A Travellerspoint blog

By this Author: InvictaMoto

Awaycation Autumn 2024 - Day 17

The last day of this year's holiday.

The CCP aire at Cayeux sur Mer was really quiet overnight. Even the usual moped with loud expansion chamber was missing from the evening sounds.

Man it was cold. Much colder than Lyons the night before. Then again according to the dash board temp gauge around 14 °C in the day barely matched the Alcossebre overnight temps!

So this morning we were up. Used the drains of both grey and clean water tanks. And the cassette. After that the red 🔴 light stayed on, even with the minimum water in it so swirl the blue Thetford "tea bag" in. Bit of fiddling and gave up for the time being.

It went out on its own! We had a similar problem earlier in the week with the grey water showing the red light after emptying. That also fixed itself!

Max took us to the A16. It's the only toll section I don't mind paying for. I can't stand the 80kph run from Abbeville to Boulogne. It's boring!!

Max also gave us an ETA of 12.47pm. Officially we were supposed to be checking in at P&O 90 minutes before so plenty of time. Rather than a lunch stop on the way we went straight to the port. Checking in at 12.50pm. Straight through French passports. Only 2 windows open. One car on front, two minutes at most.

Then off to UK Border. Two lanes open. A dozen cars in each queue. A third window opened. Cars from the other queues switched. From there fourteen minutes to get through. At least the guy was friendly and chatted as the checks were done.

We got in lane 1104. Barely time to undo seatbelts and we were loading.

The 13.35pm sailing was delayed. It turned out there was a problem when unloading with a truck clipping the side of the off ramp.

We got loaded straight away. Once on Liberté we went to the pet lounge. Today six people and four dogs...

Sailing was 2pm.

A smooth crossing and we were inside the harbour at Dover and off the ship at before 3pm.

Some traffic on the hill after Western Docks with a broken down lorry being recovered from the left lane and then home.

On the drive by 3.20pm.

Before we set off I reset Trip B on the dash. Once parked on the drive I took a photo.

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So just a fraction below 2275 miles for this trip.

Now to unload the van!!!

Posted by InvictaMoto 16:10 Archived in France Comments (0)

Awaycation Autumn 2024 - Day 16

Only a short run today from Lyons la Forêt to the coast.

With Max set to no tolls we seemed to be off on a magical mystery tour. I had imagined we would head north and bump into the A28. We didn't see it. We had to have crossed over it...

The journey took us to Eu and Le Tréport. I did think of stopping there but we wanted to get to Cayeux for lunch and a walk along to the beach huts.

Checking the app showed the CCP aire to have 5 of 18 free. I had booked before we set off from home as we saw that consecutive days showed it full.

We arrived about 1.30pm. The site had plenty of free spaces. We backed in and didn't need levellers this time.

From the Google reviews the site has been there since 2022. I have seen it "pending" on the CCP app for a while. This is a popular area for us.

When day trips were cheap we came to St Valery a few times on the bike, and we have been locally to a campsite in the Moho.

Way back we even had a Suzuki Owners Club weekend away in St Val.

The aire gives an impression that it's not finished. The roadway in and around the barrier and machines looks very new and black tarmac. The vans are grouped around the sides. The centre is kerbed with lights but unfinished and the lights aren't working.

It has the usual 6amp ehu and a full service area.

After lunch we went into the town. The beach is maybe 200m away. The town maybe another 200m to where there are bars and restaurants.

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The beach huts.... Not one to be seen. Some of the boardwalk was missing in places and like the beach at home it's shingle. Or rather larger sized stones than Hythe!

We went into a bar near a children's carousel for a drink. Coffee for me, menthe a l'eau for Claire. The lady told us they remove the beach huts at the end of September each year. Unlike in Kent then!

We wandered back. Spanish frozen lasagne tonight.

It was really cold at night. As we have moved up from Spain, the day temperature in France is about the same as Alcossebre's overnight!!

Tomorrow. Home.

