Thurs 23rd Nov
Still no package of parts has arrived,so we are going to ring Dudleys after the
post in the morning and arrange to have another pack sent by courier asap.
In the evening we went out to dinner with Martin and Patti to the restaurant
in Lucon which Ms Painot had recommended "L'Ardoise Gourmande".which
was another memorable night with fine food and great company finished off
with the local liqueur! We also had a nice phone call from Eddy and GeGe in
Ostend
Friday, November 24, 2006
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
LUCON
Wed 22nd Nov
A quiet day for us today,with a visit to the laundry as the highlight! The garage was
busy with breakdowns and some bad car crash collections.The package with the spare
parts has still not arrived so a call to Oxford was called for to check posting date. We
discoverd today at our morning chat with Ms Painot that Maud is his daughter which
we had not realized.At the tourism office in Lucon we made some enquiries about a
ferry that we could use from Royan to Le Verdon,below La Rochelle to cross into the
Medoc region of Bordeaux on the left bank of the Gironde! Watch this space.
A quiet day for us today,with a visit to the laundry as the highlight! The garage was
busy with breakdowns and some bad car crash collections.The package with the spare
parts has still not arrived so a call to Oxford was called for to check posting date. We
discoverd today at our morning chat with Ms Painot that Maud is his daughter which
we had not realized.At the tourism office in Lucon we made some enquiries about a
ferry that we could use from Royan to Le Verdon,below La Rochelle to cross into the
Medoc region of Bordeaux on the left bank of the Gironde! Watch this space.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
LUCON
Tues 21stNov
Just a quiet day today, had an appointment at the hairdressers at 10am
in town, one which Madame Painot recommended and booked for me to
have a cut and highlights done, then a bit of shopping. Martin and Patti Hone
called in this afternoon to ask us out for dinner on Thurs. eve to a restaurant
which Joel Painot recommended to us, would like to take them as they have
been so kind to us but not sure if thay will happen yet.
Our package has not arrived yet so not sure when we will depart.
Maud the receptionist here has just been over with her 20 month old
little boy, nice friendly gesture, considering the language barrier.
Had a nice friendly e mail from our ex chef Amy today (first we have heard
from at the hotel.)
Just a quiet day today, had an appointment at the hairdressers at 10am
in town, one which Madame Painot recommended and booked for me to
have a cut and highlights done, then a bit of shopping. Martin and Patti Hone
called in this afternoon to ask us out for dinner on Thurs. eve to a restaurant
which Joel Painot recommended to us, would like to take them as they have
been so kind to us but not sure if thay will happen yet.
Our package has not arrived yet so not sure when we will depart.
Maud the receptionist here has just been over with her 20 month old
little boy, nice friendly gesture, considering the language barrier.
Had a nice friendly e mail from our ex chef Amy today (first we have heard
from at the hotel.)
Monday, November 20, 2006
LUCON( In the rain )
Mon 20th Nov
Just another day in Lucon,wet,wet,wet!
Then in the afternoon as we were filling the water tank a gentleman
in a long black coat and a large brown hat approached us and spoke
English !! The first we have heard in 6/7 weeks!! It turned out that
the couple who have a house outside Lucon also have a Winnebago
just like ours back in Birmingham.Martin and Patti Hone then joined
us for a cup of tea and a chat.Well 2hrs later we arranged to meet for
dinner later in the week.They are the "Events Kings" ,which is their
business in the UK.Martin has also has a great history,both past and
present in motorsport especially in racing Porch and of arranging
rally's all over Europe.
Just another day in Lucon,wet,wet,wet!
Then in the afternoon as we were filling the water tank a gentleman
in a long black coat and a large brown hat approached us and spoke
English !! The first we have heard in 6/7 weeks!! It turned out that
the couple who have a house outside Lucon also have a Winnebago
just like ours back in Birmingham.Martin and Patti Hone then joined
us for a cup of tea and a chat.Well 2hrs later we arranged to meet for
dinner later in the week.They are the "Events Kings" ,which is their
business in the UK.Martin has also has a great history,both past and
present in motorsport especially in racing Porch and of arranging
rally's all over Europe.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
LUCON
Sun 19th Nov
Ms Painot gave us the use of a car for the day,which started grey but at lunchtime
turned to a blue sky so we went for a drive to the coast.First we drove to Pointe
de L" Aiguillon which is a headland jutting out into the Atlantic,then we went to
Pointe d" Arcay on the other side where the Atlantic breakers where crashing on
to the beach at high tide.On the way back we stopped at La Faute sur Mer for a
aperitif on the sea front by the casino in the afternoon sunshine !
