MONT ST MICHEL

Mon 30th Oct

Today we have stocked up at the supermarket,serviced and cleaned the
Winnebago.We have found out that Tuesday is a bank holidayin France
so we will plan our next move for Wednesday towards the Atantic coast
and then Spain.

MONT ST MICHEL

Mon 30th Oct

MONT ST MICHEL

Sun 29th Oct

As everything is so quiet here on the camp we decided to venture out
to see what the restaurants had to offer for Sunday lunch and found an
excellent one "LE PRE SALE" in a hotel just across the road, a very nice
hotel (MERCURE) chain. We had the three couse menu, chose a seafood
starter and whitebait, we both had the Roast Salt Marsh Lamb which
Mont St. Michel is famous for, it was served with a jus, haricot beans
and potatoes, similar to a croquette but in little ball shapes. This meal
was the nearest to an English Sunday Roast we have had in France,
accompanied with a nice bottle of Broully, it brought back many happy
memories of our friends Tim and Thea who we so often shared a
Leg of Lamb meal with.

MONT ST MICHEL

Sat 28th Oct.

On site today, weather not good, so much rain !! had a walk around
the souvenier shops and did some laundry opposite. Campsite on this
side is so quiet, only about six other motor homes on a Sat. eve. haven't
met anyone to really speak to. Highlight of the day was a Hot Air Balloon
going up just across the road from us, (taken some pictures!!)

MONT ST MICHEL

Fri 27th Oct Cont.

At the base of the Mont there are lots of restaurants, eateries,
bars etc. but there is one very famous restaurant /hotel called
"Le Mere Poulard",named after Madame Poulard who was famous
for her omelette !! she created it as it was something she could
prepare day or night in her restaurant for the pilgrims.
In the entrance of Le Mere Poulard, Chevalliers in their red smocks
can be seen beating the omelette mixture in huge copper bowls but
they beat with a musical rhythm which is very catchy. The omelette is
then cooked over huge open wood fires in a wok style pan (with a handle
about 7 ft. long) for 20 minutes then flamed, all on display!! Very tempting !!

MONT ST MICHEL

Fri 27th Oct

Went for another visit to Mont St Michel this time to see the four
museums, the first one being Maritime and Ecology which commenced
with an audio presentation (we English were given headphones translating
it for us) then a tour to learn about the biggest tides in the world,also special
exhibits of 250 old model boats. There was a collection of weapons and
instuments of torture and Loius X1's iron cage and 1000 years of history
and prisons in another one ,then an Archeoscope (a visual and musical display)
about the dicoveryof M.ST.M and then Tiphaine's House ,the home of
Bertrand Du Guesclin and Tiphaine of Raguenel (13th/14th century) exhibits
in all the rooms of pictures and furnishings, four poster bed and a wax figure
of her in all her glory and finally a display of 35 wax figures animated by famous
French actors going back through the history.

MONT ST MICHEL

Thurs 25th Oct

Went into Pontorson which is the nearest town, about 7 km away,
did some shopping found a big Champion supermarket.
The site we are staying on is on the opposite side to the hotel, it is
all grassed and neatly set into pens separated with low hedges.
We are on the only concrete part near the front entrance but are
having difficulty with Sat/T.V. 'cos of the trees. Not many on this side,
but the hotel seems quite busy, the chalets and camping surround
the hotel and there are brasseries, a rotisserie,boutique and bars
around it. Not terribly busy !!

MONT ST MICHEL

Wed 25th Oct cont"d
We were in time to hear midday mass being sung
which was quite an experience, no cameras allowed in here.
An audio tour is available which we didn't realise but would be
to a big advantage as the place is so vast and so many rooms to see
and obviously all the history is in French so would like to return to do
the guided tour and the museums.So many people there ,even at this
time of the year,so wouldn't go in the season,although they have special
musical evenings in the summer which must be amazing. As we left we
noticed the times of the tide, for Wed. it was 8pm so there was a warning
for people parked on various parks to vacate by a certain time as these tides
are the highest in the world

MONT ST MICHEL

Wed. 25th Oct.
Mont Saint Michel is only a mile down the causeway from
the site we are on, so we headed off on the scooter for our visit
to one of the most famous places of history in France.It has 1000
years of history, four museums , and the abbey at the very top
was built by monks. We were amazed at the entrance as we climbed
up the narrow cobbled streets into an almost grotto styled haven of
restaurants, souvenir shops and hotels.Don't know how many steps
we climbed on the winding paths up the Mont to the entrance of
the Abbey

MONT ST MICHEL

Wed 25th Oct

MONT ST MICHEL

Tues.24th Oct.


