Blogs from Calais, Nord-Pas de Calais, France, Europe

14. As we reach the final few weeks of our 10 week journey its time to wind our way through France, visiting friends and relatives and reflect on our wonderful trip. So lucky are we to have friends and family who have fabulous places for us to visit in France. We spent some vey hot days chilling with my sister and beau-frere just North of Bordeaux. Spent a lovely jazz evening at Montangne-sur Gironde, and enjoyed a karoke in their nearby town. When the weather changed we were able to visit the unique and extraordinary Chateaux Mercerie, and Chateau de Villebois Lavalette. About an hour North we met up and stayed with friends Chris and Gary. We helped them with a bit of extreme gardening then enjoyed a lovely BBQ party for Chris’s birthday, meeting many ... read more

Goodmorning - It is early and I am lying in bed still feel rough from my recent infection . Another one . The third in three months . 2023 has not been a good one for health . Just small niggling infections, lots of coughing , sore throats and feeling under the weather . No swimming this week nor any walking . Hopefully the driver won't succomb to it this week or next or we could be in trouble . Thursday - preparations under way. Clothes packed, unpacked, checked and packed again . Tablets and medicines all put in boxes . Large suitcases in the boot of the car with no name . Preparations are slow for me with the infection leaving me thoroughly under the weather . The mood for a holiday has gone on ... read more

Hiking via WWII bunkers to a monastery The rest of the first week of the vacation we continued our hike in northwestern France. We arrived with the ferry in Calais. The Via Francigena first follows the coast south to Wissant. From there the trail goes east via Guines, Licques and Tournehem-sur-la-Hem to the town Wisques where we right according to plan finished the hike. Most people have never heard of these places. Please don't look at a map where we actually hiked these four days. We did actually hike a decent distance each day. But it looks embarrassingly short if you view it on a map of France. The first day's hike in France was very different from what we did in England. The trail from Calais to Wissant follows the coast and much of it ... read more

Gabby the motorhome is sitting on a large plot in the town of Calais in the campsite La Bien Assise. We come here often. It is close enough to drop into on our way down France and handy for the tunnel coming home. It is late and the office is shut for the night so there is nowhere to pay. We will have to do that in the morning. As Glenn wires us up to electricity I head off for the restaurant hopefully to book a table for two. When I get there I am told we can have a table but outside . It is raining, it is cold and windy - why would I want to sit outside? Inwardly seething I sidled off cursing our luck. Why couldn't we book you probably wonder? It ... read more

The next day we took a leisurely morning packing up, then headed to Velha again for a few supplies and a look around town. By the time we were done it was super hot again, so found a campsite early, preferably with a pool and a bar. The original plan from here, the next day, was to attempt a really long track which would take us almost to the end of the Pyrenees, but then Mark noticed an abandoned village he had wanted to see was just south of us. So we booked one more night and left my truck all set up, and jumped into Marks and went to find the village. It was an impressive place to see and gave me a chance to play with the drone. Though on the first flight, it ... read more