The French Adventure

[Nightwatch]

Just now, Stilllearning said:

How else would you know where all the sites are? France Passion is the same, and by using it 2/3 times in a year  you are beginning to save money over paying for a campsite.

Without it we would never have found places to stop on, for example, a vineyard 1000 metres up a mountain in the Jura. 

It's money very well spent over here, no idea about your side of the Manche. 

Fair point. 

[Bacchus]

1 hour ago, Nightwatch said:

Just visited the Brit Stop web site. You have to buy their guide first. £30+. A bit of a disappointment to me. 

 

I would happily pay that if the information was available online; paper guides have their place, but are out of date the minute they're printed, and are not as easily searched as a database

 

[Momac]

The France passion scheme does  seem quite attractive but it looks like you should expect  no site facilities at all with anything found to be provided a bonus . It looks like the intent is you stay 24hrs max.

A mix of stopovers is probably what would make a good holiday. Very much a parallel with boating from my perspective.

 

I  guess any data whether on paper or electronic is only as good as data gathered  , checked and  updated . But for £30 (or Euros)  its not exactly a fortune.

 

[Stilllearning]

3 minutes ago, MartynG said:

The France passion scheme does  seem quite attractive but it looks like you should expect  no site facilities at all with anything found to be provided a bonus . It looks like the intent is you stay 24hrs max.

A mix of stopovers is probably what would make a good holiday. Very much a parallel with boating from my perspective.

 

I  guess any data whether on paper or electronic is only as good as data gathered  , checked and  updated . But for £30 (or Euros)  its not exactly a fortune.

 

Motorhomers (campingcaristes in French) are like many canal boaters, we like to stop somewhere peaceful, with attractive surroundings and an opportunity to buy quality food or drink then up sticks the next morning and move on.

It's wild camping without feeling that you might be moved on in the night,  in fact the farmer/winemaker etc will welcome you.

[Naughty Cal]

5 hours ago, Nightwatch said:

Just visited the Brit Stop web site. You have to buy their guide first. £30+. A bit of a disappointment to me. 

We bought the book the first year but have not renewed it since. We have not been turned away from a "site" yet even though we don't technically have a valid "membership "

3 hours ago, MartynG said:

The France passion scheme does  seem quite attractive but it looks like you should expect  no site facilities at all with anything found to be provided a bonus . It looks like the intent is you stay 24hrs max.

A mix of stopovers is probably what would make a good holiday. Very much a parallel with boating from my perspective.

 

I  guess any data whether on paper or electronic is only as good as data gathered  , checked and  updated . But for £30 (or Euros)  its not exactly a fortune.

 

That's the idea with the Britstop and France Passion type schemes. They are short term stops.

 

Same with the aires really.  Maximum time we have seen allowed so far is 48 hours. They are for touring not staying put.

 

Plenty of campsites dotted around for longer stopovers if required. Don't think we will use any though on this trip. 48 hours is ample.

[Naughty Cal]

Gouville sur mer

 

 

 

 

 

[Naughty Cal]

We are heading into Brittany today in search of a castle.

 

Well. That is the plan so far. They remain fluid and can change at short notice 🤣🤣🤣

[Stilllearning]

2 hours ago, Naughty Cal said:

We are heading into Brittany today in search of a castle.

 

Well. That is the plan so far. They remain fluid and can change at short notice 🤣🤣🤣

Josselin is probably already on your list.

[Naughty Cal]

4 hours ago, Stilllearning said:

Josselin is probably already on your list.

That's exactly where we have just landed.

[Naughty Cal]

Josselin.

 

A free aire for the next 48 hours.

 

Really pretty place. Not recommended to get lost in the town centre pedestrianised area in a motorhome though. Still we got out unscathed and unharmed.

 

Gave the locals a laugh 🤣🤣🤣

 

 

 

 

 

[Stilllearning]

If you venture as far as Brest, we can recommend the maritime museum. 

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/napoleon-imperial-barge-scli-intl/index.html

[Naughty Cal]

Another day in Josselin today.

 

We made the most of the cooler early morning temperatures to have a good walk with Syd this morning and collect some warm fresh croissants for breakfast on the way back. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are now back at the van shading from the worst of the heat. Has given us chance to have a bit of a clean up and tidy round of the van.

 

We will be back into town later for a couple of drinks before coming back and getting the Cadac out again. Too hot to cook in the van at the minute.

 

Supposed to be 34 degrees here today but it's already 33 so expect it will be hotter than forecast!