Our next stop was to be at Torigni-Sur-Vire, west of Caen but it was closed
so we had to move on down the coast of Normandy past Arromanches-Les-Bains
etc. into Mont-St. Michel, spectacular view across the coast, arrived approx. 4 p.m.
watch out for the picture , maybe tomorrow!!!

HONFLEUR

Mon.23rd Oct.


A nice morning today so spent the morning servicing the
Winnebago, did some shopping and put the scooter up on
the hoist ready for our journey tomorrow to St. Lo near Caen,
lucky we did it this morning as the heavens opened this afternoon
and we had a terrific thunderstorm which lasted nearly an hour,
haven't seen rain like it for ages after another hour of rain it
eventually cleared up and had some daylight again.

HONFLEUR

Sun. 22nd Oct.


Had a quiet day here as it rained for most of the day,
managed to get out for a walk early afternoon in between
the rain. Malcolm has been off colour again, he's covered with
bites and aching all over so no news to give today.

HONFLEUR

Sun 22nd Oct

HONFLEUR

Sat 21st Oct.

Our last Sat.in Honfleur,
Went to the veg. market and bought lot's of nice veg. and fruit,
plus a spit roasted chicken, had a look around the other stalls
then went for an aperitif. It's amazing how quick they clear up,
by the afternoon there's not a trace of any rubbish, you wouldn't
know they had been there.Not much happening today, and no news
from anyone. As you see Malcolm has posted another picture onto
the blog, the main harbour at Honfleur. We have another huge river
cruise boat in the lock next to the one we overlook at the site.
A big yacht has just come in right opposite our window and the
sun has come out yet again.!!

HONFLEUR

Sat 21st Oct

HONFLEUR

Fri 20th Oct.

Just a quiet day at the campsite, serviced the Winnebago and cleaned the
windows inside and outside, did the shopping at the supermarket for the
weekend as nothing planned socially, then planned our next move for Tues.
we are going west of Caen then onto Mont St. Michel. Have really enjoyed
being here in Honfleur but it's time to move on. Malcolm has actually managed
to post a picture onto the blog!! Keep watching !!

HONFLEUR

Fri 20th Oct

HONFLEUR

Thurs.19th.Oct.

Another beautiful morning after heavy rain in the night, so we
wandered around the harbour for a while and then called into
the fish hall on the quay which we eventually found on Sunday,
the enterance is quite secluded, must have passed it loads of times
before and thought it was closed, anyway we bought the most fantastic
Couquelles St. Jacques in their shells, spotted some locals buying them
and asking for them to be prepared and collecting them later, so we asked
for an 'encore',collected them later in the afternoon. Malcolm seared them
in butter and lime juice, they were absolutely delicious!! actually he has been
doing quite a lot of our meals lately, think he got the message when I said we
should take it in turns with the washing up!! We had a gorgeous roast chicken
dinner on Sunday,a really nice mushroom omelette another night, all accompanied
with my al dente veg!! (ha-ha)

HONFLEUR

Wed. 18th. Oct.

Another lovely day today, just been out and about went down
to the harbour, it's alway's so nice there and then went to look
at the beautiful 4x star hotel ,La Ferme Saint-Simeon which is
situated in the hills at the back of Honfleur and overlooks the
coast. Looks like a Swiss Chalet, all on one level with lovely
terraces, very luxurious and obviously expensive,family run too.

HONFLEUR

Tues. 17th Oct.

Had a quiet day, just out and about town, weather was good in the
afternoon , so enjoyed a bit of sun. Had an email from Tim and Thea
who have spent the weekend in London with Stacey, John and their
beautiful grandaughter Oli (he sent some pictures of them ) which
was lovely, later that night we received an email from Jane Casson
(nee Horsley) who we haven't heard from for ages , she also sent a
picture of her new grandchild, can't believe she's a gran !! Her sister
Diana also e mailed us to say she was off to Jerez for her daughter's
graduation, she is about to become an airline pilot for B.A. must run
in the family,as Diane has worked in the airline industry all her life.
Sally sent us another lovely email from Teneriffe, she still want's us
to spend Xmas with her as she is having all her family for the first time.

HONFLEUR

Mon.16th Oct.

