Downsizing

Where will we put everything that we had in Delfin? The compromise that we have had to make by downsizing to a smaller vehicle, that will be more manageable and cheaper to run, has been a certain amount of comfort and a great deal of space.

There is a large garage to the rear, under the fixed bed, where all our outdoor living gear is stowed. Previously this was housed in several outside lockers and was more easily accessible. Now it is prioritised based on how long we plan to stay in one place. Short stop,then the items on the right come out, but for several days, then it all comes out ... assuming that the weather is kind to us. Inside everything is scaled down, No separate shower room, but there is a hand held spray, hence the floor tray. Oh and the small stool is to assist short legged folk to get onto the bed.

There are plenty of  lockers for clothes, books, games and DVDs

Sue still has space to fill, but not me. 

Outside we have added  BBQ point , which is linked to the refillable gas bottle which we took out of Delfin and for extra security, on the large sliding door and rear doors, we have these Thule locks. 

We each have a large bed, the permanent one in the rear, from where we can watch our little TV and another, that is quickly made up from the table and dining area seating Plenty of room to stretch out and not disturb each other even if one of us is reading late. Mind you it only takes a visit to the loo in the early hours and everyone is awake! Hopefully, as the weeks go by, we can share more of our life on the road and you can judge for yourselves, if going for a smaller camper, was a wise move.

Goodbye Delfin and Hello Smiler

 Well here we are, back on the air in cyberspace and almost ready to begin a new adventure. But in the intervening six weeks since we were last in touch, there have been changes. Yes, our beautiful Delfin has morphed into a panel van conversion called Smiler. Just take a closer look at the front grill and you can see the smile on her face.
We are the proud owners of a Rapido V56 on a Fiat Ducato chassis. Because I am getting a bit long in the tooth to be driving a private,heavy goods vehicle,of almost 4 tonnes,with a handbrake which I couldn't pull up far enough to hold Delfin steady, on slopes and ferry ramps, it was decided that for safety's sake,which in itself, is a good enough reason, we should downsize to a vehicle more suited to my age and abilities. Despite being shorter (6 metres compared with seven and a half metres)  and narrower, Smiler has all the elements of a motorhome inside. More of that once we are on the road.

These are a couple of pictures taken on the day we found her, but since then we have been busy adding the extras which we need to keep us comfortable and mobile. A solar panel and an inverter;  the refillable Gaslow system and twin leisure batteries from Delfin; a quality alarm to supplement the one installed by the manufacturers and a Heath Robinson fly screen to cover the huge space when the sliding door is open. Almost ready to go!

Guess where we are off to in April?

MOROCCO.  REVISITED

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Just begun the planning, although all last years information which we have kept, will still be invaluable. The Internet motorhome forums have already been sent questions and new, up to the minute responses, have been received. How does diesel at 64 pence a litre sound?
This time we are using the Poole to Gijon ferry,and crossing the Bay of Biscay in a small vessel which is rather old but the tickets are cheap! We hope for calm seas during the 25 hour cruise ( a word which is used very loosely) but we do have our own cabin and en suite .... useful if it's choppy but hopefully the old tub possesses  stabilisers and a higher authority will have poured oil on any troubled waters
We shall land in Spain and will have saved time and wear and tear on Delfin by not driving the several hundred miles through France.

Months to go yet but watch this space 

A day in the life .......

Guess what ....we are still here by the sea. Sue has just left the building and is scaling the shingle bank to park her chair in a good viewing position.

She is surrounded by fishing rods and the odd dog that scampers to investigate this vision in a swimming cossie
Life has drifted into a Swiss Family Robinson existence.In fact that relative of theirs, Heath Robinson,  has enabled us to construct the means of taking the water container and toilet cassette, the kilometre to the tap and dump.It's so much easier. We have fastened a small trolley to the rear of the electric bike and are now able to zip down the lane and back, in the time it takes for the kettle to boil.
We wash, clean and cook. The bike rack is a clothes horse. There are people to watch, wildlife to observe and fellow travellers to exchange ideas and information. The outdoor market has a wealth of stalls so we can buy local produce and today, being Sunday, there has been an invasion of  French folk doing" a day by the sea."

