What a differance a day makes.

Yesterday a scorching 34°, today a numbing 10°, with a howling wind which has rocked the van and sent Sue to sleep.
We are parked up at Cap Breton in the sand dunes, with the Atlantic waves pounding the beach beyond.No bbq for us tonight.The sky is slate grey and the rain comes in stinging showers. Tomorrow we could invoke the motorhomers mantra of " if it's raining then we'll move on."
Today we have travelled the length of the N10, skirted around Bordeaux on the ring road amongst frenetic, lane hopping, commuters  and then driven along incredibly straight roads through sweet smelling pine forests.

Here comes the sun

After the late start to Wednesday because of thick fog, we very quickly found ourselves rolling through the French countryside heading for our first stop over on the banks of the Seine at Pont de L'Arche.
The town mayor called in to say hello and to reassure us that the travellers next to us would not be a problem. I thought they were fellow motorhomers!
Today we have clogged south to Nersac, south-west of Angouleme and experienced all the colours of a French Spring; every shade of green in the forests, pink and white blossom on the trees, purple lilac and wisteria and fields of flourescent yellow rape seed,.....best of all, temperatures. in the low 30s.
Also done a bit of DIY when we discovered that our fresh water tank had sprung a leak because of a perished seal. Mr. Bricolage to the rescue.That's a French B and Q.
Tomorrow it's Cap Breton and a couple of rest days by the sea before the Pyreneese.

Picture of the chateau within whose walls we are staying tonight

Intrepids are leaving the country!

Early start from our overnight stop on Marine a parade, Dover. The weather is grand with a slight breeze producing a gentle swell and best of all,sunshine. No queezy tums on this crossing.
Delfin is down below along with many other camping cars but we are on deck watching the not so white cliffs, fade away, whilst the French coastline appears on the horizon. Soon we will dock and the adventure will begin, despite driving on the wrong side of the road.
Rouen is the target for today, just south of the city, on a meander of the River Seine at an Aire called Pont de l'Arche.
We won't be able to send posts every day because French SIM cards are expensive for the MiFi so we  shall use McDonalds,who offer a free wifi service.
We don't want to bore you with the duller moments of a daily blog or diary so we thought that an overview of  a few days at a time, supported with pics, might be the best way forward.
 Aurevoir mes amis. Nous n'sommes pas Les Miserables mais Les Enfants Terribles. Vive la France!!


PS. Sea mist has descended and obliterated all remaining views of dear old Blighty.

Our last night in the UK

As the light fades and the fret drifts in from the sea, we are settling down for the night with this panoramic view through our window. The ferry boats plough back and forth but we are far enough away from the port not to be disturbed.
We have wandered the streets in search of the fish and chip shop which is legendary amongst motorhomers but ended up with an Indian. There are other travellers parked up so we have company ( great believers in safety in numbers ) Time to set the alarm for tomorrow's early start, then sleep with dreams of souks and sand dunes. Nite all. x

Thunderbirds are go!!!

Departure day has finally dawned after weeks, no, months of planning and preparation. Delfin has been hooked up to the electric for two days to ensure the freezer is ready to receive three chickens and half a pig. Won't dwell on the meat out of respect for the vegetarians out there.I don't know about motorhome, we seem to have all the characteristics of a mobile supermarket!
Fresh water tank is filled, taps and toilet are primed, beds are made and gas tanks topped up. Diesel, thanks to Tesco vouchers, will go in as we pass our local store We have enough maps and books to paper a house and the clothes lockers are bulging.Remarkably,we've even found room for the ukuleles. I wonder if noise pollution, I hesitate to call it music, is an issue for camels? Just checked the temperature in Marrakech, 34 degrees, nevertheless the navigator has sneaked in a hot water bottle!! I forsee choppy waters ahead and I don't mean the English Channel!!
Thunderbirds are go. North Africa here we come!!

Is this it? Are we really on our way? I'm just a little excited!!

2 more bedtimes.

Almost there; today is the time to check and re- check.
The phone has been ringing off its hook with final goodbyes. We aren't emigrating dear friends, nor journeying to a galaxy far, far away but we really hope that we'll be worth more than a couple of camels if abducted in a kasbah!
An alcoholic thought for today.....there's nothing like a gin and tonic to get rid of the taste of sterilised water from our tank.
So as Bogart might have said in " Cassablanca "......... " Here's lookin' at you! "