Hi Folks
I thought you might like to hear how we are getting on. I am currently sitting on pitch 82 looking out over the lake at Camping de Sologne, Sarblis. This is our second night here and I am fortunate to be in range of the wi-fi in the bar/restaurant. It is a beautiful sunny evening and there are a couple of fairly tame copuys, I think they are, taking food from campers fingers. We had hoped to go a bit further but I suffered a migraine yesterday which effected my vision and meant that Cary had to drive most of that day.
We managed to get away early at c7.00pm Sunday 20 July, VERY unusual for us. We travelled M6, M6 Toll, M6 and M1 before overnighting at the services on m25 near Potters Bar. An early start the next morning meant that we were able to get around the M25 clockwise, a first for us, before the rush began in earnest. We then followed the A2, M2 and M20 down to Folkestone. We phoned ahead and booked at Little Switzerland at Capel Le Ferne and arrived there about 10.00am. The views from the site restaurant and really STUPENDOUS with views across the Channel to France and along the coast. We lazed around on Monday, did some last minute shopping and topped up the car with fuel. On Tuesday we spent most of the day visiting Dover Castle - very interesting and then wandered around the town. On Wednesday morning a leisurely drive to the Norfolk line Terminal only 20 mins away. Again an unusually early check in for the 10.00am ferry for us!! A very pleasant calm crossing on lovely sunny day sitting in the restaurant overlooking the bows.
A bit of a panic when arrived to drive off the ferry as the LED on the newly ATC was showing red rather than green. A quick check of the handbook whilst other drivers had to wait??!! behind us told us that it was safe to drive but to consult Alko. We stopped asap and phoned Alko who advised us that it was simply because voltage had dropped whilst 'van was parked up on ferry and that ATC had no reset itself. PHEWWWW.
We then followed the advice of others on this site and opted to drive via the coastal autoroute and Rouen. A diversion in Rouen caused some problems but we got out the other side and stopped at Le Bec Hellouin for a couple of nights. A pleasant night halt with a lot of other UK 'vans there. We walked down into the village on Thursday but the path was very rough and stoney and VERY steep on the way back. The village itself is very picturesque with lots of half-timbered houses but we gave the large Abbey a miss.
Friday we journeyed on the autoroute via Le Mans and Tours. New Kia Sorento proving an excellent towcar but only managing c 19miles to the gallon on cruise control at a steady 60mph. Newly fitted Alko ATC and shock absorbers complementing our Snakemaster stabiliser to give us VERY STABLE ride. As I said at the beginning a migraine curtailed my driving somewhat and we decided to stop at Sarblis as previously recommended on this site. I, also, bought the newly issued Alan Rogers' POIs for Europe for our Tom Tom Sat Nav the day before we left and that is proving very helpful. The autoroute west of Tours was all new and not on the TT map so it was quite amusing to watch us supposedly ploughing across fields and through rivers whilst the voice advised us turn off every time we went UNDER or OVER another road on the autoroute.
Tomorrow it is onwards towards my sister's new home in the Pyrenees near St Giron. We are planning to stay at either Salies du Salat or Aspet when we have sussed them out a little. We may not make it that far tomorrow as it is c350 miles, although it should be quite on Sunday with no lorries. Cary has her eye on a halt at Camping La Riviere in Donzenac or we may revert to our old habit of a night halt at an autoroute aire.
Any suggestions about sites enroute or near our destination are still VERY WELCOME. I'll check the web sometime tomorrow for any replies!!
Best wishes
Tim
I thought you might like to hear how we are getting on. I am currently sitting on pitch 82 looking out over the lake at Camping de Sologne, Sarblis. This is our second night here and I am fortunate to be in range of the wi-fi in the bar/restaurant. It is a beautiful sunny evening and there are a couple of fairly tame copuys, I think they are, taking food from campers fingers. We had hoped to go a bit further but I suffered a migraine yesterday which effected my vision and meant that Cary had to drive most of that day.
We managed to get away early at c7.00pm Sunday 20 July, VERY unusual for us. We travelled M6, M6 Toll, M6 and M1 before overnighting at the services on m25 near Potters Bar. An early start the next morning meant that we were able to get around the M25 clockwise, a first for us, before the rush began in earnest. We then followed the A2, M2 and M20 down to Folkestone. We phoned ahead and booked at Little Switzerland at Capel Le Ferne and arrived there about 10.00am. The views from the site restaurant and really STUPENDOUS with views across the Channel to France and along the coast. We lazed around on Monday, did some last minute shopping and topped up the car with fuel. On Tuesday we spent most of the day visiting Dover Castle - very interesting and then wandered around the town. On Wednesday morning a leisurely drive to the Norfolk line Terminal only 20 mins away. Again an unusually early check in for the 10.00am ferry for us!! A very pleasant calm crossing on lovely sunny day sitting in the restaurant overlooking the bows.
A bit of a panic when arrived to drive off the ferry as the LED on the newly ATC was showing red rather than green. A quick check of the handbook whilst other drivers had to wait??!! behind us told us that it was safe to drive but to consult Alko. We stopped asap and phoned Alko who advised us that it was simply because voltage had dropped whilst 'van was parked up on ferry and that ATC had no reset itself. PHEWWWW.
We then followed the advice of others on this site and opted to drive via the coastal autoroute and Rouen. A diversion in Rouen caused some problems but we got out the other side and stopped at Le Bec Hellouin for a couple of nights. A pleasant night halt with a lot of other UK 'vans there. We walked down into the village on Thursday but the path was very rough and stoney and VERY steep on the way back. The village itself is very picturesque with lots of half-timbered houses but we gave the large Abbey a miss.
Friday we journeyed on the autoroute via Le Mans and Tours. New Kia Sorento proving an excellent towcar but only managing c 19miles to the gallon on cruise control at a steady 60mph. Newly fitted Alko ATC and shock absorbers complementing our Snakemaster stabiliser to give us VERY STABLE ride. As I said at the beginning a migraine curtailed my driving somewhat and we decided to stop at Sarblis as previously recommended on this site. I, also, bought the newly issued Alan Rogers' POIs for Europe for our Tom Tom Sat Nav the day before we left and that is proving very helpful. The autoroute west of Tours was all new and not on the TT map so it was quite amusing to watch us supposedly ploughing across fields and through rivers whilst the voice advised us turn off every time we went UNDER or OVER another road on the autoroute.
Tomorrow it is onwards towards my sister's new home in the Pyrenees near St Giron. We are planning to stay at either Salies du Salat or Aspet when we have sussed them out a little. We may not make it that far tomorrow as it is c350 miles, although it should be quite on Sunday with no lorries. Cary has her eye on a halt at Camping La Riviere in Donzenac or we may revert to our old habit of a night halt at an autoroute aire.
Any suggestions about sites enroute or near our destination are still VERY WELCOME. I'll check the web sometime tomorrow for any replies!!
Best wishes
Tim
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