They are on the beach, in the sea, skimming the waves in boats. Some foolhardy ones are jogging in the heat and others are peddling mountain bikes, racers or tandems, whilst those with a baby or a dog, attatch a sidecar to their cycle! Even the man who comes to collect our parking fee, arrives on a quadbike! Scantily clad trippers are strolling or hiking and there has been excitement too. The emergency services came hurtling down the track, showering everyone in dust and sending a few stones against tyres as they went to the rescue of a poor horse which had become stuck in a quicksand. Sappers Pompiers, our heroes!!

Today's trip to the Spar shop.

 

Flamingo land

 

 Off to the seaside for us and a harbourside  aire at Carro which is west of Marseilles. As you can see from the photo, we are parked in the sea, well as close as one can get without getting our feet wet.

It is a wind surfers paradise so we enjoyed watching the lithe young things doing their stuff out on the waves. The sunsets were beautiful, possibly because the Mistral had blown away most of the cloud cover.

 

We decided to continue the Roman cultural theme, with a trip to Arles, but sadly Arles was full. There was nowhere to park a camper van remotely near the city centre. Even tourist coach drivers were falling out with mild mannered motorhome owners as everyone vied for a parking spot in the designated area near the bus station. Drivers circled round possible departees like birds of prey preparing to pounce on  unsuspecting field mice .As we left, somewhat disappointed, we passed droves of unsuspecting camping-cars on their way in, who would shortly discover the problem and who would themselves, be making the same hasty departure.

We drove to a lovely town which we have visited before, Les Sts.Maries de la Mer . It has a marvellous stretch of  beach where parking is possible for two kilometres along the shore.

 and we know that there will be plenty of like-minded campers there.

 We can look across the vast expanse of lowland that is the Camargue and see flamingos wading in the saline waters of the small lakes or etangs. There is yet to be a sighting of the bulls or the white horses galloping through the surf.
We have decided that it is a postcard myth although there is plenty of pony trekking along the beach and along the network of paths which criss- cross the National Park.

From our shingle bank there

are views of blue canals, choppy seas and sandy beaches.The temperature is a very pleasant 30* and we feel very fortunate to be here and not in England in the rain!!

Here comes the sun....de,de,de, deh....hum the tune!!

Back on the air. It helps to put money on the sim card if you want internet access!!
Ok, where are we I hear you say. At this very moment we are sat in an aire, quite close to the centre of Avignon, from where we got a free park and ride to the city walls.
Once we had disembarked, we went "sur le pont" and are now thoroughly immersed in the history and culture of this famous town.
Earlier in the day, with the temperature...wait for it ...touching 38*C, we were being very touristy at the Pont du Gard

. Being a couple of pensioners, you can imagine how our purses breathed a sigh of relief  when we were told that it was World Heritage Day, so admittance was free!
Going back to our chat, I think we were at Autun, and from there  we went to a hillside aire at Villerest, just outside Roanne and halfway up a mountainside, overlooking a reservoir. Chilly night, so out came the duvets again!

Sue plotted a spectacular route the next day, which took us across the Massif Central, where we were over 4,000 feet high and up in the clouds. We then went into the Dome region with the Puys and craters from the eruptions of yesteryear. The Religious Orders went to a great deal of trouble and expense to build their Churches and statues on the top of the remains of volcanic plugs.

Visited Le Puy, shopped at Lidl and came out to warm sunshine and temperatures in the 20s. Jeans off, shorts on!
The Valley of The Ardeche was to follow. Amazing limestone scenery, made blindingly white by the brilliance of the sun. We drove down the valley side, with its 10 percent gradient, for 9 kilometres, with twists and turns which were reminiscent of a white-knuckle ride. Qiite an achievement in our weighty Delfin. The gears were used  so much it felt as though I was mixing ice-cream.

The river flowed through a gorge, then became wider with small, sandy beaches, where people were swimming and kayaking. Eventually, after quite a long day, we arrived last night at Aubignas.

This hillside village dates back to the 11th century and has undergone considerable restoration. It is built on a basalt promontory and its houses cascade down the slope towards the river. Inside the village walls, picturesque, paved alleyways wind between volcanic stone-built houses.

 The smell of rosemary fills the air and a few sprigs have found their way into the van.
We are now in Avignon which is where our blog began this evening, with a view of the Papal Palace.
Looks a little like Disneyland but hope that doesn't sound sacrilegious!