Ms Painot gave us the use of a car for the day,which started grey but at lunchtime
turned to a blue sky so we went for a drive to the coast.First we drove to Pointe
de L" Aiguillon which is a headland jutting out into the Atlantic,then we went to
Pointe d" Arcay on the other side where the Atlantic breakers where crashing on
to the beach at high tide.On the way back we stopped at La Faute sur Mer for a
aperitif on the sea front by the casino in the afternoon sunshine !
LUCON/JOEL PAINOT
Sat18th Nov
Today we are dedicating our page to Monsieur Joel Painot who is the owner of
the garage where we have been staying for the last three weeks,awaiting the
parts and repairs.The garage is very busy every day with repairs and also a
very efficient 24/7 brakedown service.At night we are locked in the compound
with the guard dog,who has become a great friend of Brenda"s when she has
her cigarette break!! Ms Joel has become a very good friend and helps us at
all times with all sorts of information about places to go,Restaurants,shops,
maps,and also helps with the black and grey "Services Vid" every 4/5 days.
We will miss his friendly chat that we have every day even though we do not
speak French and he does not speak English our understanding has become
better over time!
Today we are dedicating our page to Monsieur Joel Painot who is the owner of
the garage where we have been staying for the last three weeks,awaiting the
parts and repairs.The garage is very busy every day with repairs and also a
very efficient 24/7 brakedown service.At night we are locked in the compound
with the guard dog,who has become a great friend of Brenda"s when she has
her cigarette break!! Ms Joel has become a very good friend and helps us at
all times with all sorts of information about places to go,Restaurants,shops,
maps,and also helps with the black and grey "Services Vid" every 4/5 days.
We will miss his friendly chat that we have every day even though we do not
speak French and he does not speak English our understanding has become
better over time!
Friday, November 17, 2006
LUCON/ LA ROCHELLE/LES SABLES D"OLONNE
Wed 8th/Fri 17th Nov !
We have been off line for the past 10 days due to a problem with the
O2 data card so sorry for the delay in replying to our e mails, we will reply asap.
however last Tues. we were given a hire car from RAC breakdown for 2 days
so we drove to La Rochelle, loved it so much we returned on Wed. stayed at a
hotel Saint Jean-D'Acre,a room with a terrace overlooking the two towers, had
a day strolling around the quay, a very historic city with hundreds of shops, in the
evening had dinner at les 4 sergents (a beautiful glass roof ) and lots of plants/trees.
Thurs we found the Markets, the fish hall was enourmous, it would blow your mind!!
had to return the car that afternoon, then we discovered we had gone offline, also run
out of gas, so no cooking and no heating and not mobile so it was down to basics with a
thud!! Fri. Malcolms English phone ran out whilst speaking to O2 in England and we can't
top it up so a new phone is req.
Sat. afternoon Ms. Painot (Proprietor of the garage)lent us a courtesy car for the weekend,
we drove to the coast to L'Aiguillon Sur-Mer and on Sunday drove to Les Sables d'olonne
which was fantastic, the longest beach in Europe ( 7 km) on the edge of the Atlantic, it's
amazing coastline,hundreds strolling along the promenade, cafes and brasseries, surfers,
had a nice lunch on the front and a lovely afternoon.
Spent Mon/Tues here in Lucon running about and Wed. Mike arrived from Dudleys,
Oxford with the injection pump for the engine which is an 8 hour job but he did it in 6,
he also came with the new windscreen but that was fitted by Ms. Painot, that wasen't
done until today because of bad weather, we now have gas so are almost back to normal,
just waiting on a few assessories coming by post, hopefully in the next few days.
We have been off line for the past 10 days due to a problem with the
O2 data card so sorry for the delay in replying to our e mails, we will reply asap.
however last Tues. we were given a hire car from RAC breakdown for 2 days
so we drove to La Rochelle, loved it so much we returned on Wed. stayed at a
hotel Saint Jean-D'Acre,a room with a terrace overlooking the two towers, had
a day strolling around the quay, a very historic city with hundreds of shops, in the
evening had dinner at les 4 sergents (a beautiful glass roof ) and lots of plants/trees.
Thurs we found the Markets, the fish hall was enourmous, it would blow your mind!!
had to return the car that afternoon, then we discovered we had gone offline, also run
out of gas, so no cooking and no heating and not mobile so it was down to basics with a
thud!! Fri. Malcolms English phone ran out whilst speaking to O2 in England and we can't
top it up so a new phone is req.
Sat. afternoon Ms. Painot (Proprietor of the garage)lent us a courtesy car for the weekend,
we drove to the coast to L'Aiguillon Sur-Mer and on Sunday drove to Les Sables d'olonne
which was fantastic, the longest beach in Europe ( 7 km) on the edge of the Atlantic, it's
amazing coastline,hundreds strolling along the promenade, cafes and brasseries, surfers,
had a nice lunch on the front and a lovely afternoon.
