Tuesday 9th July 2019
Up early and set off almost immediately onto the A6. Despite a gentle headwind, we made good progress and made our way across Paris leaving the grand city at its north western corner, through St. Denis. I will not bore you with the details of the next event, suffice to say we had a small disagreement with a young lady in a little Toyota.
We were indicating left, she wanted to go right, shot round in front of us and clipped the front nearside wing of our car. We carried on, unaware of the actual hit, we felt nothing, but she appeared alongside us some 5 minutes later and signalled for us to stop. We did and she became quite animated and accused us of hitting her. There was a small scrape mark on the front nearside of our car and similar on the rear offside of hers. We exchanged details, she being convinced we had hit her. I pointed out we have a dashcam but that made no impression on her. On examining the dashcam on the pc later you can plainly see her come from our left and pull immediately in front of us but the collision was so minor we didn't think she had hit us. We parted company amicably but now an hour and a half behind schedule.
Oops, just realised I have bored you with the details, sorry.
Now there are two camp sites in Nesles-la-Vallee, half a mile apart, and I had keyed in Nesles on the sat-nav so, when we saw a sign saying Camping Nesles-la-Vallee, we took it to be the one I had booked. WRONG!!
We drove up a long and winding road for about 2 miles until we came to this really run down looking site. Doesn't look like the pictures on the web, I said, but at least they've got a restaurant, by now we're tired and hungry. WRONG AGAIN!!
It transpired we were at the wrong site altogether. The old fella who owned the site was pleasant and we had a laugh together. He wanted us to stay but we told him we had paid for 5 nights at the other site. However, we decided to stay this one night as we were just too tired to turn around.
We slept well despite the knowledge we would be on the move again in the morning.
Wednesday - Our Last Week - Lost and Found
Wednesday 10th July 2019
After a good nights sleep we woke to a much reduced temperature. 20 degrees C outside and about the same inside. With the knowledge we had only about a half a mile to travel, we weren't in a hurry to move off but, all the same, wanted to get to our final destination and settle as soon as we could. We set off at 9.10 am.
Could we find the site we had booked? could we heck. We travelled back and forth through the narrow streets of Nesles and Parmian, up steep hills and round 90 degree bends looking for signs to our site. We even asked strangers for directions but they were not aware of a camping site nearby.
Eventually we found a place on the road where we could stop, with the caravan, and went into a Pharmacy. They were most helpful and directed us, road by road to our site. We arrived here around 11.30 am and it was, exactly as it said on its website. We soon found a pitch that suited and set up, tired but happy to put our feet up for a few days before the journey home.
The site here is quite beautiful. It has a lake with its own island and, what appears to be, a resident heron. Ducks and birds of all kinds in a beautifully laid out site with trees and bushes and enormous grass pitches, all with electric and water.
The facilities are good too, showers, loos and washing and washing up areas, all with scalding unlimited hot water.
There is a mini-market, small restaurant, excellent Wi-Fi although it comes at a price.
We're here until Sunday when we leave for Bien Assise, Calais, our final stop before home.
After a good nights sleep we woke to a much reduced temperature. 20 degrees C outside and about the same inside. With the knowledge we had only about a half a mile to travel, we weren't in a hurry to move off but, all the same, wanted to get to our final destination and settle as soon as we could. We set off at 9.10 am.
Could we find the site we had booked? could we heck. We travelled back and forth through the narrow streets of Nesles and Parmian, up steep hills and round 90 degree bends looking for signs to our site. We even asked strangers for directions but they were not aware of a camping site nearby.
Eventually we found a place on the road where we could stop, with the caravan, and went into a Pharmacy. They were most helpful and directed us, road by road to our site. We arrived here around 11.30 am and it was, exactly as it said on its website. We soon found a pitch that suited and set up, tired but happy to put our feet up for a few days before the journey home.
The site here is quite beautiful. It has a lake with its own island and, what appears to be, a resident heron. Ducks and birds of all kinds in a beautifully laid out site with trees and bushes and enormous grass pitches, all with electric and water.