Posted by InvictaMoto 12:49 Archived in France Comments (0)

Awaycation Autumn 2024 - Day 15

The weather had looked up by the time I got back from having a look at the river. The satnav was set once again to no tolls with Lyons la Forêt as the destination.

I had expected us to go via Chenonceaux and Amboise. Max had other ideas and he headed towards Tours again. Onto the department version of the N10 signed Chartres.

It seems that someone in France is making a few bob from selling speed cameras. With most departments keeping the 80k limits the proliferation of cameras certainly seems to have multiplied greatly.

It's frustrating at times avoiding the toll motorways but we stuck to it.

A lunch stop in a nice picnic spot after a stop for fresh bread near Chateau Renault.

As well as cameras it seems the French have discovered the traffic holdups aka roundabouts. Using indicators might help traffic move!!! Dreux and Evreux seeming the worst of the day.

We eventually arrived at the CCP aire in Lyons at around 4.30pm. The aire is very busy and so on the way I booked a space using credit on my CCP card. The aire is supposed to have ten spaces. Overnight there were nine vans... And two empty spaces!

We have been to Lyons before (twice) and so didn't need to slog up to the town. Part of the road from the football pitch, next to the campsite and aire, has no footpath, and we didn't want to drag the dog along there.

The aire backs onto the campsite and the vans all park alongside each other facing the stream that runs by. Spaces delimited by what looks like halves sections of telegraph poles. It's nice a quiet for the most part.

Of course, there's always one moped in every town in France with the shitty loud exhaust... Lyons no exception.

A quiet night was had. Phone signal terrible. WiFi poor. So no chance to watch the Champions League on Amazon Prime.

Tomorrow? A shortish run up to the coast the Cayeux sur Mer and another CCP aire.

Posted by InvictaMoto 17:27 Comments (0)

Awaycation Autumn 2024 - Day 15 AM

The yellow 🟡 warning of flooding in the area was once again off target. We'd had similar reports of both yellow and orange warnings in Spain and (luckily) they hadn't happened.

Once we were up I took the Nikon for a walk to see that the overnight in Bléré had produced. Amazingly the Cher was a little higher.

The path we walked on last evening was inundated and the other section by the skateboard park was under about six inches of brown muddy water.

The children's activity area and playground were a little deeper in water. Although the zip line might be more fun.... 🫠

The river itself was surging along at a terrific pace.

Yesterday the no bathing sign was about 6 inches above the water level. Today it was part submerged.

We were no worse off in the CCP aire though.

On the road at around 10.15am. Destination CCP aire at Lyons la Forêt.

Posted by InvictaMoto 19:53 Comments (0)

Days 12 to 14

A big journal entry this time due to crap phone signals and crap WiFi.

  • Saturday*

The longest day on the road for a while. We were away from Playa Romana at a fraction after 10am.

The destination was to be one of two free aires in Pamplona. Neither of them offering services other than water in and out.

Progress was pretty good. Up AP7 to Vinaros and N232 pretty much all the way to Pamplona via Morella, Alcañiz and Zaragoza.

We both love Morella and it was my base with my brother for the MotoGP weekend at Motorland Aragón in '22.

No stop this time until Alcañiz and fuel at the Alcampo supermarket at €1.249. With their version of "clubcard" there was 3¢ off a litre.

Then away. Another stop before Pamplona as the automated station was offering €1.209 a litre. Shame not to benefit.

We had a break and decided to carry on as it wasn't too late. We had a choice of the marina aire at Hendaye, or a CCP aire at Biarritz. I chose Milady and used a bit of credit to book.

As we headed towards the border, Claire kept an eye on the app. Slowly it counted down to three free pitches.

We didn't arrive until about 6.30pm. To be honest it's one of the shabbiest CCP aires I have been to. The pitches are badly marked out. "Camping" going on to make access to what might be pitches difficult.

In the end we went on pitch 1. The nearest bollard was full as someone had broken the back off and two of the sockets were missing. Not recently from the crap inside.

I found a white electric cabinet at the back of my pitch with the door forced open. Inside loads of fuses and connectors, plus two two-pin sockets. I used one of them.

