. We make a rough plan before we leave the UK with maybe a few key stops but things change.
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Lunch spot (forgotten the name but it was big on Hydro power)
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We head for the Auvergne. Home of cheese (bleu d’auvergne, Cantal etc) and Saler cows and volcanoes (extinct ).
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Having never visited the region, it was a very pleasant surprise how nice it was. A suitable farm was found in our France Passion book and after some refreshment in the town of Egliseneuve d’Entrange,
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we followed the cows going for milking and to our campsite. It reminded us of Norway, as did the temperature when we woke of 6 degrees !
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L’auvergne also produces wine as well as cheese and although not up there with the great wines, it was exceedingly palatable with locally made cheese.
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Practising some tunes for the Fete of our grand daughter.
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The next day saw us on the road again to another Chateau (Perigere) to meet up with the Temp de Series weekend. This came at the right time as the steering was beginning to loosen up and required the services of the legend that is Toby Farlow, who soon sorted it out for me (thanks again).
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The menu for le Bal de Series was broadly; arrive (once located!) and pitch in the field, meet up with friends (old and new),
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Be alright when its finished!
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Dormobile mod cons
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Friday evening meet up in the big hall for a “faith” supper and a few drinks, set off Saturday morning for a (mainly) green lane / track tour of the countryside in three groups, meeting up at various chateau to compare notes. Saturday evening we joined our hosts for an aperitif and a formal evening meal with large quantities of wine, before retiring for the night. There were some wonderful vehicles on show, from Holland, Italy, Switzerland, England and of course France. We took out leave on Sunday morning, as we had a few miles to go and a few places yet to see, but can thoroughly recommend it.
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Our next visit was to another Chateau, but with a difference. This one is being built in the exact same way that it would have been in the 13th century. 9 years done and another 10+ to go. We camped nearby and spent a very enjoyable day there (25 degrees+ again!)
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Wench powered winch!
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Les ramparts!
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Onwards to Le Loire and, after a “conventional “ night in a campsite, piggy backing on to a classic car meet at Chambord, we arrived at Vouvray another France Passion site, in a vineyard. Standard form; have a chat with “landlord”, get shown where to park up, bob down for a tasting and wander back with a few of his bottles.
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Vouvray (great sparkling wine)
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Evening meal with a rather splendid Chinon
The weather was still great and we decided to break our 2 ½ hour rule and head for the Vendee coast – the isle of Noirmoutier. It is a very very French holiday spot (we were the only English there) and very pleasant.
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Matching curtains and bedding
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Can’t miss the opportunity of wine sampling
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Just to prove we were on an island
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This part of France is famed for salt
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Didn’t expect to see this
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Back on the mainland
We enjoyed a couple of days relaxation before heading off to meet son, daughter in law, grandchild and son’s in laws for “la fete de Rose” – the celebration of Rose’s almost 12 months on the planet, complete with music, ancient bread oven, food, drink and great company.
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Proud Mum
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And Dad
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And proud Grandmother!
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Good food and company
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Making bread dough for the enormous oven
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All the practising was worth while
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Rose is assisting with packing
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Back at home
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We stopped off on the way back from the ferry to pick up 4 rims – which turned out to be 5 rims plus tyres – and they fitted – just!
In summary, the Blue Dormobile’s first overseas trip was a success. 2000 miles door to door, a few niggles still to sort (replace intercooler, replace exhaust fanimold gasket to reduce oil consumption, get panel lights to work, sort oil leak on rear near side hub, ditto on rear diff) but it was comfortable, almost quiet and we are looking forwards to our next trip – a week in Scotland in June.
User avatar
RMS
Posts: 2236
Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2012 12:02 am
Location: Near Wakefield, UK, in God's own Country!

Re: September 2014 Blue Dormobile goes overseas

Post by RMS » Sun Nov 02, 2014 6:52 pm

Yet another fantastic trip report Alex; thanks so much for sharing.

You've got it sorted, haven't you? 2 1/2 hours driving per day sounds perfect, and a partner who enjoys holidaying in a Land Rover - I envy you :wink:

Cheers,
Robin.
1967 109" Carawagon 200TDi
1972 109" SW Carawagon 2.5NA
1958 109" Carawagon 2.25P (project)
1972 109" Carawagon 200 or 300TDi (project)
1974 Dormobile 2.25D (project)
(Robin on S2C forum)
Calum
Posts: 163
Joined: Wed Feb 22, 2012 8:44 pm

Re: September 2014 Blue Dormobile goes overseas

Post by Calum » Sun Nov 02, 2014 9:10 pm

Looks another great trip, Alex!

I popped by on my way over to the Carding Shed a month or so ago, but didn't catch you. The Dormobile looked as though it had just returned from the continent, beam converters still fitted!

I really must get to le bal de series soon!
dudley
Posts: 182
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2012 8:19 pm
Location: stamford

Re: September 2014 Blue Dormobile goes overseas

Post by dudley » Sun Nov 02, 2014 10:16 pm

Hi,

Thanks for the post,with some great pictures.

I like the idea of two and a half hours traveling time.
No sense what so ever in driving dawn to dusk.

Like Calum I have been trying to get to
le bal de series for the last year or two,
maybe 2015 will be the year.

Regards

Phillip
1971 2a 109 diesel station wagon

1971 2a 109 petrol carawagon

And others
Marque
Posts: 121
Joined: Fri Aug 08, 2014 6:35 am

Re: September 2014 Blue Dormobile goes overseas

Post by Marque » Mon Nov 03, 2014 1:14 pm

A cracking write up that I just found & skimmed. I look forward to reading about it in detail. Superb effort & a lot of fun. Thank you indeed for sharing your trips. I, for one, really appreciate it.
Kindest regards
Mark
overlander
Posts: 294
Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2012 10:29 am
Info: Carawagon Junkie

Re: September 2014 Blue Dormobile goes overseas

Post by overlander » Tue Nov 04, 2014 9:24 am

Enjoyed another 'virtual' trip with you Alex and your Dormobile looks so right! Bannegon penciled in for next year, hopefully on the way to or from Morocco :wink:

John H
AlexB
Posts: 466
Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:01 am

Re: September 2014 Blue Dormobile goes overseas

Post by AlexB » Tue Nov 04, 2014 11:31 am

thanks for the feedback - much appreciated

I am working on the french language version !
jerryd
Posts: 395
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2012 1:44 pm
Info: "the pom down under"
Location: Qld Australia

Re: September 2014 Blue Dormobile goes overseas

Post by jerryd » Wed Nov 05, 2014 10:13 pm

Some great pics Alex :cheers: Can we have a bit more info and pics on the "blue dormobile" please
AlexB
Posts: 466
Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:01 am

Re: September 2014 Blue Dormobile goes overseas

Post by AlexB » Fri Nov 07, 2014 9:08 pm

jerryd wrote:Some great pics Alex :cheers: Can we have a bit more info and pics on the "blue dormobile" please

Done Jerry
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