Back to the UK

We stayed Friday night at Embry and on Saturday we returned to the aire at Saint Verant.We couldn't get near the aire as the entire village seemed to be having a table-top sale - in addition to the pros with their vans and covered stalls, everyone had a pile of junk outside their house. At 18.30 we managed to squeeze our way into the aire for the night.

On Sunday we drove to Calais, topped up with fuel and some booze before heading to the ferry.

Embry

We left Saint Nicholas de Bliquetuit on Wednesday morning and drove to Saint Valery Sur Somme where we stopped on an aire. In the afternoon we did a 28km cycle ride in the countryside around the Somme estuary. The following morning we got up early and did another cycle ride along the coast before driving to an aire at Le Croty where we stayed the night.

After a late start, this morning we drove to Embry.


The fabulous aire at Emby - a tiny town with nothing there but the aire was by far the best we've ever seen. It has nice level parking spaces separated by planters and a clean toilet/shower block. There are even picnic tables and BBQ's each of which have a little pile of sticks to burn!

Saint Nicholas de Bliquetuit

This morning we drove to an aire at Saint Nicholas de Bliquetuit which is on the bank of the river Seine.

A lovely view across the river Seine from Kiki. Unfortunately there's absolutely nothing on our side of the river apart from the aire and a couple of picnic tables. This afternoon we walked 5km along the river this and this evening we walked 2km the other way.

Honfleur

This morning we drove to Honfleur but decided not to stay in the aire as it was expensive, instead we drove 5 mins down the road to a free aire at La Riviere Saint Sauveur. We then cycled into Honfleur.


Honfleur is the spitting image of Padstow and wouldn't look out of place in Cornwall.

Pretty streets with expensive (designer) shops and lots of Grockles.

I was happy boat watching...

Deauville

Today we're visiting Deauville and it's neighbour Trouville on the opposite side of the river estuary. We're parked in a wild-camping spot by the harbour in Deauville along with at least 30 other MH's some of which have been here for quite a while.

After lunch we crossed the river and walked around Trouville....

... looked at the town...

.... and then crossed back and looked around Deauville.

Evening and low tide with lots of sticky French mud!

Vire

After a second night on the aire at Avranches, this morning we moved onto another aire at Vire.

The church

Nice house for the ducks

Cycles on the water - the Tour de France goes through this town.

Mont Saint-Michel

Today we're visiting Mont Saint-Michel. We left Kiki on the aire at Avranches and have come here on our scooter as MH parking here is €20 for the day!

Topped by the Saint-Michel monastery, the island has been a strategic point holding fortifications since ancient times.

Lemmings everywhere.

 

Avranches

We went for another walk around Pont-d'Ouilly this morning before heading to a free aire at Avranches.

We're here to visit Mont Saint-Michel tomorrow - you can just make it out in the distance behind Em.

Walking in Rural France

The river at Pont-d'Ouilly

Lunch today is a rather fine baguette...

We "sort of" followed a circular walking route - the sign's were somewhat elusive in places!


Fit for another few miles?

Pont-d'Ouilly

We're now stopping on the official aire at Pont-d'Ouilly. It's located right on the river and almost deserted. We even have a picnic table behind our parking place.


Em's Sangria is strong enough to knock you out!

Campigny

Last night we stayed on a tiny aire in Campigny. This morning we went for a 16km figure of eight cycle ride around the local countryside.


Local building style.

Rouens

On Saturday night we stopped on a free aire at Conty with about 10 other MH's. Nothing much there so on Sunday morning we drove to the aire at Forges Les Eaux where we went for a 25km cycle ride along the route of a disused railway. We stayed overnight on the aire and drove on to visit Rouens this morning.

Rouens centre from our parking place on the pavement alongside the main road!

Rouens cathedral made famous by Monet.

Astronomical Clock

Pretty buildings in the square

 

L'Hotel de Ville

Amiens

This afternoon we're in Amiens and it's raining. We had intended to stay here tonight but decided against it as the parking place looked a bit dodgy.


Lovely waterside restaurants - shame about the rain.


The cathedral Notre-Dame

We went inside to shelter from the rain!

Picquigny

En-route to our next overnight stop we drove through the little village of Picquigny on the river Somme. We parked up and decided to follow a walking route along the river. It was supposed to be a circular route but we think some of the signs were missing because we had to make part of it up!


The river Somme

Doullens

Tonight we're stopping on another free aire at Doullens. A very popular aire - the four parking spaces were quickly filled and another 8 MH's arrived during the afternoon.

Nothing much to say about Doullens - we tried to find a walking route but there just didn't seem to be any!

Arras

Today we're heading south into Picardie, stopping en-route to see the old town of Arras. Post-war reconstructed in 7th Century Flemish style, each residence has a slightly varying design.

Saint-Varent

We've got a month free before I return to Sydney for the second part of the ABC job so we've come to explore some of northern France. We took the Dover-Calais ferry on Monday 1st August, stopped overnight at our favourite spot in Calais and then drove to an aire by the river in St Varent.


The view from Kiki.
We're on a free aire with free water and electricity (only in France!) and we even managed to pick up a free WiFi signal from the marina opposite!!

Chilling out by the river

So typically French (sitting on a bench)

 

Cycling along the river - we completed a circular route returning along the canal.