2013 Travels: Autumn

       Thursday 29 August.

We got wakened with a cock crowing this morning at 5 am. That was the alarm a call on Moira's iPhone. We got up straight way, had breakfast, finished the last minute packing and tidied up. We were on the road at 6 am.

It was still dark and raining as we made put way to Glasgow and down the M74 to Carlisle. I drove that section and at the service area at Penrith we changed over and Moira took the wheel for 2 hours. We stopped at another service area then for a cup of coffee and I took over the driving again. Once we were past Birmingham and on the M5 it was another stop this time for lunch.

Moira drove again and we were supposed to turn off the M5 to the M50 shortly afterwards but the traffic report on the radio said that there was heavy traffic at Ross on Wye for the Monmouth show. That was on our route so we decided to just carry on down the M5 and take the M4 over the Severn Bridge. It was a little further that way but quick enough, it was motorway all the way. We got to the campsite site in Cardiff at 3:30 pm. 

The plan was to walk to the nursery to pick up Ewan then take him home. Justin wouldn't be home until 5:30 pm and Margaret an hour later. We made up the bed in the motorhome before we left and tried to put the fridge on to electric power. We had connected to the site electrics and everything was working all right except for the fridge which wouldn't transfer over from gas. We left it on to gas which was working all right and will look at the electrical problem later.

We walked over to the river then passed the Castle to the City buildings then round the back streets to City Road. Margaret had supplied a map by email and it was easy enough to find the nursery which was only about 5 minutes from their house. We had to give a password to get Ewan 'released' and once they found his pushchair we were on the way home with him. He was a bit wary of us when we picked him up but once on the move he chattered to himself in his own language and appeared happy enough. Justin came along in his car as we were walking, he got home early, but we continue walking and met up with him at the house.

Moira made dinner and Ewan played around on the floor with his loads of toys. He was a happy chappy and is nearly walking on his own. At the moment he can get around walking with the aid of a wheeling toy. We had dinner, Moira made a nice chicken curry then we chatted about Margaret and Justin's plans for getting a new house. Their house was on the market and they had received an offer £5000 under what they were asking, if they can get it up to just £2000 under they will be happy. We are going with them tomorrow to look at a couple of houses they are interested in buying. After doing the washing up Margaret ran us back to the campsite.

It as handy having the bed all ready and after getting the TV going we watched it with a cup of cocoa lying in the bed. There was an old Frost that we had seen before on ITV3. We watched it for half an hour then gave up and went to sleep. We were both very tired after our early start.

       

       Friday 30 August.

Moira got up first this morning and tried to make a cup of tea but the electrics kept tripping out. The kettle seems to draw too much power. Moira suggested that we buy a travel kettle which is much smaller and only draws about 1000 watts. We had left the daypack in Margaret's car last night with Moira's purse, we thought that we would have to go there first before shopping but Moira discovered her debit card in her pocket so we could go to the shops on the way.

After breakfast Moira managed to get a shower but there was a queue in the gents and only two showers available. I decided to wait and have one at Margaret's later. We walked into the city centre and at a sports shop managed to get camping Gaz containers for the little cooker. It was £15 but you got two for the price of one. Next we called in at Argos and picked up a travel kettle there. They also had the Gaz cylinders, cheaper but in packs of four for £20.

We made our way through the centre and out to the house. Margaret had been to the doctors with Ewan, he has spots on his arms and legs. The dermatologist had prescribed a steroid cream but she had to get a prescription from the doctor then picked it up at the pharmacy. She was putting it on his arms and legs then covering them with a sort of body stocking. I had my shower before it was nearly lunch time. In the afternoon we went for a walk to the park and round the lake with Ewan in his push chair. We stopped at the swings and pushed him for a while. He enjoyed it and also like pointing to any dogs on the walk but he wasn't too interested in the ducks and swans. The weather was changeable one minute sunny and warm then cloudy with some light rain, we had our waterproof jackets with us but it didn't get heavy enough to keep them on all the time.

