05th Sept - 12th Sept Proposed
A week in lovely northern France with a mate, visiting some scenic French towns/villages, basically sightseeing - camping - bbq's and French vino, route/plan yet to be decided, but I'm sure it'll be a great trip! Really looking forward to it.
Friday 5th;
Met up early evening with my travelling buddy Andy, after a chin wag and a cracking meal down the local set off for Portsmouth and the ferry port.
Ferry sailing at 23:00hrs, arrived in plenty of time to check-in and board, a glass or two, a sleep in a seat of sorts and awoke even more tired. After a quick wash, and a bracing spell on deck, awaited the café to open for a fried breakfast and the sight of the French coast.
Saturday 6th;
Docked on time and drove out of Le Havre just after 08.20 towards Caen, over the Normandy bridges before taking the scenic coastal route via Deauville, a stunning, pretty and well-to-do place where we stopped for a wander, also where it appears to be an American Film Festival on.
A lovely slow very scenic drive to our campsite near Pegasus bridge, the campsite modern and well organised like most in France. After checking-in, pitching tents, a walk to Pegasus bridge was a must, a sober visit spent around this whole area visiting the Museum, the bridge, the memorials and finally a cooling drink at the famous Café Gondree.
A walk back to camp, a lovely braai, a glass of wine or two sat in the sun just enjoying being on holiday, camping overland with our Landies.
A week in lovely northern France with a mate, visiting some scenic French towns/villages, basically sightseeing - camping - bbq's and French vino, route/plan yet to be decided, but I'm sure it'll be a great trip! Really looking forward to it.
Friday 5th;
Met up early evening with my travelling buddy Andy, after a chin wag and a cracking meal down the local set off for Portsmouth and the ferry port.
Ferry sailing at 23:00hrs, arrived in plenty of time to check-in and board, a glass or two, a sleep in a seat of sorts and awoke even more tired. After a quick wash, and a bracing spell on deck, awaited the café to open for a fried breakfast and the sight of the French coast.
Saturday 6th;
Docked on time and drove out of Le Havre just after 08.20 towards Caen, over the Normandy bridges before taking the scenic coastal route via Deauville, a stunning, pretty and well-to-do place where we stopped for a wander, also where it appears to be an American Film Festival on.
A lovely slow very scenic drive to our campsite near Pegasus bridge, the campsite modern and well organised like most in France. After checking-in, pitching tents, a walk to Pegasus bridge was a must, a sober visit spent around this whole area visiting the Museum, the bridge, the memorials and finally a cooling drink at the famous Café Gondree.
A walk back to camp, a lovely braai, a glass of wine or two sat in the sun just enjoying being on holiday, camping overland with our Landies.
Sunday 7th;
From the start this was going to be a very different overland trip, much more like mine in my Series, short-1 week-low mileage-a few campsites-plenty of time to sightsee and enjoy.
A trip to see Le Mont St Michel was planned, only 130kms away, a good campsite beckoned and a lovely drive to it also. And so it was, arrived late morning in glorious sunshine, too early to check-in, so a long walk to Le Mont St Michel was the order of the day (you can park for €12 in the official car park) or you walk and then you get a free bus part of the way to the fortified site.
A lovely walk, long yes but scenic and warm in the sunshine, then an enjoyable walk inside the walls, stunning historic buildings, spent a long just walking and soaking up the atmosphere, really liked the place. Only been here once before, in the Series, then you park just outside the walls, not now, but it was raining then so I didn’t go inside the walls, I’m glad I did this time.
A long walk back, pick up the Landies and a short drive to the campsite, thankfully we had already checked-in, so pitched tents late afternoon, a short afternoon nap and just dossed the rest of the day in glorious sunshine with a glass or two, and lit the Braai in the evening to round off another excellent day.
Monday 8th;
A short drive today of 75kms, up early, nice mug of tea, showered and scrubbed, refreshed and on our way.
Decided to get to St Malo early to spend time in the walled city, so main roads all the way, we made excellent time and arrived late morning into another excellent French campsite, great facilities as usual and only a walk away into St Malo, great.
Pitched tents and off for another long walk, but a lovely one, through a marina, around the beach, across a bridge and in through one of the arches into St Malo, been here before but always glad to see more of it.
Had a great time just wandering around, after a couple of hrs we stopped for a drink and a break and then wandered back to camp, a quick nap, lit the Braai, had a feast and a drink of a rather nice French wine and finally a walk around the campsite. Only to find a fortified citadel, which is now quite rightly a 1939-45 memorial site, you can just feel the history and sober presence as you walk around, both fascinating and moving.