What a cold and misty start this morning, after servicing the
Winnebago we went to the garage on the scooter to see if the
wingmirror had arrived. It came whilst we were there, so he said
he would do it in the afternoon, all is complete now. Had a nice sunny
afternoon so just made the most of it!!

HONFLEUR

Sun.15th Oct.

Had a late breakfast and as the weather went nicer in the afternoon
we walked to the harbour, as usual on a Sunday it was crowded, all the locals
flock in with their Harley Davisons, Hondas etc. all sparkling clean, never seen
so many in one place, there are a few allocated places where they can park, we
sat watching them all having an aperitif here and there, then came back to
prepare a roast chicken dinner. Whilst it was cooking we sent and received a
few text messages, one to my sister Jenny and one to my nephew Darren who
then sent a video clip from his phone to Malcolm's so we took a video inside the
Winnebago and sent one back. Cleaver stuff, by our standards !!

HONFLEUR

Sat. 14th Oct.

Did our weekend shopping and back as limited space on a scooter, I ended
up walking most of the way. Malcolm came back for me but I was almost
there, traffic is bad at the weekend. We then went to have a look around
the weekly market, never seems to be much fish, only one stall plus a few
little stalls on the edge of the harbour selling the tiny black shrimps
(must be missing out somewhere) it's not like Le Touquet!!!
Malcolm found a zip-up cardi he liked and I got a hooded fleece,it
gets really chilly on the scooter out of the sun.
Will be updating E-mails later today.

HONFLEUR

Fri. 13th. Oct.
A nice sunny day, after a really cold night,so we serviced the Winnebago and
set off on the scooter along the coast road to Trouville and Deauville, the view
was quite spectacular as we came down the hill into Trouville, the town nestling
into the hillside and a wonderful view of the coast.Didn't realise the bridge
separated the two, went along the front at Deauville, very upmarket properties
streching for miles facing the coast,some of them four stories high, lots were
closed for the winter. In the centre was a market square (I bought a white shawl)
and bits and pieces,then walked around the harbour which was beautiful, we spotted
some motor homes parked alongside the edge of the harbour and spoke to an
English couple (Colin and Tina Rice) who had been on a Wine Appreciation Tour and are members of the Motor Caravanners Club who kindly gave us some advice and info.
We had some lunch on a terrace outside overlooking the square, then went over to
Trouville, lots of hustle and bustle going on, another nice harbour with a boardwalk
overlooked by a huge Casino,(not as grand as the one in Deauville) took more video's.

HONFLEUR

Thurs.12th Oct.

We set off to Pont-l'Eveque again today but on the way the scooter
spluttered a few times and then came to a halt in the middle of nowhere,
quite a harrowing time as it refused to start for a while, this delayed us
so when we finally arrived there the museum we were visiting was closed
from 12.30-2.00p.m, so we went into the centre of town which was well worth
a visit and settled into a rest. for a spot of lunch. We then went onto the Chateau -
de Betteville, a museum of Prestige Historic Cars, Motorcycles,Carriages and Prams
from 1900-1950 , a collection of over 100, plus an exhibition of 5000 models
of minature cars from all over Europe and America, quite unique and spectacular.
In the Chateau was a collection of approx. 80 figures in traditional costumes
from all over the world, not allowed to use a camera but Malcolm managed to
get a fantastic video!!! Hope to show it one day.!!

HONFLEUR

Wed.11th Oct.

We have had the most exhilarating journey on the scooter to the heart of the Calvados
Region at Pont-l'Eveque.We visited the Chateau of P'ere Magloire(Calvados distillery)
for a guided tour and tasting (all spoken in french) but the video had English subtitles
something new introduced a few days ago, we were told,so we were lucky and able to
understand what was going on.Saw the orchards on the way, it takes 30 years to
produce the Calvados X.O. 15 x years for the trees to produce the mature apples
and 15 x years for the Calvados to mature.Had a tasting of the X.O. very good!!
Should have gone on to a Historic Car Museum but the weather was changing,
went very black, so raced back to camp and arrived just in time before the heavens
opened, now having a thunderstorm.

HONFLEUR

Tues.10th Oct.

Received e-mails from Ann/Mano (Spain), Tim .Joyce,and Scott which
we replied to, also one from Dudleys, Oxford.
Today we met another couple Stuart and Ann with her mother Monica,
they were on their way back to Calais, owners of a Trall Aire American
Motor Home towing a small Honda. They gave us a few tips about other
sites in Normandy, as we plan to carry on down the coast past Caen in
the next week or two. Would like to visit a few places here first such as
Trouville / Deauville and Pont-L- Eveque a Calvados Chateau also
famous for it's cheese, (trips on the scooter).
Another beautiful afternoon almost over, time to prepare supper.
Watch this space as we are attempting to post pictures from our camera.