When we got back it was time to go out in the car and pick up Justin from work. Then it was off to view a couple of houses. They were both semi-detached villas. The first one wasn't very nice and would need a lot of work done to it just to make it initially habitable, the other one you could walk into and it just required redecorating which could be down over time. they are looking for a house that has room to expand and can be converted, for instance, add on a conservatory, change the loft into another room and south facing for solar panels.

Moira made lasagne before we went out and it was just a matter of heating it up when we got in. Ewan had it as well, he cleaned his plate. He had a dessert to follow and I fed him, he finished that as well and played with the spoon and container once it was empty. We didn't bother with a dessert and got on with the washing up. Margaret was going out with girls tonight and had booked a taxi to take her into the city centre. We shared it with her and got dropped off at the Castle. Bute Park that we were going to go through was locked up, the path was open down the other side of the river but the bridge over from the park further down the path was also locked and barred. It was lucky we didn't get into park and unable to get out. 

When we got to the motorhome the bed was handily made up again and we got in right away. I made up a cup of cocoa for us using the new kettle and we watched the TV for about an hour. There was the detective Jonathan Creek but it wasn't very good and I fell asleep before the end of it, Moira was already sleeping.

Saturday 31 August.

After breakfast this morning we walked over to the start of the Park Run. It was a beautiful morning and the reflections in the river as we crossed the bridge at the weir were amazing and we had to stop to take some photographs. I was going to try running this morning in the time trial and hopefully my ankle would hold up with my new shoes. I was well warmed up with the walk from the campsite to the start but I did some leg stretches just to make sure.

I started at the back of the field and took it very easy for the first kilometre or so. People were mostly passing me and I was feeling awkward running at such a slow pace. As my Achilles was feeling fine I picked up the speed and began overtaking other runners but I didn't go crazy. My finishing time for the 5km was 31:18 minutes, not bad especially and I didn't suffer any pain in my ankle.

We were under the impression that Margaret was going to meet us at the finish, after taking Ewan to the swimming pool, and run us to the house. Moira phoned her and she was confused so we arranged to meet at Tesco. She had been at the campsite by mistake, when she eventually met us we decided to return to the site and I could have a shower. Once I was washed and changed we headed to the house to pick up Justin then go viewing another house.

This house was in the same area but much nicer on the outside, it was face brick finish. Inside it was a bit old fashioned in its decor but that was all that would have to be changed to make it a really nice house. They asking price was £250K and the estate agent told Justin they had that offered but they were holding out for more. Justin and Margaret are just looking at the market at the moment and won't be making any offers until they sell their house.

 

In the afternoon we spent the time reading the Telegraph and I worked on the crossword. Later we got Margaret and Justin's bikes out to check them for a ride we are taking tomorrow along the Taff Trail to Caerphilly where we are having lunch with Justin's parents. Both bikes had to have their tyres pumped up then we assembled the carrier for Ewan and prepared the fitting to the back of Justin's bike.

We had seafood pasta and spaghetti for dinner and then I washed up again. Margaret ran us to the campsite at 8:30 pm and we got to bed straight away, it was again made up ready. There was a few in the series of Waiting for God on the Yesterday channel which were quite good. Then we got to sleep.

        Sunday 1 September.

When we wakened I started a new book on Kindle then watched some of Match of the Day before turning to the News channel. After breakfast and a shower we got our bikes down ready for the ride. We weren't leaving until 11am so I had time to write up my blog and diary and also finish the Telegraph crossword.

The plan was to meet them at the bridge at the weir on the river. We arrived with 10 minutes in hand but they were late by 10 minutes. It wasn't a fast cycle, dead slow and stop. I kept to the back but had to be very careful when Moira stopped In front with no warning at all. We were going so slowly at times that runners were overtaking us. Justin was struggling with the weight of the carrier and Ewan to pull. He was dead just over half way when I took over from him. I changed to my sandals and rode his bike but I found it very awkward and hard going not having the benefit of the pulling action of the clips. Still I got to Caerphilly easily enough, I must be still quite fit.