All good. By the time we were set up it was dark and a bit late to check out the beach etc.

  • Sunday*

We didn't have to be off the aire until noon and so we didn't hurry. A leisurely breakfast and a walk over to Milady Beach to watch the waves crashing in.

The weather forecast was of a yellow 🟡 warning for wind and floods, with orange 🍊 further east.

Everyone seemed fascinated by the huge waves and the surf shop looked to be doing good business.

We finally drove out at just after 11.30am.

Destination Libourne. Another CCP aire. The non toll route took us on a magical mystery tour via Mont de Marsan and then up. With the 80k limit it was dire. Even with no trucks to block up the roads.

In the end we bit the bullet and got on the A65.

The Libourne CCP is at first strangely sited. You travel through a large industrial estate. It's next to a school and a lake. The pitches lean to one side requiring chocks to both wheels on the same side. For us, the 175 is nose down anyway and we need chocks 8/10 times!

Once setup we had a walk around the lake. Or where we could. Once again there had been floods and one place the path was transformed into a wide and deep ford...

The lake was popular and there had been an event on that day. It was almost over when we arrived. It was quite pleasant in the sun. Not cold either. The Café du Lac was setting up for dinner as we had a coffee.

Another satisfying day. Once the car park nearby emptied it was quiet enough. Across the way there's an Ibis Budget and a Buffalo Grill!

  • Monday*

We had Reggie booked into the vets at Cavignac at 10.30am. We arrived at McDonald's across the road about 25 minutes early. I don't think we'll be back to this vet.

In 2022 it was €8 for his worming and AHC. This time €59! Gulp.

We then found that this McDonald's opens at 10am, but doesn't serves a McMuffin of any kind until 11am. Have they never seen "Falling Down" the movie?

So coffee only it was!

Today's destination was to be on the Loire but the CCP at Veigné was closed in case of flooding. We plugged up the N10. This is a boring two lane dual carriageway for mile upon mile. One stop for lunch near Ruffac and upwards to Poitiers. Progress was slow. Very slow. The A10 came to the rescue towards Tours.

The CCP at Bléré was open. So we went there. Arriving around 4pm. There were 4 of 9 pitches free. The campsite alongside was closed. Whether by choice or weather.

From our pitch we could see the Cher in full flow... Parts of the campsite were flooded. The local park had a kids playground, also under water.

We had a walk to the river to have a look. We weren't the only ones watching as the tide surged past.

The village is quite nice. But even on a Monday everything was closed.

Back to the van. It drizzled a few times...

That night I was expecting a knock in the night to get moving as the inundation spread... Luckily, it did but nothing to worry us.

(Photos to follow)

Posted by InvictaMoto 16:22 Comments (0)

Awaycation Autumn 2024 - Days 11 & 12

Friday didn't see us do much. We stayed locally and started to pack up stuff we wouldn't be needing.

It's amazing how much you take with you.

Saturday is checking out day. We were up and breakfast was long gone before we loaded up the van. On the dot of 10am we handed the keys back and set off.

The route back north was pretty much the same as 2022. We got a little lost off AP7 as we seemed to backtrack on the N340 and then onto the N232.

We did this in 2022. Past the hilltop village of Morella to Alcañiz where we stopped at the Alcampo supermarket for stuff to last over the weekend. Shops aren't open as long on Sundays like at home.

It was the first of three diesel ⛽ fillups at €1.249 a litre.

Further up I stopped again at €1.209!! And lastly at the ridiculous price of €1.529!! That one is still much cheaper France.

The plan was to stop at a free aire in Pamplona. I had mapped two that seemed to have okay reviews. In the end as we were making good progress we decided to keep going to France. Looking at the camping-car park website showed Biarritz had nine free places.

When we arrived at 7pm there was one free. Luckily I had booked it! It's not the best. The electric bollard is broken but there's an electric cupboard wide open with a pair of French two-pin sockets. My adapter fits. We have electric.