The facilities are good too, showers, loos and washing and washing up areas, all with scalding unlimited hot water.
There is a mini-market, small restaurant, excellent Wi-Fi although it comes at a price.
We're here until Sunday when we leave for Bien Assise, Calais, our final stop before home.
Thursday - A day trip to Paris
Thursday 11th July 2019
We are further from Paris centre than we would like to be but the site we wanted to book, where we've stayed in the past, was full all through June, July and August. We had to drive 12 miles to the NCF station at Cergy le Haut where we caught a train into the city.
The signs said the journey was 40 minutes, in the event, it took and hour and a half, for what reason we will remain forever totally unaware. The explanation was given, I'm sure, frequently, in rapid French throughout the journey.
Because we had only the one day to spend in the city, we wanted to see Notre Dame following the fire and so we left the train at The Arc de Triomphe and walked the 4 miles to the Cathedral.
Quite warm now with a clear sky and temperature of 30 degrees we dissolved into the mass of tourists that, like us, were walking the streets of Paris.
Sat resting here for a short while, camera in hand, when an American lady approached and asked if we would like her to take a picture of us two.
American tourists were everywhere, it used to be all Japanese but the Americans seem to have taken over as the largest foreign group.
We strayed off the main tourist path and found some interesting back streets to reach our destination of Notre Dame.
Notre Dame from the front, and a picture for Nick.
We sat and had a late lunch at a restaurant with a view towards Notre Dame. Following lunch we decided to slowly make our way back to the rail station via the back streets, at least that was the plan. As we set off we were suddenly startled by the noise of low flying aircraft, and large ones at that plus they were being shadowed by fighter jets. One after another streamed across the sky, immediately above Notre Dame. We found out later this was a practice in readiness for Bastille day on Sunday, 14th July.
We are further from Paris centre than we would like to be but the site we wanted to book, where we've stayed in the past, was full all through June, July and August. We had to drive 12 miles to the NCF station at Cergy le Haut where we caught a train into the city.
The signs said the journey was 40 minutes, in the event, it took and hour and a half, for what reason we will remain forever totally unaware. The explanation was given, I'm sure, frequently, in rapid French throughout the journey.
Because we had only the one day to spend in the city, we wanted to see Notre Dame following the fire and so we left the train at The Arc de Triomphe and walked the 4 miles to the Cathedral.
Quite warm now with a clear sky and temperature of 30 degrees we dissolved into the mass of tourists that, like us, were walking the streets of Paris.
Sat resting here for a short while, camera in hand, when an American lady approached and asked if we would like her to take a picture of us two.
American tourists were everywhere, it used to be all Japanese but the Americans seem to have taken over as the largest foreign group.
We strayed off the main tourist path and found some interesting back streets to reach our destination of Notre Dame.
Notre Dame from the front, and a picture for Nick.
We sat and had a late lunch at a restaurant with a view towards Notre Dame. Following lunch we decided to slowly make our way back to the rail station via the back streets, at least that was the plan. As we set off we were suddenly startled by the noise of low flying aircraft, and large ones at that plus they were being shadowed by fighter jets. One after another streamed across the sky, immediately above Notre Dame. We found out later this was a practice in readiness for Bastille day on Sunday, 14th July.
Watching the planes made us later setting off than planned so we took the Metro to our station and were home by 6.30pm after a 40 minute train journey.
Friday - Last week
Friday 12th July 2019
Very quiet day today, probably because we were quite tired from our trip to Paris yesterday.
Rose late and everything was a little hurried as we had planned to get out to the
Market at L'isle Adam, a small town beside the river Oise and just a couple of miles from us here.
The reason for the rush is that, most markets we have been to are finished by lunchtime or very soon after. I guess it's getting done before the midday sun begins to make itself felt, it's still up to 30 here in the town.
The rest of the day was the usual mixture of a walk round the site, sitting reading, and dozing.
Very quiet day today, probably because we were quite tired from our trip to Paris yesterday.
Rose late and everything was a little hurried as we had planned to get out to the
Market at L'isle Adam, a small town beside the river Oise and just a couple of miles from us here.