Dave and Beverley were waiting anxiously for us, we were expected an hour before we eventually got there. The lunch was ready and we more or less sat down for it right away. It was a roast lamb, roast potatoes and veg, it was very nice.  The sweet was lovely, fruit salad, trifle and iced cream. We had red wine and I was a bit drowsy afterwards due to it and dozed on the couch as Justin and Dave watched the football on TV. It was Liverpool v Man U., Liverpool scored in the first few minutes while we were still eating. There were no further goals and the bit that I watched wasn't very exciting.

Before heading back they changed the carrier over to Margaret's bike and she took Ewan all the way home. I offered to put it on mine but Margaret was keen to try it out. The route home was easier nearly all downhill and Margaret managed fine, though Ewan doesn't seem very keen on the cycling idea. Every time they went over a bump he hit his head on a spar even though he was wearing a little hard hat. Another problem with this route was the number of other cyclists, walkers and runners, and the frequent barriers along the trail to stop cars and motorcycles encroaching. These barriers are easy enough for the normal bike, just the nuisance of having to stop but with the carrier we had to lift it over lots of them.

We were soon back at the weir where we parted company, Margaret and family heading home while we made our way to the campsite. We got the bikes up on the racks first of all and covered with the sheeting to protect against rain. It was time to watch the News on TV followed by Countryfile. We made up the bed then read until the detective Vera came on, later this week at 9 pm. It was good but a late night before it finished; luckily there isn't an early start in the morning to get to Dover. The ferry we are booked on isn't until 7:30 pm, so we can leave a bit later and take it easy.

       Monday 2 September.

We were packed up and away by 9:30am. I filled up with diesel at the filling station on the road outside the park. We went back the same way as we came in and were soon on the M4 heading towards London. It was more or less a straight road to Dover, the only parts to take care was the junction with the M5 and the M25 ring road round London. I drove first of all and we stopped at a service area near Reading for lunch then Moira took over all the way to Dover.

We were early for our ferry to Calais but they put us on an earlier one at 4:45 pm. We had an hour to wait before boarding and I tried to put photos on my blog before we got to France and still had the Wi-Fi dongle with life in it. As usual they have changed the set up and I couldn't get the photographs to come the right way up and the facility to edit the photos in the blog have now disappeared. I was still trying to solve the problem and cursing at the computer when the boarding started. There was Wi-Fi available on the ferry and I continued battling eventually finding a means to get the photos on and the right way up. I posted the blog before we reached France.

As we were coming into the harbour at Calais we could see the aire. It was packed solid. We had an argument about what to do and Moira eventually put the coordinates of the other Calais aire into the satnav as we were waiting to disembark. It was in the centre of Calais and although there was plenty of motorhomes parked there was still lots of room. We got parked and a couple we spoke to on board arrived shortly afterwards and parked beside us. They had gone to the other aire but it was jammed packed and they diverted here.

Moira made a stir fry for dinner with mince and vegetables. It was very nice. When the washing up was done we made the bed and watched Only Connect on the iPad that I had downloaded to BBC iPlayer while at Cardiff. I tried to pick UK channels on the TV but could only get some French ones. After the quiz we read for an hour. It was 10 pm French time, an hour ahead, only 9 pm BST. We read for an hour, it too early to get to sleep. 

        Tuesday 3 September.

It was nearly 8 am local time when we wakened this morning. Moira made a cup of tea and we both got up when it was ready. Moira went out for our first taste of fresh French bread while I made up the bed and got the breakfast prepared. The bread was lovely and makes a change from toast in the morning. It didn't take long after we were finished to pack up and get on our way.

It was quite misty when we set off but as soon as the sun was high in the sky and warm it was quickly burnt off. It turned into a lovely hot day after that with a perfectly blue sky and not a cloud in sight. It was motorway from Calais to just south of Boulogne then good coastal roads to where we were stopping for the day at Le Crotoy, on the River Somme. We had stayed there a few times previously and it was a nice aire on the river and beside the mud flats where they collect shellfish, mainly mussels. It wasn't far, about 120 km, and it took about 2 hours.