By the time we were pitched up it was dark. We are supposed to be near the beach. We don't have to be away until noon, so we have time for a walk to have a look.

Until tomorrow.

Posted by InvictaMoto 19:18 Comments (0)

Awaycation Autumn 2024 -Day 10

After a late night playing "hunt the mozzie" we were up quite late.

Although around 7am I had been to take Reggie for his morning constitutional, and then back to bed.

The plan today. Drive up to Peñiscola and whilst there, check out the beach and the allegedly cheap fuel station.

Although not shown on the weather forecast the morning saw heavy rain coming from the west. It took a while to clear and then dry up. It was followed by hot sunshine.

We decided to have lunch and then go when it was kinder to Reggie. In the end it was around 3.30pm when we set off.

Max the TomTom set for the BenArea fuel station. The phone app had normal diesel B7 at €1.219 a litre.

The drive up the N340 was quite relaxing. The fuel station is on the left side of the road into Peñiscola from the AP7 junction. It was indeed as on the app.

The only confusion was having to guess how many €'s worth of fuel you wanted. Guessing €75 left we wondering what had happened when the tank was full at a few pence over €50. I rounded to €51. Click click. The pump did Adblue as well at €0.389. Why not. €1.35 and the tank was full.

The pump wasn't issuing receipts. So it wasn't until we parked up along the beach up from the Peñiscola sign before I could check my Clarity card on the app. The pending bit showed that both charges were as I hoped. Phew!

Once parked up, and locked up we had a stroll along the tiddely-om-pom-pom prom towards the castle.

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We have been before and with Reggie getting on a bit we didn't go this time. Instead we took photos. We even managed to get one without others clambering over the Peñiscola letters! Miracles do happen.

A coffee and small cake at a panaderia later and we set off back to the van. The wind had got up too.

To exit we went north, round past the Benimar factory. Again, there must have been a 100 completed vans parked in their yard.

And back to the apartment. Calamari in the air fryer tonight for dinner. But first a beer and snacks.

Tomorrow? Start packing the van? Check out is 10am or so on Saturday.

Posted by InvictaMoto 17:49 Archived in Spain Comments (0)

Awaycation Autumn 2024 - Day 6-9

Really not much to say about this period.

Our apartment is on the second floor of one of the blocks that overlooks the pool area.

As before there are very few apartments occupied during the week, but it was quite busy at the weekend.

We have spend most days relaxing. Walking the dog locally. The beaches are supposed to be dog free apart from one about 2kms away. Getting Reggie to walk that far at his age isn't working.

We have been out twice in Molly. Once to Consum supermarket to save us carrying heavy shopping bags.

And today.

We had a short trip to Oropesa de Mar mostly on the N340. We have stayed here before, maybe 15 years ago.

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Back in the early 90's we did the entire N340 from Cadiz to the French border on a motorcycle. I rode my Suzuki Cavalcade LX. Great bike.

We parked up near the beach and had a cortado in a restaurant bar that was open. Dogs okay on the terrace but not inside.

Then Mercadona for essentials and then back to the apartment for lunch and siesta.

We passed a few petrol stations and none as cheap as people are claiming in the various internet sites and forums I regularly visit. Nothing less than €1.359.

I have two fuel apps and there's supposed to be a €1.229 at Peñiscola. We are going up there tomorrow for a visit so it's a drop in to the station to fill up.

After lunch we took Reggie for one of his many comfort break walks. It was too hot to go too far.

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That's about it for now. Pix to be edited in later... DONE!!

Posted by InvictaMoto 12:26 Archived in Spain Comments (0)

Awaycation Autumn 2024 - Day 5

Up and away before 10am. Destination Alcoceber. All the jobs done and luckily the motorhome service area was free.

First stop the Intermarche at Angeles sur Mer. There were quite a few motorhomes and vans in the parking. We took the A9 into Spain.

There's not much to report. A few stops along the way for coffee and lunch.

