The drive from Manchester to Dover yesterday was incident free and we made good time. That drive is always the longest of our holiday at 275 miles - just too long!
Once again we stayed at Black Horse Farm which leaves just a 10 mile drive to the ferry. Even though it is September and everyone is back at work the site was full. We were booked on the 6 o'clock ferry this morning so we left the campsite at 4.30am! As we drove along the cliffs approaching Dover it was crystal clear and you could see the lights in France across the channel. It looked incredibly near.
We are now in Chalons-en-Champagne at the municipal campsite and the wi-fi is free! The weather is warm and sunny and we are in shorts and sandals already. We hadn't expected the weather to be this good in northern France. Last week the weather at home, as you know, was really rotten. Not just autumnal but wintry. As a result, only on Friday, we decided not to go to Germany and Alsace. We were dying for some sunshine and we thought we were taking a chance on the weather in northern Europe at this time of year. The new plan is to head for southern France and wander along the mediterranean coast from just south of Montpellier to Perpignan. We still intend to spend the last week in Paris. Now that we find that weather is this good we think we should have stuck to our original plan. We used to be decisive, now we are not so sure.
Although the weather today is lovely and warm, there are signs of of autumn about. The colours of the trees are changing and the swallows are gathering on the telephone wires in great throngs - discussing plans for the long flight south.
The campsite is busy- lots of grey haired baby boomers in their motorhomes and caravans. A huge group of Dutch teenagers on bikes have just arrived. They have a support van and a few teachers are directing them as they set up their tents. There must be fifty of them! I think the sanitaires will be busy in the morning.
Our plan tomorrow is to drive another 200 miles to Gigny-sur-Saone. The camping at Chateau L'Eperviere was one we stayed at on our very first trip to France in the van. We haven't been there for a couple of years now. We will spend one night there and have our obligatory evening walk by the River Saone hoping to see some black kites - Milan Noir. From there we are heading to see the Pont du Gard near Nimes and then we are going to the Med at the La Grande Motte.
Hello, Mum here. Dad wants me to add something but he hasn't left a lot to say. When I saw the weather was good here, I wanted to go to Germany again. However, Dad said he'd left the maps of Germany at home. Very clever. So - no funny photos of me wobbling along on a bike by the Mosel. Never mind. We had real French fries for tea tonight, so all is well with the world. Remember when I bought enough for 20 people in the Vendee that time?
Next blog when we get a site with free Wi-Fi. Bye for now!
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