Spent Mon/Tues here in Lucon running about and Wed. Mike arrived from Dudleys,
Oxford with the injection pump for the engine which is an 8 hour job but he did it in 6,
he also came with the new windscreen but that was fitted by Ms. Painot, that wasen't
done until today because of bad weather, we now have gas so are almost back to normal,
just waiting on a few assessories coming by post, hopefully in the next few days.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
LUCON
Tues 7th Nov
Today should have been the repair day but as previously reported that will be some
time next week.The RAC contacted us this morning and offerd us a hire car for 2 days,
which we picked up in the afternoon and set off for La Rochelle.We found our way to
the old port and town and booked a hotel,Hotel Saint Jean D'Acre for tomorrow night.
We managed to get a large room with a balcony overlooking the two towers at the
entrance to the port.Watch out for our report on La Rochelle !
Today should have been the repair day but as previously reported that will be some
time next week.The RAC contacted us this morning and offerd us a hire car for 2 days,
which we picked up in the afternoon and set off for La Rochelle.We found our way to
the old port and town and booked a hotel,Hotel Saint Jean D'Acre for tomorrow night.
We managed to get a large room with a balcony overlooking the two towers at the
entrance to the port.Watch out for our report on La Rochelle !
Monday, November 06, 2006
LUCON
Mon 6th Nov
Another sunny crisp day in Lucon,started as normal with us out on the scooter to
the laundry and housekeeping jobs on the Winnebago.We had noticed a small crack
at the top of the drivers side windscreen over the weekend but on our return this
morning it had developed into a double spider crack of 13ins !! We rang Dudleys in
Oxford and our insurers asap.The outcome was after 4hrs of phone calls between
France and England a new windscreen has been ordered from the USA ( Not in stock )
The engineer from Oxford who was just about to set off via Plymouth/St Malo with
the new engine parts is now coming over next week when the new windscreen arrives
and will bring everything with him ! Our one bit of luck is that our garage is also a
specialist in fitting Bonded windscreens,so we are hear for another 8/10 days.
Another sunny crisp day in Lucon,started as normal with us out on the scooter to
the laundry and housekeeping jobs on the Winnebago.We had noticed a small crack
at the top of the drivers side windscreen over the weekend but on our return this
morning it had developed into a double spider crack of 13ins !! We rang Dudleys in
Oxford and our insurers asap.The outcome was after 4hrs of phone calls between
France and England a new windscreen has been ordered from the USA ( Not in stock )
The engineer from Oxford who was just about to set off via Plymouth/St Malo with
the new engine parts is now coming over next week when the new windscreen arrives
and will bring everything with him ! Our one bit of luck is that our garage is also a
specialist in fitting Bonded windscreens,so we are hear for another 8/10 days.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
LUCON
Sun 5th Nov
We have been to the coast today to La Tranche Sur Mer, on the
tip of the Atlantic , it seemed like a journey to the end of the world
as we travelled on this long straight road , a distance of 55k.m
each way, a long way on a scooter!! It's a wonderful coastline, stretches
of sand for miles and today the sun shone and the sky was blue,
but it was so cold. We had lunch in a terraced restaurant overlooking
the beach, we were early so managed to get a window table, it was
fantastic, all French families we definately chose the best place.
We have been to the coast today to La Tranche Sur Mer, on the
tip of the Atlantic , it seemed like a journey to the end of the world
as we travelled on this long straight road , a distance of 55k.m
each way, a long way on a scooter!! It's a wonderful coastline, stretches
of sand for miles and today the sun shone and the sky was blue,
but it was so cold. We had lunch in a terraced restaurant overlooking
the beach, we were early so managed to get a window table, it was
fantastic, all French families we definately chose the best place.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
LUCON
Sat 4th Nov
Went into the centre of Lucan today and had a tour round
on the scooter, considering it is not so big it has an amazing
cathedral dating back to the 11th centuary right in the centre,
(watch for the picture) We just missed the outside market in the
square opposite but managed to find the indoor hall with all the fresh
produce just starting to close down.
Went into the centre of Lucan today and had a tour round
on the scooter, considering it is not so big it has an amazing
cathedral dating back to the 11th centuary right in the centre,
(watch for the picture) We just missed the outside market in the
square opposite but managed to find the indoor hall with all the fresh
produce just starting to close down.