[Naughty Cal]

Once it has had cooled off enough yesterday chef made a really nice alfresco meal before we went for a walk around town.

 

 

 

 

Time to move on today. We need a service stop and a good walk before we go though.

 

[Stilllearning]

1 hour ago, Naughty Cal said:

Once it has had cooled off enough yesterday chef made a really nice alfresco meal before we went for a walk around town.

 

 

 

 

Time to move on today. We need a service stop and a good walk before we go though.

 

I see you went from the red light zone on to the blue light zone 

Where is today's destination? 

[Naughty Cal]

56 minutes ago, Stilllearning said:

I see you went from the red light zone on to the blue light zone 

Where is today's destination? 

Shopping stop and fuel stop at Guipry first today and then a few hundred yards down the road to the Aire at Messac.

 

Last night with our friends tonight they head south tomorrow and we head north again.

[Naughty Cal]

It is hot hot hot here today. 37 degrees. Too hot to do anything really. 

 

We have the van tanks dealt with, rinsed some clothing out and hung out to dry, which doesn't take long and have hidden in the van for some shade.

 

Watching the hire boats on turn around day heading out in this heat. Really don't envy them.

 

We have managed to keep the van cooler with the roof fan on and the sun canopy shading the sunny side windows. The dog is asleep under a wet towel keeping cool.

 

Will get some pictures later when it's cooler.

[haggis]

If your dog could be encouraged to lie under your van (on a long lead if necessary) he might find it cooler there as the ground won't have had sun rays since you parked. Just a thought. 

[Naughty Cal]

It did eventually cool down enough for us to venture down the road where we found a lovely bar and chatted away the evening before getting what had to be the best takeaway pizza we have ever eaten sat by the river. 

 

It was a lovely evening. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15 hours ago, haggis said:

If your dog could be encouraged to lie under your van (on a long lead if necessary) he might find it cooler there as the ground won't have had sun rays since you parked. Just a thought. 

He was happy enough under his wet towel. 

 

Looking like another hot day today then it should start to cool down for us.

[Naughty Cal]

Just been for a walk round the marina and they still have Crapi, sorry Capri for hire. It was a terrible boat in 2018, can't imagine it has aged better 🤣🤣🤣

 

[Stilllearning]

1 hour ago, Naughty Cal said:

Just been for a walk round the marina and they still have Crapi, sorry Capri for hire. It was a terrible boat in 2018, can't imagine it has aged better 🤣🤣🤣

 

Only 33 here yesterday, though it was 39 when we got in the car. 34 forecast today, intriguing that it seems be hotter 400kms north of us. We wonder what Monday will be like, when we head for Ouistreham. 

What do you have planned for today?

[Naughty Cal]

3 minutes ago, Stilllearning said:

Only 33 here yesterday, though it was 39 when we got in the car. 34 forecast today, intriguing that it seems be hotter 400kms north of us. We wonder what Monday will be like, when we head for Ouistreham. 

What do you have planned for today?

We are aiming for La Gacilly today. Not very far.

 

Another hot day forecast. 33 today if we believe the forecast. Hoping today's aire has more shade than yesterday's!

[Stilllearning]

Just now, Naughty Cal said:

We are aiming for La Gacilly today. Not very far.

 

Another hot day forecast. 33 today if we believe the forecast. Hoping today's aire has more shade than yesterday's!

Treat it like boating, find a good line of trees to hide under!

My youngest brother calls them horoscopes rather than forecasts... 

Have fun: lunch in a routier?

[Naughty Cal]

Just now, Stilllearning said:

Treat it like boating, find a good line of trees to hide under!

My youngest brother calls them horoscopes rather than forecasts... 

Have fun: lunch in a routier?

Just at the supermarket getting supplies and then we are heading up to Guipry market square to find something for lunch before setting off.

[Stilllearning]

3 minutes ago, Naughty Cal said:

Just at the supermarket getting supplies and then we are heading up to Guipry market square to find something for lunch before setting off.

Any vide-greniers or vide-maisons to drop in on ?

We are off to one tomorrow morning with some friends.

ETA

For local things to do, you can get a good listing by using alentoor.fr, we find it excellent.

Edited September 9, 2023 by Stilllearning

[Naughty Cal]

It was another hot and humid day yesterday. 

 

We travelled early and spent the afternoon shading from the sun on the free aire at La Gacilly. 

 

When the sun had gone down and the heat started to abate we head out to explore the town.