HONFLEUR

Mon. 9th Oct.

On site this morning, had to catch up on replies to e-mails
and some computer work. Weather not so good early on this
morning but went nicer, the afternoon was lovely but had to
go to the launderette first, had such a social time last week !!
Then sat out in the sun , shame the nights are dark so early.

HONFLEUR

Sun. 8th.Oct.

Walked into town for lunch to a restaurant called Le Lut'etia,we had spotted
it during the week, they do a choice 3xcourse menu for €12 and the food is
beautiful. It was so busy , must have done 200 covers ,constantly relaying
tables,managed to get one in the heated terrace part, after 12.30 it's hopeless
to get a table in any of the decent places.Harbour was crowded , never seen
so many huge motorcycles there are certain spots where they can park.Later in
the afternoon had a long chat with an English couple, next door to us, Pat and Paul
Chappelow from Yorkshire, passed on some good info.re.Aires sites, joined us for
a gin and tonic in the Winnebago.Later in the evening happened to see Bryn Terfel
in the Faenol Festival, Bangor (BBC 2) and one of his guests Roland Villazon was on
being interviewed at the New Quay Hotel,Deganwy,and we happened to be there
on a table next to them whilst the S4c did the interview. He is a new Tenor from
Mexico, what a performer, handsome too!

HONFLEUR

Sat 7th Oct

Market day today, the stalls were all around the harbour and up the side streets,
we couldn't find the fresh produce at first but eventually found it up by the church.
We bought a chicken from the rotisserie and when we got back to our horror they had
enclosed the head !! As usual we came back laiden with fresh wares.
Went for a spin later in the afternoon, (such a beautiful day) the harbour was very
busy,all the cafe's full and artists scattered all around the edge, what a delightful
scene it is. The market is normally finished by 1p.m. Not a trace of it,wouldn,t
know it had been there a few hours before.
After a drive we walked around the town, did some filming, then sat and had a
crepe and coffee on the harbour. Dinner at home this evening with a Malcolms
Special ( Stir fry with lamb) . We have a lovely view from our window, (overlooks
the quay) beautiful at night when all the lights are on in the harbour so will
enjoy a cocktail or two and toast to all our friends .

HONFLEUR

Fri. 6th, Oct.

This was our maintenence day,have to do the honours every 3/4 days,
i.e. water, waste etc. and any other little jobs, after this went into our
friends mobile and had a film show of the various things we've been
doing, Eddie had also been taking a video of Malcolm performing i.e.
carving the lamb and serving dinner the previous night. He also put our
films on from our new camcorder and camera, the video is exceptionally
good, its a shame we can't produce some pictures on the website.
We then had a spot of lunch in a Routiers Truckers Cafe ,(a place Eddy
had spotted whilst out cycling). It only cost 9 euros for a four course
lunch and it was really good,Wine was 1 euro litre bottle, wouldn't have
thought to go in but he had called in there before. It was then time to say
goodbye after a marvelous week with them. Will really miss them.

HONFLEUR

Thurs.5th.Oct.

Paid a visit to the good supermarket we found yesterday to stock up ,as we are
entertaining Eddy and Ge. tonight in the Winnebago , have promised them a leg
of lamb English style . Went to a butcher and he cut into a whole lamb and trimmed
the leg for us. Then we had a tour around on the scooter,further up the coast and around
streets in town we haven't seen . A huge river cruise ship has docked in the harbour,
similar to the Nile boats (must be 150 meters long, maybe more) here for a few days
then onto Paris, looks very stylish.
Dinner was a huge success that evening ,our Belgiun friends said they haven't tasted
lamb like it, served it with roast potatoes ( which they don't have ) leeks with cheese sauce
and green beans and of course gravy !! Followed by selection of cheese, then strawberries
and ice cream. Quite a production in a mobile home!!,but this was their last night with us.

HONFLEUR

Wed.4th. Oct.

The local garage recommended somewhere in Pont-L-' Eveque (heart of the Calvados
Region) to fix the wing mirror so Eddy and Malcolm went off in their mobile home
and I went to the town/shops with Ge-Ge, then stopped in a cafe for a crepe and
coffee in the harbour, nice relaxing few hours. Then met up with the men who had
had success with a temp. mirror, also assembled the b.b.q and obtained gas etc.so
we are now set up. Had a beautiful dinner in restaurant Bistro du Port, on the front.
Hadn't booked anywhere but were very impressed with both the food and surroundings.