Eventually arriving at Kione reception around 5.30pm. Checking in was easier than last time. The apartments have been upgraded. Molly is parked outside and locked up. All the security kit and pedal locks etc have been deployed.

Now we can relax.

Posted by InvictaMoto 19:45 Comments (0)

Awaycation Autumn 2024 - Day 4

It was nice to escape from the rain and winds.

The CCP aire at La Cavalerie isn't the quietest in the country, situated as it is alongside the road into the village from the A75. It was noisy with traffic until around 9pm and then it kicked off again around 6am.

The town is also about 780m above sea level. It was nice in the sun, but overnight it must have got down to around 0 °C. When I took Reggie out for a pee at around 6.30am there was just a touch of frost on the grass.

The aire isn't that large and it seemed ideal for A-class vans towing trailers with cars.

One French Rapido had a very dull blue Cinquecento on the trailer. Not the original 500 but the 80's hatchback.

We were away at 9.44am today. Back onto the A75. I had set Max to take us non-toll to Béziers and then onto the N9 to avoid the toll A9.

Possibly as mistake as we caught a wide load trying to navigate through the villages along the route. We were stuck behind it from Nissan-lez-Enserune to Coursan. The bridges over the canal and Aude were probably the worst.

I was surprised to see Nissan twinned with Ampthill in Bedfordshire. I lived nearby for 15 years and this is news to me!

We decided to take a pitstop at the Lidl in Coursan. This proved a success as the wide load had disappeared.... Our one stop strategy out of the window. Still, two stops wasn't too bad.

The second was at Médor et Compagnie in Narbonne. As we followed Max's instructions we didn't even realise we had gone around Narbonne itself.

It is a city we know quite well as we have been here many times before. Even arriving several times on French and Belgian Motorail when on the bike.

At Médor we picked up three kilos of "Easy Barf" raw dog food. This plus the "dogador' already in the freezer should last us until we get home.

Back on the road and on the N9 (under a new name) and heading for Fitou. We stayed here what must have been 18 years ago in a friend's villa.

In the end Max took us on the scenic route to avoid Perpignan along to Leucate and the coastal strip to St Cyprien.

We arrived at the aire about 1.30pm. The machine at the front was designed for someone standing about 4 feet tall. Once through all the details, regno, length of stay etc, it refused my Halifax Clarity card. So we went back to the start. This time with the assistance of a Dutch lady whose husband was emptying their cassette. It worked with my First Direct debit card.

For one day the cost was €11.16 inc local taxes and ehu. That's not going to break the bank.

As I type this up, it's about 9.30pm and it's as quiet as the grave...

We had a walk around the marina and looked at some of the yachts and catamarans. There is some serious wedge here!

When we were here in November 2022 there was not much open. Today in the sunshine with temps around 20 °C, cafes and bars were doing good business.

We stopped for an ice cream 🍨🍨. Not something we do often. A cone yes, but not a glass filled with stuff!!!

Before our microwaved risotto for dinner we had another short walk going the other way from the aire's entrance. More expensive floating palaces!

Hopefully a quiet night and away tomorrow into Spain and the last leg of the journey to Alcoceber.

Photos to follow in an update.

Posted by InvictaMoto 19:51 Comments (0)

Awaycation Autumn 2024 - Day 3

Well that was a night to remember. We avoided the thunder ⛈️ and lightning but didn't escape the high winds and torrential rain. At least Molly stayed watertight. We think.

The alarm was set for 8am again but this morning Reggie was up earlier.

Breakfast done and dusted and all the hookup jobs undone, we used the motorhome service point. Water in. Water out etc.

Almost the same as yesterday we were on the road at 9.46am. Out of the village and onto the N7. A little trickery saw us take the toll A71, DOH! A fuel stop for diesel at €1.609, the cheapest we have seen so far, and the whizzing past Clermont-Ferrand towards Millau. The only toll on this leg should have been the €16 for the Viaduct.

Next stop at the services at Veyre on the A75. Lunch and a walk for Reggie.

We had another stop by the Garabit Viaduct. Photos taken. Coffee bought from machine. Then off again.

