08-08-2018, 06:25 PM
1: Journey starts...
We live in Glasgow, a long way from any Ferry terminal so, as with our most recent previous journeys, we chose to trailer the Pearl behind my modern, with the camping trailer stowed on top of the roof, and pulled it all to Dover.
The girls finished school for the summer at 1pm and we were gone by 2pm. 10 hours later I parked the car in my parents' drive near Bristol for a few days, then on to my brother in law's in Hampshire and finally to Robert's in Kent. Here we off-loaded the Pearl, hitched up the camping trailer and early the next morning (guided by Robert, who looked after my modern car and transporter trailer whilst we were away, thank you!) made our way to the Dover Ferry Terminal, we arrived in time to catch an earlier ferry.
The organisation at both ports was very efficient and just two hours later we were making our way through central Calais and south - as far south as we could get that day before 5pm.
The car was still not really run in but pulled well and soon, around about 4pm we found ourselves nearing Amiens and a Camp Ground we had used in 2013 - so we pulled in a struck camp. After a meal cooked on the stove we retreated to the hall on site a read a few of the books they had put out for campers.
The next day we woke early and, with all the girls now responsible for packing up their one air mat, pillow and sleeping bag (a first for us as previously they had been too young), we soon found ourselves on the road and away before 8am. The car ran well in the damp air - the scenery in this part of France is pretty featureless and flat, good for getting miles under our belt however and by lunchtime we had passed Chateau Thierry. A further push, after food and fuel, meant that we skirted Troyes by 5pm and headed for a site with a pool that we knew in Brienne Le Chateau. If was very humid and whilst the girls enjoyed a cooling swim I enjoyed an ice cold beer. The bar on the site sold only beer and Champagne - fiercely proud of the local produce.
After dinner there was a torrential downpour and I quickly erected the tarp (our tent is so small it does not have an awning) so that we had some shelter to sit under. Next door Citroen Traction Avant owners waved from their caravan!!
In the morning it was still rather wet and we had to pack everything away damp!
We were now heading into our third long day of Travel, stopping once for refuel and once for lunch, I hoped to reach Megeve, in the Alps, by the next evening. This was the part of the journey I knew would be hard endurance for us, and the car. The girls sang in the back, knitted outfits for their teddy bears and read.
Another ten hour day of driving though the minor roads found us near Charolles where we came upon a very nice Municipal site. A small supermarket next door provided food for our dinner. We were starting to see a change in scenery and I knew the hills would begin the next day. With 220 miles still to cover, I shoved in my earplugs and went to sleep!
We live in Glasgow, a long way from any Ferry terminal so, as with our most recent previous journeys, we chose to trailer the Pearl behind my modern, with the camping trailer stowed on top of the roof, and pulled it all to Dover.
The girls finished school for the summer at 1pm and we were gone by 2pm. 10 hours later I parked the car in my parents' drive near Bristol for a few days, then on to my brother in law's in Hampshire and finally to Robert's in Kent. Here we off-loaded the Pearl, hitched up the camping trailer and early the next morning (guided by Robert, who looked after my modern car and transporter trailer whilst we were away, thank you!) made our way to the Dover Ferry Terminal, we arrived in time to catch an earlier ferry.
The organisation at both ports was very efficient and just two hours later we were making our way through central Calais and south - as far south as we could get that day before 5pm.
The car was still not really run in but pulled well and soon, around about 4pm we found ourselves nearing Amiens and a Camp Ground we had used in 2013 - so we pulled in a struck camp. After a meal cooked on the stove we retreated to the hall on site a read a few of the books they had put out for campers.
The next day we woke early and, with all the girls now responsible for packing up their one air mat, pillow and sleeping bag (a first for us as previously they had been too young), we soon found ourselves on the road and away before 8am. The car ran well in the damp air - the scenery in this part of France is pretty featureless and flat, good for getting miles under our belt however and by lunchtime we had passed Chateau Thierry. A further push, after food and fuel, meant that we skirted Troyes by 5pm and headed for a site with a pool that we knew in Brienne Le Chateau. If was very humid and whilst the girls enjoyed a cooling swim I enjoyed an ice cold beer. The bar on the site sold only beer and Champagne - fiercely proud of the local produce.
After dinner there was a torrential downpour and I quickly erected the tarp (our tent is so small it does not have an awning) so that we had some shelter to sit under. Next door Citroen Traction Avant owners waved from their caravan!!
In the morning it was still rather wet and we had to pack everything away damp!
We were now heading into our third long day of Travel, stopping once for refuel and once for lunch, I hoped to reach Megeve, in the Alps, by the next evening. This was the part of the journey I knew would be hard endurance for us, and the car. The girls sang in the back, knitted outfits for their teddy bears and read.
Another ten hour day of driving though the minor roads found us near Charolles where we came upon a very nice Municipal site. A small supermarket next door provided food for our dinner. We were starting to see a change in scenery and I knew the hills would begin the next day. With 220 miles still to cover, I shoved in my earplugs and went to sleep!