Up and away just after 9am and heading due South. Bob had carefully plotted a Tomtom route which very definitely avoided Geneva. Last time we went that direction, heading for France, we accidentally drove through Geneva at 5pm on a Friday and it was Scary. That route also involved some very windy mountainous stretches which we wanted to avoid if we could. We also have the complication of no Swiss Vignette this trip so if we accidentally stray across the border on a motorway it could prove very expensive. No problem and I can report that we arrived safely at our French campsite in Thonon-les-Bains without venturing into Switzerland. We will pop across later in the week in the Smart car but only on local roads. I want to revisit Villeneuve where we stayed in September ... read more

Driving day today and not sure how busy we would find the campsite we were heading for, being Saturday and weekend, so got up at a reasonable time and were on the way before 10am. We were not using any motorways but the road for half the journey was dualed so very few photos were taken. Still in the flat area of France. Very arable agricultural with vast fields spreading out to either side. Pleasant enough and a nice easy drive for Bob but not lending itself to beautiful photos. We passed through very few towns or villages, the road in places seemed quite new so was probably built to bypass. Just hints of church spires and a signpost to a town and the camera was ready to spring into action but quickly back to the ... read more

And we were off. A leisurely start on the 31st May as only heading for just outside Dover to our Norlands CL we have stayed a couple of times recently. A pretty boring drive really as British motorways normally are. Lots of stop starts especially on the M25 and all the bunching up of traffic was caused by useless 'problems ahead' signage where, whatever problems there had been, were long gone in every case. Highways England really should get a grip ! As usual stopping for lunch at the services was a challenge and we drove into one and out again as no obvious place to park. We need a drive through spot... reversing back out is not an option with Smart Arse on the back. As usual we ended up squashed between two jugernauts in ... read more

Not a good night’s sleep. When it rains in a motorhome the rain falls Very loudly on the roof. Our bed is halfway to the ceiling so we are nearer the noisy roof and that rain was exceedingly hard and loud and augmented by the rain then falling off the trees too. It rained all night, every minute, I am pretty sure as every time I got to sleep it woke me up again. But, glory be, at 7am when my mobile phone alarm went off, the rain miraculously stopped. I stepped outside to find the ground was astonishingly not completely soggyfied. Good to know that campsite has excellent drainage ! Up and off by 7.45 and heading for the Calais ferry port. My goodness that port is enormous. Only a standard set of booking in ... read more

Note.. Can't tag this to Chataillon-sur-seine as that is not listed in either Burgundy or France Comte which is where it is ! Really rather sad to leave our campsite at Viileneuve on Lake Geneva. The campsite was absolutely great and suited us so very well. Almost direct access to the lake side, a restaurant and bar, motorhome service point and in such a superb location, everything we needed. Think it is probably the best located sited we have ever used. Had to take a stroll down to the water’s edge before we left. The sky still slightly tinged early morning pink and a line of pretty cloud draped across the mountain. I took some of my bird feed supplies to give to the two swans who were in the canal but they shrugged their wings ... read more