This was to be the inaugural “proper” trip for the Blue Dormobile.
Planning!
We had done a long weekend in Somerset with no problems and were looking forward to Normandy and Brittany. All was well until I, mindful of the Green Dormobile’s first long trip when it blew it’s rear crank seal because I had bent the crank breather, fitted an oil pressure gauge – there wasn’t any! After much deliberation and advice, we got up at 6.30 on the day of our Depart and unpacked the Blue and repacked the Green, including the roof rack.
So, 14.30 on the 7th June 2014, saw us arrive in Portsmouth to catch the Normandie Express catamaran fast ferry.
High(er) vehicles have to reverse in, giving pole position on exit, and we arrived in Cherbourg at 20.00 french time.
It was about this time that we realised that our camera was malfunctioning and we wouldn’t be able to provide the Land Rover Classic Camper forum with our normal standard of report, so apologies for the lack and quality of photographs.
First night was spent at an aire (Siouville-Hague) from our book of French aires – most acceptable part from we had picked the same night as a few insomniac youths (les jeunes + alcahool !!) Nice village and beach.
Stopped off at Brecquebec for a mooch round and some lunch.
Pyramid thing was made of concrete with a 1000 artifacts from D Day, to commemorate the millennium.
Sunday night was courtesy of a gift from our son – free night b&b from a massive book of choice – hotels, windmills, yurts, gypsy caravan etc etc. We decided, for convenience, to stay in Barneville-Carteret, a lovely town on the west of the Cherbourg peninsula, from who’s terrace, we could see the odd remnants of D Day celebrations in the form of American land rover prototypes.
We arrived at Jack and Angele’s (not far from Vitre) on the Monday, to meet up with Lucy (our first born) plus her young man, Esther’s sister and her (not so young) man and the mother in law, not forgetting the star of the show, Jack and Angele’s daughter Rose – our first grand-daughter.
I will spare you the family reunion bit, but it was nice to chill in the gite, next to Jack’s house, and enjoy the 25+ degree sunshine. Also had a visit from Christophe from Le Temps de Series forum who came to collect some spares from me.
After everyone had gone their separate ways, we stayed with Jack, Angele and Rose for a day or so, visiting the eco Musee at Rennes – basically a farm and museum with old stuff including animals and old varieties of fruit and veg.
Our original plan was to make our way very slowly through Normandy to Dieppe, however, Jack and Angele suggested otherwise and Monday saw us going in the opposite direction to the Gulf of Morbihan, where we found an excellent “municipal” to stay the night and do a “randonee” from, as it was on the coastal path and on a little peninsula all of it’s own.
Yes that is tea!
Dangerous bit of water here not unlike whatsit fecken in scotland
Leaving Arzon, we visited a pictureseque village called Rochefort-en-terre,
Bought a plant basket
stopped for a beer or coffee, can’t remember, mooched around in the sunshine, before going to find our next stop for the night on a pear / apple cider farm. This was from an initiative which entails buying a book (£20) which gives you a sticker for your windscreen allowing free night stays on farms, vinyards etc as long as you are self contained. Expectation is that you are sociable to one’s host (say hello and goodbye) There is no expectation to buy produce, but there is the opportunity. We had a lovely evening chatting to out hosts, sampling their perry and putting the world to rights, using our limited knowledge of French (it is getting better!). Needless to say, we did purchase some – for about the same price as a nights camping on a site.
Our final night in Brittany was with Jack and Angele, but we stopped off in a village called La Gracilly, which has an annual photographic competition with the whole place full of massive pictures. Starts in May and ends in September.
With two nights before the ferry, we decided to head for the coast and revisit a lovely campsite at Fecamp, just to the east of Etretat, a favourite tourist spot of the French, with it’s chalk cliffs and shingle (flint) beaches and sheltered harbours.
Sponsored by 47% Bombay Saphire!
After a leisurely stay there, we made our way to the Aire at Dieppe for our overnight pre ferry stop.
A few old boats
Ferry in the back ground
After the excitement of preparation for the trip, reality was somewhat calmer, with no drama whatsoever, 31 mpg average and a really relaxing time.
Can’t wait for September when we have booked the Santander crossing to revisit the Pyrennees again, enroute to the Bal de Series!
