We have reached the north coast at Dieppe.

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Off to a good start again today as more than 200 miles to drive and not using motorways.

Bob had planned a route going as directly north as possible but avoiding Rouen at all costs. He decided we would use the Brotonne bridge well enough west of our most unfavourite French place to cross the river Seine.



First of all up to Beaugency which we know well as we use the aire on the river there quite a lot for overnighters. The aire was closed when we drove past in June but suspect that might have been because of the severe flooding at the beginning of June. It was open as normal as we went past today.

From there to Chateaudun, a road we’ve driven many times but then Bob took us on a completely new route setting off first for Brou and from there through several interesting towns and villages. Love to note the changes in architectural style as we drive through the different regions of France. The Loire, we left, is full of light coloured buildings but Normandy has ornate patterned brickwork, lots of timbers and thatching and churches with soaring black spires.

The very best of these was Frazé where this is a superb chateau which also has lots of really lovely ‘outbuildings’. Stopped for photos but apart from a stop for lunch, it was the only place we had time to stop as we had a long driving day and didn’t want to get to Dieppe too late.

We did drive through another couple of towns I would love to have stopped but time and problems with parking a 3.5ton motorhome in a small town meant we drove straight through.



We drove through a lot of forests today. Have not seen a single deer this trip. Maybe the gun laden huntsman we saw yesterday has shot them all but every time we came to a new stretch of forest there were warning signs about the presence of deer and not a one in sight. Got so fed up looking for them unsuccessfully I decided to search for giraffes instead but oddly didn’t see any of those either !



We also drove through lots and lots (and lots) of fields and along some very straight flat roads. As well as a shortage of deer (and giraffes) we did begin to think there was a shortage of human beings, apart from those in the occasional passing vehicle and got quite excited when we eventually spotted the odd one or two and then a few more when we got near towns.



And so to Dieppe and one of our favourite pre-ferry campsite (Camping Vitamin) as it is so convenient for the ferry and has a superb heated, covered pool. I did double lengths in it to make up for missing a swim yesterday.

Tomorrow we will ride down into the town on Kisbee as we haven’t really visited Dieppe before just stopped the night at the campsite then gone straight to the ferry. We will also suss out the nearby supermarkets as we need to do the pre-home shopping trip in Tandy (can’t carry enough wine bottles on Kisbee to last Bob the winter).



Much chillier now we are right in the north though still blue sky and no rain so we are very definitely not complaining, just wearing warmer clothing.

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Comments

[JenGog]

Rouen
Oh my laughed at your comment on Rouen - we have just struggled round it - it always gets us every time :) We have just returned from Spain and are home on the train tomorrow morning. staying at Camping St Claire in Neufchatel nice site I write as JENGOG Jennifer

[BobsJoy]

Neufchatel
I'll have a look at that site, don't think we've been there. Thank you xxx