Then back for another great evening chatting and drinking.
Tuesday 9th;
The longest day today, 245kms, up early and keen to get going to see Pont-Audemer. Toll roads today to make time, after about 3hrs and €6 in tolls we arrived in Pont-Audemer, passed the campsite and drove into town, parked up and wandered around.
The photos I’d seen made it look a lovely place, almost a small Amsterdam, but it seemed the beautiful streams and narrow houses along them were limited, oh well, it was still a lovely enough place to wander around.
Yet another clean French town, some stunning old buildings, and just an enjoyable place to wander in another glorious day. Stopped for a coffee and croissant and people watched before heading to the campsite, checked-in, pitched tents, showered and relaxed sunning ourselves, enjoying life and another glorious evening over a Braai and a glass or two.
The longest day today, 245kms, up early and keen to get going to see Pont-Audemer. Toll roads today to make time, after about 3hrs and €6 in tolls we arrived in Pont-Audemer, passed the campsite and drove into town, parked up and wandered around.
The photos I’d seen made it look a lovely place, almost a small Amsterdam, but it seemed the beautiful streams and narrow houses along them were limited, oh well, it was still a lovely enough place to wander around.
Yet another clean French town, some stunning old buildings, and just an enjoyable place to wander in another glorious day. Stopped for a coffee and croissant and people watched before heading to the campsite, checked-in, pitched tents, showered and relaxed sunning ourselves, enjoying life and another glorious evening over a Braai and a glass or two.
Wednesday 10th;
No hurry today, only need to get to Honfleur 30kms away, where we plan to stay and see the beautifully scenic French fishing town and so it was, arrived late morning, checked-in late morning (campsite closed 12:00-14:30), pitched tents and readied ourselves for a wander into town.
I’ve been to Honfleur, maybe 7/8 times before and I don’t think I’ll ever get bored of visiting it either it’s just a great place to wander around, especially in glorious weather. Spent a few hrs and had a lovely time just dawdling, sightseeing and window shopping, then stopped for a drink overlooking the basin and people watched, a great afternoon.
Back to camp, another Braai and a drink or two before turning in.
Thursday 11th;
The whole day in Honfleur, more walking, sightseeing, people watching, coffee drinking and just generally enjoying being on holiday, bloody marvellous!
No hurry today, only need to get to Honfleur 30kms away, where we plan to stay and see the beautifully scenic French fishing town and so it was, arrived late morning, checked-in late morning (campsite closed 12:00-14:30), pitched tents and readied ourselves for a wander into town.
I’ve been to Honfleur, maybe 7/8 times before and I don’t think I’ll ever get bored of visiting it either it’s just a great place to wander around, especially in glorious weather. Spent a few hrs and had a lovely time just dawdling, sightseeing and window shopping, then stopped for a drink overlooking the basin and people watched, a great afternoon.
Back to camp, another Braai and a drink or two before turning in.
Thursday 11th;
The whole day in Honfleur, more walking, sightseeing, people watching, coffee drinking and just generally enjoying being on holiday, bloody marvellous!
Friday 12th;
Ferry day, it always comes around quick, but the sailing is at 17:00. So a final walk around Honfleur, a coffee and croissant, walk back, packed away various bits of gear and tents and left, over the Normandy bridges, a slight detour (my mistake), a wander around the “Docks outlet shopping area” where I tried a subway for the 1st time (no I haven’t had one before, bizarre but true) and arrived at the port, check-in and queued for the ferry.
We sailed on time in yet again glorious weather and made the smooth crossing before docking at Portsmouth at 21:30, thanked my mate Andy for a great week, wished him a safe journey and trundled home myself, go there just after ten, unpacked and reflected on what is the best short (week or less) overland trip I’ve ever done.
420mls Great sightseeing, great weather and great company, cheers Andy.
Ferry day, it always comes around quick, but the sailing is at 17:00. So a final walk around Honfleur, a coffee and croissant, walk back, packed away various bits of gear and tents and left, over the Normandy bridges, a slight detour (my mistake), a wander around the “Docks outlet shopping area” where I tried a subway for the 1st time (no I haven’t had one before, bizarre but true) and arrived at the port, check-in and queued for the ferry.
We sailed on time in yet again glorious weather and made the smooth crossing before docking at Portsmouth at 21:30, thanked my mate Andy for a great week, wished him a safe journey and trundled home myself, go there just after ten, unpacked and reflected on what is the best short (week or less) overland trip I’ve ever done.
420mls Great sightseeing, great weather and great company, cheers Andy.