Plan B. Early in the trip I know but suddenly realised that Bob had planned in a two-night stop in Chartres and we had already spent a full day there in 2003. So we decided not to repeat ourselves and to head for Beaugency, on the banks of the Loire, instead. We often stop here. There is a free aire and it is a great overnight stop as we can walk up into the town or along the river, knowing that the Tandy is reasonably secure, as the aire is always busy, lots of people about. We took the toll road down and round Paris, waved to the Eiffel Tower on the way past and then once clear of Paris, took a much quieter road through the countryside and down to Orleans. Been this way several ... read more

We have been home for 4 weeks now from our 6+ week tour of Scandinavia. Just about sorted everything out in rather a whirlwind of activity. Motorhome cleaned and polished. Very few adjustments have been needed after our trip. Just fitted a passenger side Blind spot mirror and had the rear view camera wiring fixed. The garden has had an essential tidy (it looked astonishingly good to say it had been pretty well abandoned in high season). Friends and relatives have been phoned, been visited or have visited. Bob has had his 67th birthday with all his children there but neither of mine as both out of the country. I have made a few pieces of glass getting ready for Christmas rush. Fitted in a month’s worth of WI and a craft fair with my JoysofGlass ... read more

Last day today, off to Calais in readiness for our ferry home. Not a good night’s sleep as large family occupying the static behind us, as the night before, made a terrible noise, banging and shouting until 4am. I promised the lady from the caravan across from ours that I would report at reception so did as we left. Felt very sorry for the other people in the statics round about if they get that every night and we wonder if that is why the family left us their pitch ! As it is so very built up, motorway wise, round The Hague and all points south we decided to go with the flow and take the motorways. Through The Hague and round Rotterdam where on one stretch we counted 14 lanes of motorway. At some ... read more

Leisurely start to the day on a pleasant, relaxing campsite. Showered, breakfasted then went for a stroll round the medieval (1400s) star-shaped fortress of Bourtange just a little way from the campsite. Was rebuilt, as a tourist attraction, in the 1950s and comprises the original encircling fortress of high, grass covered (and neatly mowed) ramparts in a star shape, for good protection, and a little village in the centre which has been completely renovated. Pretty spot for a short visit. We then set off for Wassenaar, seaside area next door to The Hague, where cousin Gillian lives. Set Clarissa Tomtom to avoid motorways and drove a rather scenic route for first half of the way following canals, crossing canals and as time went on, going out of our way to positively avoid the many motorways which ... read more

Slightly better sleep but only because I resorted to earplugs to shut out the traffic noise. Incredibly when we got back to Tandy last night someone had parked so close that we couldn’t open our main window (and it was stiflingly hot) as it would have meant they couldn’t close their door. We headed out of Copenhagen on the motorway but then directed Clarissa Tomtom not to use motorways and she took us along some more minor, ‘straight as the crow flies’ roads right to the south of Julland to a little place called Hummingham. There is a campsite here and probably a beach a mile or so away but we stayed on site so didn’t find out what else was there. Had a swim in the rather nice pool but, as luck would have it, ... read more