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Millau Viaduct. I had planned to go to the aire to walk up to the viewpoint. Of course, plans thwarted as they are working and southbound traffic contraflows onto the northbound carriageway. If I had known then I would have saved the €16 and gone through the town. Annoying!!!

We arrived here at the camping-car park aire at around 1630. Hooked up etc. It's right on the side of the road to and from the A75. A little noisy but we'll see what tonight brings.

We have walked in La Cavalerie and there wasn't much open. They do have a magnificent Templar Hall in the centre.

Reggie stayed in the van with his dinner.

So what next? Dinner we bought earlier and then read again. There's no WiFi here. It was poor last night. At least there's low signal 5G.

Tomorrow? Narbonne for dog food and then St Cyprien.

Posted by InvictaMoto 16:29 Archived in France Comments (0)

Awaycation Autumn 2024 - Day 2

What a night. Not too bad but it rained a few times. Not the biblical downpour that Noah anticipated and BBC Weather said would happen, but still enough to deter even the most ardent Peter Stormer from spending too long out in it.

Today's route as chosen by TomTom was terrible. The N104/A104 is as bad as the M25. Our run from Formerie to the old N1 near Beauvais wasn't too bad. After that. Traffic. 🤬🤬🤬🤬

We managed a stop near Fontainebleau for a quick snack. The rain heavy at times. The overheads on the motorway advising of heavy rain.

We decided that both Chatillon and Beaulieu sur Loire were not far enough.south to maybe avoid the exhausted hurricane's rain.

So a quick rethink. Max set for the CCP "camping mon village" at Saint Pierre de Moutiers. To speed things up I took off "no tolls" and we ended up on the A6 and A77.

Another stop for Reggie to pee and us to get a coffee.

Again we arrived around 5pm after a tour of the village. The Aire is a little sloping but the are some hard standing pitches. Two left and the grass completely empty! To level up both levellers are on the left.

No photos today.

Tomorrow? Who knows!

Posted by InvictaMoto 15:41 Comments (0)

Awaycation Autumn 2024 - Day 1

With the ferry at 0945 we decided that with 14 miles to drive to Dover, we would get up at 0645.

My planned leaving time was 0745. We eventually packed the last stuff in the moho and set off at 0743!

It was pretty easy going and the rat trap maze through the works was navigable. At French passports there were only two cars ahead of us and we were quickly through. As we travel on British passports we checked the dates on the stamps... 😉

Boarding Liberté meant going up to deck 7 behind another moho. It seems this isn't the usual RoRo boat.

The pet lounge on deck 9 is easy enough to locate. Today there are 7 humans and 4 dogs.

And away we go. The captain said sea conditions are moderate to rough. As we exited through the harbour wall into the channel we started to roll.

Next stop France.

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We actually left at 0935 as everyone was onboard. The crossing wasn't that bad and we were in sight of Calais when we had to slow as the berth we were to go on was occupied. It turned out to be P&O Pioneer.

So the time we had in hand evaporated.

We were off relatively quickly. In the almost 50 years of travelling through Calais, this is the cleanest air has ever been.

Our first stop is the Picard at Coquelles to collect three kilos of "dogador" for Reggie. There are many Picard stores across France, but few seem to stock it. It's 100% "volatile" so it needs some veggies added to it.

On the way we past the roundabout that has one of the tunnel borers on it. We have passed this so often but never taken a picture! There's a first time for everything.

Once away from there we aimed for the Intermarche at Abbeville. But not before a lunch stop at the A16 Aire Baie de la Somme. We have stopped here many times. It's changed a bit. Now sporting a Pizza Hut and Starbucks!

The Intermarche and other outlets is on the site of the old sugar factory. All that remains is the chimney. I guess as fashions change, industries come and go.

We bought "essentials" and then set off.

There are no spaces set aside for larger vehicles so we parked away from the store across three bays. It wasn't busy at all. The exit onto the service road alongside the old N1 is also tight and it looks as though larger heavier vehicles has ripped some of the kerb up.

