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Published: April 16th 2018
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Wednesday 11th April We left home on Tuesday and stayed overnight at the Horsley campsite. It is described as being set around a lake but in reality it is more like a large pond. The amount of rain however meant that each pitch was a small lake in itself. We arrived late afternoon and this combined with the miserable weather meant we didn't venture out to explore the area.
We left the next morning in thick fog. As we got closer to the south coast, the fog cleared and the sun came out. We stopped off in Brighton for a walk and lunch on the beach before heading on to our campsite at Seaford. Brighton was busy with holiday makers and french students.
We first stayed at the Buckle caravan site at Seaford in 2013. I had just left a permanent job and it would be our first campervan trip lasting longer than two weeks. The campsite didn't impress me the first time around and it hasn't changed one bit. The best thing about the site is that it is right on the sea front and the Newhaven ferry is 15 minute drive away. We are
catching the 10 am ferry tomorrow to Dieppe.
Friday 13th April The ferry trip yesterday went smoothly. We have discovered that if you want to encourage conversation with strangers on a ferry, buy a road map of France and leave it on the table. We chatted to a British couple on their way to Carcassonne who pointed out where they had stayed in Brittany on past trips and a Frenchman with limited English who took us through France page by page pointing out major towns and cities with either a nod of approval or a Gallic shrug which I interpreted as meaning he wouldn't recommend a visit.
Our campsite is about 6 km's south of Dieppe and this time it really is set around a lake. There a few of them and a fast flowing stream at the bottom of our pitch. The weather is cold and overcast. Today we cycled down the Avenue Verte for a few miles. It is a disused railway, built in the 19th century to link London to Paris via the Newhaven to Dieppe ferry. It is now possible to cycle to Paris but we didn't get out
of bed in time to do that today! Instead we cycled to Neuchâtel-en-Bray. The countryside is much like that in rural England. It is the architecture that makes it apparent we are in France. We passed beautifully restored medieval barns and timbered houses along with the odd 15th century chateau. In a very cold Neuchâtel-en-Bray we sat outside the impressive main entrance of the Notre Dame church eating our sandwiches and watching mourners file into the church for a funeral for what looked like an old soldier. Down each side of the steps to the church was a cascade of floral tributes but rather than cut bouquets they were potted tubs. Very beautiful.
Sunday 15th April We are camped just outside Honfleur, a very picturesque little town on the Seine estuary opposite Le Havre and with views of the Pont du Normandie which we had the pleasure of crossing yesterday. We cycled into the town and then wandered around the harbour and narrow cobbled streets of the old town admiring its half-timbered houses and colourful facades. There was a brocante market well underway around the wooden church of St Catherine’s which was initially built
in the late 15th and early 16th century as a cheap wooden temporary structure after the original church was destroyed in the hundred year war. The church and separate bell tower (also made of wood) still survive today. Inside the church, the beautiful double vaulted roof looks like a couple of overturned ships hulls. We called into Les Maisons Satie, marketed as a musical and visual tribute to Erik Satie who was born there in 1866. We wore headphones playing his music and excerpts of his writings. The rooms contained "a surreal surprise"! I'm sure if I was more cultured, it would have had more meaning but on the face of it, it was an amusing way to spend time out of the rain.
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Jan
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Have a great trip
Bit green with envy reading blog. A book should be next! Like look of harbour. Great to see you both enjoying life. Good for you.