A little further south

After 3 lovely days at Froncles we have prised ourselves away from the Marne canal bank and driven through the rolling countryside side north and south of Dijon where the vineyards stretch in every direction as far as the eye can see.

These are the grapes which are produced for Grand Crus !!

The whole of the side of the house is painted with wine bottle corks.

At the moment Delfin is parked at an aire by a lake in Autan. The truth of it is that there is a MacDonalds across the road where we can access free wifi as there have been such problems with the Europa Sim so it's two Happy Meals and catch up time.

Connected at last!!

Here we are, connected at last. Sorry that we have been off air for a week, but the simple art of reading and following instructions appears to have eluded me.

 Anyway after the frustrations of accessing the internet, our wanderings through France began in a 38* heatwave as we tramped the hot pavements of Reims to visit the Cathederal and gaze in awe at the much acclaimed Rose Window.

We were able to park up on an Aire right in the heart of the city which made being a tourist, very easy.

Since Reims, we have moved a little further south to Lacs Orient and Chantecoq,

 spending a night at each. The minor roads through Champagne  gave us endless views of vineyards and chateaux. We became very reflective driving through the Somme and Marne regions, as mile after mile, we passed the military cemeteries of all the nations who took part in both World  Wars. Each headstone or simple cross, placed in a symmetrical row, with hundreds of others, within the box hedges of beautifully kept gardens of remembrance.
There have been pretty villages with colourful baskets and troughs of geraniums and petunias; busy farmers are harvesting golden corn, others are irrigating or ploughing

. The maize is tall and the sunflowers are no longer able to hold up their heads but everywhere there appears to be prosperity.
We had one night when a swarm of mini flies took over the van. Swat, crackle and fizz were the sounds from Sue's new electric scorching machine, which resembles a tennis racquet, but it was the good old chemical spray which finally eliminated them.
First rain came on Saturday, but by then we had found a little paradise on an Aire between the Marne river and a canal of the same name. Delfin is parked parallel to the water and we have views of all the water borne activity.

Today we have peddled along the tow path for miles, enjoying the warmth and wildlife and calling in at picturesque villages which we might otherwise have missed.

One last item of news before we close for today,........ oops too late we've eaten it. Yes the Tarts are partaking of their first French tart of the tour!

' Twas the night before .....

Hello Friends,
Thankyou for all your kind greetings, and meetings for coffee, prior to our departure. Delfin is packed and everything that can be worn, cooked, supped or charged, has been stowed away.
Tea towels cover the cutlery tray, hand towels are stuffed between pots and pans and shower towels cover the cab seats. All done to stop squeeks and rattles, except the shower towels and they stop perspiration!
We'll be in touch in a day or two. St.Quentin will be our first stop as it has an Aire by a canal with a Gendarmerie about 50 yards away. Always factor in the safety angle.
By the way, look whose following the blog now!

The Intrepids are on the road again!

Hello All. Here we are back on the road again and limbering up for our French jaunt, by having a few days in the Pennines. At the moment we are parked up at a beautiful site called Woodclose Park, in the picturesque Lune Valley, a short walk from Devil's Bridge


 There are beautiful Alpacas grazing in the field next to Delfin. Here are a few young ones, about the size of Afghan hounds. Kirby Lonsdale is a quaint town, with narrow cobbled streets, flights of beautiful, but sometimes slippy steps down to the banks of the Lune and magnificent views to the distant Fells.
.Later in the day, the skies opened and there was a deluge ... oh how we yearn for the blue Moroccan skies. We have driven eastwards into Yorkshire and are spending a few hours in Harrogate.There is a bus stop right outside the gates of our campsite so I go from being driver to a being passenger, courtesy of the good old bus pass. We went for afternoon tea at the famous Betty's Tea Rooms, but the tourists were queuing around the block so we just took the photo instead From Harrogate we drove to York and did a Park and Ride into the city. Our bus stopped right in front of the impressive towers of the |Minster. We strolled through the Shambles, had lunch by the river and  Sue made friends with " Purple Man " 

As the afternoon wore on, we finally reached our destination, the long driveway of our pals

Bob and Mo, who had electric hook up at the ready and very large, strong G and Ts!!

The last leg of our mini break took us over the Humber Bridge, simply because we had never done it.