HONFLEUR

Tues.3rd.Oct.

We are on a campsite overlooking the port of Honfleur. It is the most beautiful
sight I have seen , so many cobbled streets with wonderful art gallerys everywhere,
Cafe's,Restaurants galore all with lights and awnings and many old buildings. We have
walked around all day, visited the church of Saint Catherine which was wonderful and
the new bridge (Le Pont de Normandie)

LE TOUQUET

Mon. 2nd. Oct.
Left Le Touquet for Honfleur ( 145 miles) Stopped at St.Valery Sur Somme to look at
the Aires site but couldn't get through to the site. Would have stayed it looked so nice
a lovely harbour and nice town.Decided to carry on to Honfleur instead of stopping at
Le Treport, our friends thought we would have the same trouble.Had a mishap just on
the road to Dieppe, we were in a single line traffic (road works) and a lorry whizzed by
and took the wing mirror off on the passenger side, scratched the paint a little on the side.
Came over two spectacular bridges at Le Havre and across the Seine. Arrived at Honfleur
about 7 p.m. and as we were hooking up someone came across to show us a free line (English)
couple Mike and Annie Van Kleep he supplied us with online c.d./re. Aires services, very kind
and helpful , another couple came over , turned out to be Margaret and Peter from Scotland
(we met them at the site in Le Touquet)they have a caravan park in Midlothian.

LE TOUQUET

SUN.1st Oct.

We have been here four weeks now and tomorrow we start to move down
the coast heading towards Honfleure with our friends from Ostend Eddy and Ge,
we all went into Estaples to have a look at the fairground which they were setting up
last Wed. Plenty of things for children but nothing for us so we had an aperitif and
Eddy had his oysters. Then we went for our last spin around Le Touquet and down
along the front, so many people here at the weekends.
Tonight we are all having supper in the Winnebago .
Au revoir Le Touquet.

LE TOUQUET

Sat.30th.Sept.

Went to the big Supermarket after depositing washing in the Laundrette in the
morning. Eddy and Ge's friends arrived from Brugge in the afternoon with the parcel,
as it was such a lovely day we gathered outside for the rest of the afternoon and all went
down to the Casino for dinner at 7.30 because Maurice and Christiana had to drive back
that night.

LE TOUQUET

Fri. 29th.Sept.

Had an appointment at the hairdressers in town to have highlights etc. done.
I was really impressed with the result, the highlights were done with a very
fine comb ( no cap!!) and it's quite short, sorry I can't show you.
Graham and Sharon left for home this morning ,said they will follow us and have
asked us to stay with them next year when we return for the M.O.T.etc. if we don't
see them before.
Had a big surprise later in the day , Eddy and Ge Ge arrived early, they should have
come on Sat. We had arranged for a package to be delivered to them from 'Dudley's
Oxford but it hadn't arrived when they left. That evening his son phoned to say it came
just after they left, so they phoned some friends and arranged for them to bring it on
Sat. What good people they are .Nothing is too much trouble.

LE TOUQUET

Thurs.28th Sept.

Went to Market Day with Graham and Sharon, not many stalls there today, so had a
little lunch in 'Jeans brasserie and took some pictures around the town with the
cam-corder, they have a magnificent town hall with a beautiful chuch next to it
(not able to post pictures to the web site at the moment until we can use the larger
laptop).Had a little social evening in the Winnebago with Graham and Sharon and
he helped us with some further info. on the computer.
Also had a long conversation with another English couple Tony and Kay Turner who
spend 6 months of the year in America . They have a motor home in storage in Arizona,
they have been travelling for ten years( intended to do it for three!!)
Gave us info. re. gas bottles and warning equipment.

LE TOUQUET

Wed.27th Sept.

Campsite is very quiet this week so we are lucky having Graham and Sharon next
to us. Had a phone call from Nathan / Wynn ( HSBC) re. some buisness but it was
nice to hear a friendly voice from home. We have met some really interesting people,
and heard some fantastic tales, just taking everything in for when we start our travels.
Went to dinner to Poissioniere Restaurant in Etaples (a famous fish restaurant on the
front) went by taxi so the men could enjoy a drink or two ,plus we could go out minus
our crash hats!! Had a delightful meal, and came home feeling no pain.!!