As we pulled into the aire a Belgian guy waylaid us before we could find a place to park. His battery was flat and he wanted a jump start from our battery. I didn't have a clue where the battery was and started by looking for the lever to open the engine compartment. I couldn't find anything in the cab and the guy spotted a keyhole in the front of the bonnet. It was released with the ignition key, but the battery wasn't there. Eventually we found it under the drivers seat but had a problem getting near enough to his 'van to make a connection with jump leads. To get in close four of us, him and his wife, Moira and me, pushed his heavy motorhome a couple of metres to enable me to get in front of it. Once in position, and the leads connect, he had his camper running again. It was handshakes all round and we were then able to find a spot where we could settle down. The aire was fairly busy but there were still plenty of spaces and we got one next to the fence with ample room between our neighbours.

We had a cup of coffee and then set about putting up the satellite dish.  It took Moira a while to find Astra 2, we had to recall how to go about setting up the digibox  then lining up the dish. The signal wasn't bad but we only got limited stations and no radio at all. I decided to try the Sky box and as soon as I had it all wired up it tuned in immediately. The signal appeared to be much stronger; we got all the channels and the radio.While we had lunch I listened to Jeremy Vine on Radio 2.

Mid-afternoon we had a walk into the town. It hadn't changed any since our last visit. It was busy with numerous holiday makers and the weather was glorious for them, sunny and very hot. We had to walk in the shade it was so warm. Moira thought about getting mussels for dinner tonight but what was on display at all the fishmonger's were very small. We strolled along the front and into the town where a small supermarket enabled us to stock up on fruit and potatoes.

It was now getting too hot to walk about so it was back to the site.There was shade on one side of the 'van so our seats were set up there, to sit and read for an hour or so. I came in when Pointless came on the TV and then watched Eggheads while having dinner. It was the comedy on the radio then the News on Channel 4 before making up the bed. Later we watched New Tricks while stretched out under the duvet.

Wednesday 4 September. 

It was very misty again this morning as we left about 9 am, but the hot sun soon burnt it away. It was lovely French bread again for breakfast and we watched the BBC on the TV while eating. It wasn't long until we were on a motorway on the way to Rouen about 100 km to the south. There wasn't a by-pass and the route led to near the centre of the city. I remembered it from a previous time driving through, especially the underpasses that were built to avoid busy junctions and roundabouts. Unfortunately vans and motorhomes couldn't fit under the tunnel roofs. Last time I drove down one of them and had to reverse out again. This time we were aware of the problem and kept to the main road. There was one motorhome trying to go down one of them and then having to back out.

After Tours it was a straight route to the next big town of Alencon. We weren't going that far today but stopping for the night at a little aire in the small village of La Sap. This was another place where we had stayed before. It was a small aire of 5 places and was a few kilometres from the main Tours Alencon road. There was nobody else there when we arrived and we had the pick of the places. After filling with water I parked near the service pillar, there was free electricity available from there. Moira attempted to heat the water using the electrics but couldn't get it to work. Instead she heated it with the gas and later was ready for a shower. After lunch it was setting up the satellite dish time; It took a while as Moira was aiming it in the wrong direction, after I checked the compass and got her navigated properly the digibox was tuned in. I used the digibox again to pick up the signal but as soon as It was working well I changed over to the Sky box which was much better.

It the afternoon it was boiling hot, especially in the 'van. We took our chairs and sat under a tree for shade next to the small lake. It was very pleasant and a delightful quiet spot where we read our books until dinner time. Only another two motorhomes arrived so there was plenty of room for everyone. When back at the 'van again it was time for Pointless then while eating dinner, Eggheads. We washed up listening to the radio then watched the News again on Channel 4. There wasn't anything else on the TV tonight that we wanted to watch, so got to bed and read. Still feeling very tired it was off to sleep early at 9:30pm. 

        Thursday 5 September.

It was another beautiful day when we got up this morning, clear and no early morning mist for a change. After breakfast we sat and waited for the sports news on the TV before starting the packing up. It didn't take long with only the dish to store away. It was 9 pm local time when we were on the road.

