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Published: September 25th 2006
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Yes that is our camp floor
Yes it was raining - slightly Okay, after only a little sleep for Kate, we packed up the hotel, and made our way to the campervan place. Mum and dad got the laydown of what to do with the van, and I got the job of finding out how and where we actually had to go to meet Alana, Jules and his dad. Mum had made me chief navigator, as mum was a little nervous after a bad experience driving in Italy - she needed a rest and her nails did as well.
After packing the van with our goods, loaded up with only a buddha bar CD and some crazy french music Mum had insisted on buying (I am sure it will suit some people - just not me really) we made our way out of Paris - first hurdle - then onto Cherburg at the tip of France only a mere 5 hours drive. We made two stops, one for coffee, the other at a crazily huge French supermaket. Wow what a selection of wine and wow how cheap!!!! We eventually made it on Alana's slightly dodgy directions to the camp site even with cold beer in side the van. After a lovely two
Our Camp site
Not too much room - but percy is spacious inside - we made do!! days here, we even saw a french snake!! (it was slightly ill, mum freaked out still, but dad got ride of it for us - go dad!!!), we moved on further south to lovely Mont ST Michel.
Mont St Michel is spectacular (it is supposedly the place were Harry Potter was filmed), what a site - off shore surrouned by water (or mud flats at low tide) and on a huge hill. Who the hell would have decided to build an Abbey out there??? We found a lovely camp site in the middle of town, set up camp - then down the rain came - typical camping and it rains. Fortunately my tent didn't leak, but it was rather interesting cooking on the little BBQ in the rain, under the cover of a small tarp (check out the photo)!!! It didn't really matter though, enough wine makes any night interesting.
Atter our lovely rainy night, we packed up and headed further south (hoping for better weather?), but as we spent a little too much time looking around Mont St Michel, and ended up getting to our next stop, La Rochelle, a little late (8-8.30 pm). Luckly for us,
Mont St Michel
See what I mean!! - Awesome I had spotted a sign pointing out a camp site, which when we arrived was closed. However Mum, Alana and Jules decided to take a look anyway. Found a door open with the TV on, got turned away, but then the guy figured he wanted the money more, took pity at us, got a kiss from Mum and let us stay the night!!! The site wasn't much to talk about, but we got some great food at the port area, and ended up sleeping quite soundly, except for me, as the wind picked up in the middle of the night and i thought i was going to get blown away. We made it thankfully, packed up and headed futher south again, hoping the weather would improve - again.
After a few hours drive we made it to a lovely little area on the coast about half way down. Unfortunatley for us, alot of the camp sites were closed for the season and we couldn't find much. We settled for a little place called St Palais ser Muir (I think that is how it was spelt) in a camp site just back from the beach, with a lovely stream running
through and with quite a few ducks!!! Alana was in heaven!!
On the second night there Jules, Alana and I (with dad's company for a while) decided to go to one of the local bars- Chez Bob, played some pool - Dad is a pool shark i am sure, and proceeded to get rather drunk. Dad left after two games of pool and we stayed - oh what a mistake!! We met some crazy french firemen!!! who spoke a little english, they kept trying to get us to got to some nightclub?? We turned them down as they were a little too hyperactive for us!!! Eventually Chez Bob closed and we weren't ready to go home, so we sort out another venue. We found a strange bar, order our drinks (yes Jules just kept going with the vodka caramel) and low and behold there were the french firemen!!! we couldn't get away. It ended up being the last night of the summer season in town, and everyone had turned out to celebrate - so did we. Poor Alana ended up being the most sober (as she refrained from most of the shots) and had the job of trying to
what do you think?
Our favourite bottle - actually we just liked the name get Jules and I home!!! We made it eventually, but unfortunately we had made the decision to go to Cognac the following day - so no time to get over hangovers.
Well, we picked a good day to go to Cognac!!! free tours yippee. We decided to go on the Hennessy tour which was interesting as I had no idea of what to expect, had our tasting. then headed on to our camp site in Cognac. Again it was lovely and on a river. The following day, we packed up again, and headed onto our next stop, on the way we stopped at a distillery, had tastings, made some purchases, then continued on the road.
Our next stop was on an Island called Ile d'Oleron, where we were to me Jule's sister and her husband for a few days. The site was on the beach, had an awesome spa and pool, and even the weather fined up for a few days. We spent our time eating and drinking of course, but basically spending our time relaxing after our many days of being on the move. Unfortunately our time was coming to an end, and we had to start making our way back up France so Mum and dad could get closer to Paris (to drop the van off, and fly to denmark) and Alana, Jules and I could get to La Havre to catch the ferry back to England.
We had decided on Le Monn to spend our last night together, however all camp sites were closed for the season. Ww had stopped at a supermarket so Alana, Jules and I could get our wine to take back to England (you are allowed to take back 90 litres of the stuff!!!), asked one of the checkout girls who showed us were one was. We eventually found the site and yet again it was quite a lovely little site, but in the middle of no where. But hey it was for only one night. Unfortunately the rain had set back in and we had to pack up in the rain. We all parted ways and the last part of our journey was coming to an end!!!
Well once Alana, Jules and I made it to port (with another stop to pick up wine), we decided to ask the van check in guy were I should go to get my ticket for the journey. He informed us he could do it, after about 10 mins, he told us that there wasn't any spots and he was trying to override the system and ammend there booking, which he successfully did. Then luckly for me, he also said it was free!!! We couldn't beleive it I had camped around France paying for hardly any camp site, then just my luck got on the ferry for free (however I said, just my luck, i will be without the life jacket!!!). We eventually made it back to Bristol, after a 5 1/2 hour ferry journey filled up by playing travel monopoly and drinking pints of lager, at about 1.30am. Thank god for Jule's our savior driver!!!
And just because we are suckers for punishment, we headed out to Newport, Wales (they liken it to nambour???) for a party with Jules mates - named Mattstock (two friends whose birthdays fall on the same day and they put on bands with all proceeds going to charity). What a night - the Welsh are truely mad!! All Jules mates are great, but yet again hardly any sleep. I am sure we will finally recover from this little trip. But it is now up to me to try and find a job in Bristol - I have got two weeks, otherwise i am heading off again - either home or spain???
love you all, hope all is well and catch up soon.
love and kisses
Kate.
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