Friday, November 03, 2006
LUCON
Fri 3rd Nov
The garage proprietor Monsieur Joel Painot gave the Winnebago the full works this
morning and confirmed to the RAC that it is the Injection Pump Controller that is the
problem.They have confirmed that they will fly out a engineer from Oxford on Mon/
Tues with the specialist parts supplied bye Winnebago ! We hope to hit the road on
Wednesday. We then went shopping round the corner at the local Hypermarket to
stock for the weekend.Tomorrow we are planning a trip out on the scooter down to
the coast at La Tranche Sur Mer.We will have to wrap up as it is very cold but sunny.
Watch out for the next picture !
The garage proprietor Monsieur Joel Painot gave the Winnebago the full works this
morning and confirmed to the RAC that it is the Injection Pump Controller that is the
problem.They have confirmed that they will fly out a engineer from Oxford on Mon/
Tues with the specialist parts supplied bye Winnebago ! We hope to hit the road on
Wednesday. We then went shopping round the corner at the local Hypermarket to
stock for the weekend.Tomorrow we are planning a trip out on the scooter down to
the coast at La Tranche Sur Mer.We will have to wrap up as it is very cold but sunny.
Watch out for the next picture !
Thursday, November 02, 2006
LUCON
Thurs 2nd Nov.
First thing this morning Madame Josiane took us on a visit around the
cellars,from the grape collecting machines, the various stages of production/
chilling etc. and on to a tasting from the oak barrels of 2006, rather special!!
We also tasted (with the local "Cherval" butcher) a personal friend and what a
character, some local caught and marinated Nantais, tiny little fish along with the
Muscadet.We finished with a very potent "Rose au de Vie.
We then received a call from the R.A.C. saying they would move us to a special
garage in Lucon near La Rochelle 80km away to check the fault and hopefully
fix the problem. This is in the direction we were heading for to get to Spain,
so we were towed by another two wheeler on a gripping 90km per hour and are
now locked up in the garage forecourt with the guard dog awaiting tomorrow's saga.
First thing this morning Madame Josiane took us on a visit around the
cellars,from the grape collecting machines, the various stages of production/
chilling etc. and on to a tasting from the oak barrels of 2006, rather special!!
We also tasted (with the local "Cherval" butcher) a personal friend and what a
character, some local caught and marinated Nantais, tiny little fish along with the
Muscadet.We finished with a very potent "Rose au de Vie.
We then received a call from the R.A.C. saying they would move us to a special
garage in Lucon near La Rochelle 80km away to check the fault and hopefully
fix the problem. This is in the direction we were heading for to get to Spain,
so we were towed by another two wheeler on a gripping 90km per hour and are
now locked up in the garage forecourt with the guard dog awaiting tomorrow's saga.
MAISDON SUR SEVRE
Wed 1st Nov
Left Mont St. Michel at 8.30 a.m. heading for La Rochelle, but the
engine started to cut out just before Nantes and again as we got through
Nantes, then it got worse and eventually broke down in Montaigu, managed
to pull in to an Esso service station but it was a French Bank Holiday and
everywhere was closed, it was then 2.30p.m. phoned R.A.C. breakdown and
after a phonecall to England and some help from a friend managed to get through
to Lyon and a very helpful Natalie who spoke English , had someone with us by 4p.m.
We were then towed by a two wheeler to an "Aires" camp in Maison Sur Sevre 25 km.
Arrived at 6pm and were greated by Josiane and Joseph Batard proprietors of
Domaine des Croix, Muscadet Sur Lie,tremendous hospitality and given a wine tasting
in their cellars,we were the only motorhome surrounded by vineyards in the heart of
Muscadet,"Heaven".
Left Mont St. Michel at 8.30 a.m. heading for La Rochelle, but the
engine started to cut out just before Nantes and again as we got through
Nantes, then it got worse and eventually broke down in Montaigu, managed
to pull in to an Esso service station but it was a French Bank Holiday and
everywhere was closed, it was then 2.30p.m. phoned R.A.C. breakdown and
after a phonecall to England and some help from a friend managed to get through
to Lyon and a very helpful Natalie who spoke English , had someone with us by 4p.m.
We were then towed by a two wheeler to an "Aires" camp in Maison Sur Sevre 25 km.
Arrived at 6pm and were greated by Josiane and Joseph Batard proprietors of
Domaine des Croix, Muscadet Sur Lie,tremendous hospitality and given a wine tasting
in their cellars,we were the only motorhome surrounded by vineyards in the heart of
Muscadet,"Heaven".
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
MONT ST MICHEL
Tues 31st Oct
A quiet day planning our next move past Rennes,and Nantes towards
La Rochelle then from Bordeaux to Biarrtz ! Little did we know what
was to follow !! Please refer to Wedesday's Blog !
A quiet day planning our next move past Rennes,and Nantes towards
La Rochelle then from Bordeaux to Biarrtz ! Little did we know what
was to follow !! Please refer to Wedesday's Blog !
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