It was about 60 kms to the first big town of Alencon then it was on to Le Mans. Fortunately the roads more or less by-passed the busy centres and there weren't any hold ups or delays. Next was the city of Tours and it was easy going with a ring road. The roads were all major but mainly single carriageway. It wasn't particularly busy and I kept at a steady speed of 50-60 mph. There was a stop for the loo but we didn't bother making tea or coffee and quickly going again. After getting passed Tours we came off the major road and had about 15 kms of narrow minor roads to St Epain where our aire for the night was situated.

It was a small site and the way in was difficult to find, eventually cutting over the grass beside a table tennis table to get in. A little later another 'van was having the same trouble and I guided him in by the same route.  It was a French motorhome but they turned out to be British from Bridlington in Yorkshire; they are now living in France in the Somme area. We got parked in a nice spot with hedges on each side and there was electricity as well. 

We had lunch then set about putting the dish up. I set the compass on the ground this time and lined the base so that one of the corners was pointing in the direction of Astra 2; after wiring up the box and it was tuned in right away. I changed over to the Sky box and reception was again excellent and much better. There was a notice at a toilet block that said to pay at the Mairie, the Town Hall. We walked into the village and it was at the top of the lane but was closed. The sign said it opened at 2 pm after lunch so we had a walk through the village. There wasn't anything to see other than some old photographs on the walls of the building showing the village about 100 years ago. When back to the Mairie it still wasn't open; a closer examination of the hours of business sign now informed us that it closed all day on a Thursday.

Back at the aire I told the Yorkies that the Town Hall was closed and not to bother going up. If they want money somebody will come round later. The weather was gorgeous, blue skies and extremely warm. It required getting into the shade of a large tree where we sat in our seats for the afternoon. The aire was beside a large pond and it was full of quacking ducks, a few mothers were out with their kids feeding them. We sat until after 6 pm reading though Moira did take a break for a trip to the small supermarket in the village for some supplies. 

Back in the 'van it was time again for the latest Pointless and while having our meal Eggheads. I listened to the comedy on Radio4 extra once the washing up was done but there wasn't anything worth watching on TV tonight again. When we got to bed I put the Netbook on to watch some of the iPlayer programmes I had downloaded at Margaret's. They wouldn't play, it said it required having another app and we couldn't get it without an Internet link. We watched one I had on iPlayer on the iPad which apparently has the appropriate app. It was the last in the series, The Men who made us Thin. It was OK but not a lot new to the previous programmes. Moira had begun watching as well but fell asleep half way through.

Friday 6 September.

Nobody came round last night or this morning for money, so we had a free day. We were a bit earlier leaving after breakfast as we were travelling a little further today, about 250 km. Moira had gone to the shops while I made up the bed and got the rest of the breakfast ready. She got a nice French loaf again, half we had now and the rest kept for lunch. It began to rain while packing up and it continued for a couple of hours while I was driving.

It was a short distance of minor roads until we got on to the main route to Poitiers. The city was mainly by-passed as usual and from then on it was dual carriageway, the N10, all the way; rounding the next major town of Angouleme before turning off on very minor narrow roads to our destination for the night at Clerac. This was about 100 km from the storage place for the 'van while walking the Camino; we should get there before lunch tomorrow. We had a break at a lovely Aire de Repose, a sort of country style service area, mid-morning. The intention was to just stop for the loo but it was so nice among the trees that we made a cup of coffee and relaxed for 15 minutes before carrying on. The road was quite busy with a lot of trucks and heavy vehicles, probably making for the major city of Bordeaux. Even with this I made good time averaging about 50 mph. There was only one delay at a road works just after a roundabout on the outskirts of Poitier where everything was funnelled into one lane.

It was about 1 pm when Clerac was reached and it was a small aire with only 5 places but it was free. We were the only ones there at first but another 'van arrived later in the afternoon. After filling up with fresh water we got ourselves a nice spot. Once lunch was over it was time to set up the dish, I pointed the base in the correct direction again and it was immediately tuned in. We left it off until later when I switched on for Deal..... The afternoon was spent outside reading, the rain had gone off and it was comfortably warm but not boiling as the previous few days.