Backtracking a little returned us to the A28, then off via Aumale to Formerie. We arrived just before 1700.

It rained before we got the Taylormade screen cover on. My windscreen sponge/squeegee cleared it.

Dinner was a simple one of cider and toast and pate.

Tomorrow? We head south.

(The photos appear to have disappeared but not from here -

Posted by InvictaMoto 19:41 Archived in France Comments (0)

Awaycation Autumn 2024 - The Way Home?

Anyone that ready the previous post with this title will have seen that the planned route for coming home included the Somport Tunnel. Yes, I know. We haven't gone yet.

But you need to have a rough idea where you are going. Anyway, due to the terrible weather earlier in the late summer into autumn the road leading to the Somport on the French side has been washed away. It looks like a large piece of roadway and the structure underneath that has gone!

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Reports are that it will take six months to fix. Of course, with the onset of winter that will make the job harder and no doubt take longer?

So we will need to plan a different route home. I have been looking at going to the Biscay coast and heading northwards that way. It would mean a bit of toll motorway around Irun to cross into France. It will need more fine tuning as we get nearer the time. Luckily I can use the TomTom planning app on my phone or MS Surface to sync to the Camper Max satnav to change the route as and when we need to.

I have already got the vet at Cavignac booked for 1030am on the 21st October. So two longish days on the road should see us there as we are due to leave Alcoceber on Saturday morning.

Fingers crossed that we get to go on the holiday at all. A few medical problems have arisen over the last four to six weeks that have put things n doubt.

Posted by InvictaMoto 12:32 Archived in France Comments (0)

Awaycation Autumn 2024 - Rough Route South

So after a bit more work with apps and the map book, I have two now, I have a kind of route planned for the journey from the ferry port at Calais to the apartment in Alcoceber.

In total four overnight stops on the way down. The first has been booked for months as it is a small Camping-Car Park Aire (CCP) with only 6 pitches and it does get full quite early. Hence we booked an earlier ferry so that we can arrive in daylight (!) and maybe choose the pitch rather than being the last in and having what's left! That's at Formerie.

For the second overnight I was looking at a place on the Loire at either Bonny or Beaulieu sur Loire. They aren't too far apart but it looks as though all the rain in France has caused flooding and both the sites seem to be closed "temporarily". One is a municipal aire and the one at Beaulieu is a CCP aire.

This meant a rethink. Not that far away and still showing as open is the aire at the marina in Châtillon-sur-Loire. I dropped them an email today to see that everything is okay. The aire looks really nice. The overnight price on the website looks very competitive.

Using the ruler and counting the "squares" on the map on the inside cover of the map book, I have calculated that with a lot of toll-free motorways on the A77/N7/A75 we could cover more ground on day 3. So once again I was looking on Search4sites and the CCP website. I have found what looks like a very nice aire at La Canourgue to the north of Millau and the famous bridge. I've not booked it as it's easy enough to check out the pitch availability on the app when on the way.

I have some credit left on my CCP account as we topped it up in May/June and didn't use it all plus I found an error in my calculations meant I was £38 in credit on the Halifax Clarity card we use in Europe. So I used €40 of that and topped up a bit more onto the CCP card. It makes booking aires in advance easier and also, when tapping in and out it takes it off the card and not off the bank card.

From there we will have an exciting €16 journey over the Viaduc de Millau. It's one of the few tolls we should encounter along the route. Apart from the A16 from Boulogne to Abbeville, and the A9 to get to the Spanish border that is!

The fourth and last stop I am planning is at Saint-Cyprien Plage Marina aire. We stayed there in November 2022 and it was perfect for what we needed for a single overnight. Hopefully it won't be full, but there are alternatives not too far away on the CCP app. One of the reviews gives it low marks because it's "*basically a tarmac parking area*" - that's what aires are unless they are former campsites!

This time next week we should be on our pitch at the Marina at Châtillon-sur-Loire. 😁

Posted by InvictaMoto 17:55 Archived in France Comments (0)

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