The reason for the rush is that, most markets we have been to are finished by lunchtime or very soon after. I guess it's getting done before the midday sun begins to make itself felt, it's still up to 30 here in the town.
The rest of the day was the usual mixture of a walk round the site, sitting reading, and dozing.
 |
| L'isle Adam Market |
Saturday - Penultimate day in France
Saturday 13th July 2019
We're sleeping better and longer since we came north and lost those mighty temperatures. On a couple of nights, when down in Curcuron, we had temperatures of 30 plus. I think I slept longer during the day than at night.
Our penultimate day in France and we needed to stock up on provisions, enough to see us home so we took off early to our nearest Carrefour. We cannot call to mind a supermarket anywhere in our part of the world, that comes close to the size and scale of the one we visited today. On my pedometer which is on my phone, and pretty accurate, we walked almost 2 miles today, most of which was in Carrefour. As always, our purchases bore no resemblance to the list we made before setting off.
The rest of our day was made up of packing away and making ready for our 150 mile journey to Le Bien Assise, Calais tomorrow, plus some last minute sitting in the sun, topping up the tan, just in case we don't get much chance when we get home.
We're sleeping better and longer since we came north and lost those mighty temperatures. On a couple of nights, when down in Curcuron, we had temperatures of 30 plus. I think I slept longer during the day than at night.
Our penultimate day in France and we needed to stock up on provisions, enough to see us home so we took off early to our nearest Carrefour. We cannot call to mind a supermarket anywhere in our part of the world, that comes close to the size and scale of the one we visited today. On my pedometer which is on my phone, and pretty accurate, we walked almost 2 miles today, most of which was in Carrefour. As always, our purchases bore no resemblance to the list we made before setting off.
The rest of our day was made up of packing away and making ready for our 150 mile journey to Le Bien Assise, Calais tomorrow, plus some last minute sitting in the sun, topping up the tan, just in case we don't get much chance when we get home.
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| Dragonfly taken at the lake at La Grand Paris |
Sunday - Final day in France
Sunday 14th July 2019
It's 1.45 pm and we're sitting in the sun at La Bien Assise having lunch after a very pleasant 155 mile journey.
Ninety percent of our route was on the A16 which, on a Sunday, devoid of lorries, was an almost perfect drive. What denied us that perfection was that, for the full 155 miles, we had a head wind. Not strong, but you could feel it, especially when it temporarily became a side wind.
Up with a 7am alarm and, following ablutions and breakfast, were away by 9 heading into a cloudy sky and just 16 degrees of warmth. Definitely not what we are accustomed to. The thermometer had risen to a not spectacular but more acceptable 21 degrees by the time we arrived in Guines.
We are just 8 miles from Eurotunnel and our crossing is at 12.50 tomorrow lunch time. I suspect we'll be there before then and hopefully catch an earlier train.
We have thoroughly enjoyed our month away. We love France, the culture, the food, the markets, even the people. We've met nationalities from all across Europe and enjoyed their friendship and their company.
We hope to be back next year.
It's 1.45 pm and we're sitting in the sun at La Bien Assise having lunch after a very pleasant 155 mile journey.
Ninety percent of our route was on the A16 which, on a Sunday, devoid of lorries, was an almost perfect drive. What denied us that perfection was that, for the full 155 miles, we had a head wind. Not strong, but you could feel it, especially when it temporarily became a side wind.
Up with a 7am alarm and, following ablutions and breakfast, were away by 9 heading into a cloudy sky and just 16 degrees of warmth. Definitely not what we are accustomed to. The thermometer had risen to a not spectacular but more acceptable 21 degrees by the time we arrived in Guines.
We are just 8 miles from Eurotunnel and our crossing is at 12.50 tomorrow lunch time. I suspect we'll be there before then and hopefully catch an earlier train.
We have thoroughly enjoyed our month away. We love France, the culture, the food, the markets, even the people. We've met nationalities from all across Europe and enjoyed their friendship and their company.
We hope to be back next year.
No pictures from today so here's one of someone you all know,
standing in front of the Arc de Triomphe.
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