After watching Noel Edmunds and his boxes it was Pointless, and Eggheads. The first one day international between England and Australia highlights were supposed to be on Channel 5 but it was rained off, no play today. I watched athletics instead then turned over for the World Cup qualifier between England and Moldavia. England was 3-0 up at half time; I gave up and went to sleep.

Saturday 7 September.

It had rained again during the night but it was dry when we wakened. It wasn't a rush to get away this morning as there was only 100 km to go. After watching Breakfast on the TV and packing up and we were on our way at 10 am. TomTom was giving us the shortest route to our destination of Bourgougnague but this resulted in very narrow minor roads and one small village after the other. In these 'dorps' the route twisted and turned resulting in TomTom itself getting confused and sending us in the wrong direction. It soon corrected and a couple of U-turns were required. When reaching the larger village of Castillon la Bataille 'she' really got confused when the route was blocked with road works. I had a look at the map and saw there was a longer route we could take along a major highway to the city of Bergerac and from there another reasonable road down to Bourgougnague. Half way to Bergerac TomTom found its way again and at the village of Ste-Foy-le-Grande took us along farm lanes (thankfully nobody was coming the other way) to the coordinates Moira had set in the satnav. It was in the middle of nowhere and the signpost said it was still 3 km to Bourgougnague. Fortunately there was a man at a fence feeding some, astonishingly, small deer. He directed us to the campsite which was on the other side of the field, but about a kilometre away by road.

We successfully got to the site which was small and had a few caravans and motorhomes there. There was nobody in reception and we parked beside a caravan, the people in it were English and said the campsite owners were English and the area predominantly English. They said that they also used the storage place and it was a farm about a kilometre back up the road we had come down, they were English too. After our lunch the site owner arrived, she was more concerned that we were settled and said to pay later. She also said she would look on the computer for the best way to get to Bayonne from here for the start of our walk. The only thing wrong with the site was found when we were going to set up the satellite dish, the direction of Astra 2 was shield by trees; we decided not to bother trying and would watch something on the recorder instead.

Instead of messing about with the TV reception we went for a walk to see the people in the storage farm. It was only about a kilometre and it was a pleasant walk along the country lane. The farm was growing mainly sunflowers and they were now dying off and must be about ready for harvesting. The couple, Adrian and Jan, were very English and friendly. Adrian showed us where he would be putting the 'van and it was quite secure. It could be stored under cover but I want to take advantage of the solar panels to keep the batteries charged. After a while chatting we were ready to head back when it started to rain Adrian kindly drove us back to the site. He said he would liaise with the site owner about the means of getting to Bayonne and would drive us to the likely start of the journey, the railway station at Marmande, 30 km away.

The rain got heavier and continued for the rest of the day and through the night. We spent the time in the 'van reading and later after dinner and the washing up completed went to bed and watched A Touch of Frost on the recorder. I think I had seen it a long time ago but it was all right. The plan for tomorrow is to take it easy and get the rucksacks packed for a start on Monday.

Sunday 8 September.

It was raining again this morning but it cleared up by lunchtime and there was large patches of blue sky in the afternoon and the sun came out. Moira had done some washing and had it in the shower compartment with a fan heater running to dry it, but when the weather cleared she was able to hang it up outside.

Moira started the packing for our pilgrimage; we are using the small rucksacks that we bought in Nepal. They aren't very big so can't put a lot in them so will be nice and light for us to carry. I got the loo emptied then spent most of the day reading. I've started a Dickens' novel, Little Dorrit, it is good and I'm enjoying it.

We had ordered bread from the owner, Carol, yesterday and it was delivered at 9 am; so we had a late breakfast. Carol also got the information about trains for us from the web. There is a convenient one at 1:30 pm from Marmande and it takes 3 hours to reach Bayonne with a change at Bordeaux. Adrian from the storage farm came to see us later and we arranged with him to take us to the station on Monday at mid-day once the 'van is left at his place.

In the evening we watched some programmes from the recorder. A few Last of the Summer Wine, and when in bed a Touch of Frost that we had seen before but many years ago.