Blogs from Calais, Nord-Pas de Calais, France, Europe - page 2

Advertisement

Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais » Calais April 22nd 2016

Day 1- So for a first day it was eventful. The weather wasn't too bad at home, with just heavy rain. But by the time we cycled over the hill and down onto the marsh, the winds had really picked up. This made it a slow grind, until my rear tyre blew out! Just outside of Lydd, and only 10 miles in. I had all the kit for most repairs, but I'd never experienced an exploding tyre so had nothing to fix it. So a quick call for help to Richard, and a new tyre and tube were delivered. While Rich was sorting the tyre from Activ, I replaced the tube and gingerly pumped it unto 30 psi, which was just enough for we to walk the bike to Lydd, but I wasn't going to chance ... read more
IMG_0931
IMG_0934
IMG_0935

Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais » Calais August 9th 2015

Die Fahrt nach Calais war ereignislos, aber in Calais hatte ich den festen Plan, das Lager der Flüchtlinge zu sehen, die dort versuchen durch den Euro Tunnel nach GB zu kommen. Schon kurz nach Dünkirchen begann ich, eine Straße zu suchen, die nahe am Meer entlang führt. Eine schmale, geteerte Straße schien mir goldrichtig zu sein. Keiner unterwegs, aber dann plötzlich ein Lager - allerdings ganz offensichtlich nicht das, das ich suchte. Mehrere Autos, einige Wohnwägen, Menschen. Die Flüchtlinge besitzen weder Autos noch Wohnwägen, also fuhr ich nicht dorthhin. Als die Straße mittendrin endete und auch sämtliche Abzweigungen nicht weiter führten, musste ich wenden. Und dann war da plötzlich Leben auf der schmalen Straße: Aus einem Polizeiauto waren massenhaft Polizisten gekrochen, hatten den Verkehr in beide Richtungen gestoppt. Erstaunlicherweise war in beiden Richtungen eine Schlange... read more
DSC02143

Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais » Calais June 5th 2014

Our last night was spent at Guines. We had an early start to make the train. Waking up at breaking light we unhooked Suzy and set off for the half hour drive to the train terminal. Sally Sat Nav picked yet another route from Guines to Calais. Along pretty roads through the village of Guines, along the river full of wildlife including herons on the banks fishing. As usual the overhead gantries recognised us and welcomed us without the need to put our details in. Much better than standing in front of the machine and trying to punch the numbers in. The French police pulled us over, checked our steering wheel and doors and then went off to talk leaving us sitting there. After a few minutes they let us through and we passed through a ... read more
Moorish architecture
Moorish architecture
Moorish architecture

Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais » Calais May 25th 2014

We had breakfast with our host this morning and chatted for ages with her about traveling and families before we had to pack up and get going. After the dramas of finding where to go yesterday, we were armed with google maps, directions and we also left early just in case we had any difficulties. None were encountered and we got through customs and border control with only a couple of extra questions from the Brits – what family... no job back home eh? We had to tell them that we had flights booked out of Paris before they let us go! We left the car lined up and went into the terminal for a bit of a wait. Watching the boat pull up to the pier was great – these guys do it 4 times ... read more
20140525_091545
20140525_112336
20140525_135632

Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais » Calais April 26th 2014

Well the last four days have been unbelievable nightmare. As you know Dads had an over heating issue all holiday, but it was especially bad in Europe due to the terrain and the high mileage. Well this time we allotted over 4 days to get home, which for the first 5 minutes worked well. We got up and out by 8am with the intention ofcathcing the 10am ferry in to Spain. But once we reached the port we were told the area for larger vehicles was full, though I think this could have been a bit of a miss communication as I believe they thought we had campers or caravans. But they told us that we could catch the ferry from Cueta, and being only 20 miles or so further round the coast we took that ... read more

Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais » Calais September 22nd 2013

A little disappointed when we set off from Les Andelys to find the sun had gone in. The glorious sunset over the River Seine of the previous evening had promised a lovely day but sadly, almost as soon as we set off, some heavy low cloud descended and hid all the lovely blue sky. No problem though, not as if we were planning to sit outside sunbathing, we had to drive North to the coast for our ferry. We took a cross-country route, avoiding motorways and big towns. Had a lucky break when we stopped at the Intermarche for fuel. I nipped into the store for bread and found the plates I had been looking for, for the last 3 weeks. Square, glass and they make desserts, any dessert, look brilliant. Bob made a good suggestion ... read more
Bob enjoyed his lunch in Le Crotoy
The famed game of Boules under almost autumnal trees in Le Crotoy
Le Crotoy harbour

Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais » Calais August 14th 2013

We decided to make it an early start so that there were no worries about catching the ferry and we should also have some time for some shopping when we got to Calais. We left on time, which is very, very unusual for us, despite the fact that we had a check-list of things to sort-out in the apartment before we left; each of which had a designated fine, which would be taken out of our deposit if they were not completed. It was a fantastic apartment, with what must be one of the best views in Europe (and I don't think I'm exaggerating), but that took the shine off it a bit. There what just one final photo opportunity as we passed a lake on the way out of Chamonix. Another photo of Mont Blanc ... read more
French Services
Observation Tower View

Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais » Calais June 1st 2013

Suzy was gearing herself to come home. Not a pretty sight!!! We are all truly miserable and wish our holiday could go on forever. There is nothing worse than coming home knowing that the adventure for this time is over. We woke up early with the plan of unplugging Suzy from the electrics and moving the last few hours to our last stop at Guines near to Calais. The roads were fairly empty, the hedgerows looked distinctly boring. All those lovely flowers that graced the roadside in Croatia and Italy had all gone and all you could see for miles was green. And of course the odd field of yellow oilseed rape. A pretty plant but what a stink of cabbage when it goes over. We arrived at Guines Le Bien Assise in the early afternoon. ... read more
Calais
Calais
On the train

Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais » Calais April 1st 2013

With tanks full, everything battened down and Georgie rearing to go we hit Dover port. Woolly says – it was rather boring, I had been so excited about the ferry and I could see it but we had to sit and wait in Georgie before we were waved on-board. Finally parking Georgie in her berth and making sure she was all snug and warm we went up the stairs to the passenger decks – I sound like I’ve been sailing for years already! – The sea looked very choppy and I wondered if I needed to take my sea sickness bracelets (courtesy of Zoe), but Jo told me to wait until we were in the channel and sea what it was like then (took me ages to get THAT joke!). Dead on 11.30am we left the ... read more
All aboard
Are we there yet!!!!
Bye Bye UK

Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais » Calais December 13th 2012

On Friday 7/12 we drove from Sitges in Spain to Avignon in France, and as we drove we could see the distant snowy mountains, we started to steel ourselves for the steady decline in temperature…. The plan we had in mind was to go to Avignon, stay in the van on Friday night and the next morning take the TGV to Geneva, then stay overnight on Sat 8/12 in Geneva in a hotel, returning to Avignon on Sunday evening and staying in Avignon that night in the van, then on Mon 10/12 go on to Lyon. However, we went to the Avignon TGV station on the Friday night to check the trains and get tickets. We had arrived at Avignon France from Sitges Spain at around 4pm. We left the van at the campsite and cycled ... read more
Leaving Lyon
Bresles
Bresles




Tot: 0.202s; Tpl: 0.007s; cc: 10; qc: 84; dbt: 0.1348s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1; ; mem: 1.3mb