Oberstdorf 2023, Monday 22 May

I could have sworn, when I planned this trip, that our drive for today was to have been around 4 hours - quite long enough when you have to sit there, doing nothing except perhaps a bit of knitting! I can't really read in a moving car, and get both bored and tired.  And the Swan Whisperer swears that the route he took was a direct one - but it was nearly 7 hours travelling time!

First thing, he went for a run, and I walked up to the nearby bakery and got bread and croissants for breakfast (actually one croissant and one pain au chocolat). We set off about 09:30, and stopped at a Casino in Sedan for lunch and shopping, which I later regretted as it seemed far more expensive than Carrefour and didn't have such nice things.

Then it was a long, long, long drive to Cité Europe, as there were a couple of things I hadn't been able to get in Casino, including a ready meal for supper, and we needed diesel, which is cheaper here than in the UK. Supper was a frozen dish of potato, fish and scallops, and very good it was too.

However, when we got to Sangatte, where we had planned to spend the night, we found that the car park no longer accepts motor homes, so we came here to the one in Calais. Nothing wrong with it, except it isn't free, and services are extra. Not that we need them, having used them this morning in Dieue-sur-Meuse.

Oh, and apparently Oberstdorf was a super-spreader event, and an awful lot of people have now gone down with, or tested positive for Covid. Well, if I didn't get it again after spending a whole afternoon with my mother when she had it in March, I probably won't get it now. Hope not, anyway.

Haven't taken any photos today, so here is one from yesterday, some random poultry. 

Oberstdorf 2023, Monday 15 May

The skating started this afternoon, although there was nothing we wanted to see until about 5 pm. So this morning I went for another walk around Oberstdorf, and this time did a bit of shopping. I had given myself  permission to take the bus back, with a fairly heavy bag, but I just missed one by the skin of my teeth, and the next one wasn't for another 15 minutes and it was raining, so I walked back.

Had I known the weather was going to be glorious, i'd have saved my walk until this afternoon because, contrary to all the forecasts, the sun came out and it was positively hot! The forecast for tomorrow and Wednesday is still dire, though. Anyway, the Swan Whisperer did go for a walk, and when he came back there was time for a cup of tea before we head to to the rink. The mountains were looking lovely in the sunshine,

although there were clouds descending on one of them.

We enjoyed catching up with various friends and acquaintances in the rink, and watching some of our friends skate. We are all getting old now, though, and more and more of our friends have given up - there are  younger ones coming along all the time, of course, but few that we know. Still, always enjoyable to watch those we do know! Even if we didn't always agree with the judges in the artistic category.

Once we had seen all the skaters we wanted to see, we came back to the WoMo and ate cold chicken and salad, followed my melon, followed by cheese and biscuits! 

Oberstdorf 2023, Saturday 13 May

Oberstdorf Allgäu

I don't know whether I was overtired, or what, but I slept very badly, and today started horribly early as the Swan Whisperer wanted to do a parkrun some 35 km from where we had spent the night. We parked up there, rather on a slope, which made having a shower rather difficult as the water pooled on the back of the cabinet.

I decided that toast was too ambitious for me with that slope, so had a fried egg sandwich for my breakfast. When the SW got back after what he said was a very hilly run (25'44", and a new course record for his age band), he did make toast to go with his fried egg.

We decided that, as we were less than 3 hours' drive from Oberstdorf, and had nothing planned to do at wherever we had planned to spend the night, it was silly not to go straight there. So, after stopping to do a small shop at a convenient ReWe, that is what we did. We stopped for lunch at a random rest area, and again 20.minutes later to do the washing up, as the used plates are rattling so loudly. Then we stopped at Memmingen to get diesel and then straight here, even if the Satnav did take us the pretty way! We assume it thought it was quicker.

Anyway, just as we got here the rain stopped, so we parked up and had a cup of tea before the SW went into town to get cash and I popped into Norma to see what they had, which turned out to be a pair of blue canvas shoes, which I wanted anyway, and some potato salad. Also, there is a new bakery between here and Norma, which will be open tomorrow (bakeries are about the only shops in Germany that  open on Sundays and public holidays, although the tourist shops might). So looking forward to getting tomorrow's lunch rolls from there.

It hadn't rained since we arrived, but it's not exactly sunny, and the forecast isn't good. Oh well, that's what you get in the Alps in May. 

Oberstdorf 2023, Friday 12 May

Weil der Stadt, near Stuttgart

(That appears to translate as "Because the town", which  makes me wonder Because the town what!)

So today was All About Speyer. Our first stop was the Technik Museum, which has been on the Swan Whisperer's bucket list since we visited the sister museum at Sinsheim some twelve years ago now. He and I have learnt, over the years, that we enjoy museums more if we split up and arrange to meet at a given place and time. There was a coffee bar just at the entrance, so we agreed to meet there at 11:30, it now being 09:45.

I did rather love the museum - I knew I would - but, sadly, many of the exhibits such as the inside of the 747 or any of the other planes, for that matter, we're up terrifically long flights of steep and/or spiral metal stairs, which I knew I couldn't manage. You couldn't expect them to put lifts in everywhere, but one or two would have been nice!

However, I had a very happy time pottering around mostly on the level, although I did go up to one gallery to see a model railway. The main hall was arguably the most interesting, although one couldn't not visit the space exhibitions with a Russian space shuttle

and so on. But what I really loved was outside, with trains

and boats

and planes.... And inside, a "proper " Paris bus of the kind I used to use regularly  when I lived there, 50 years ago! 

When I was done, I went to the coffee shop and waited for the SW, and when he had had his coffee we walked on into the town, across a park, and visited the Cathedral. Then we looked up local places to have lunch, and found a very nice café that did us a do good light meal,

and then a rhubarb cake for the SW, and an ice for me.

After which we walked back to the WoMo, used the services and headed on south to this aire in Weil der Stadt, which is in an Edeka car park, and we were lucky enough to get the last place! I did some shopping, and now have enough food for the weekend (I didn't use that sauce last night as the veg had made so much gravy it didn't need it), so, except perhaps for la for lunch and maybe a bottle of wine, I won't need to shop until Monday in Oberstdorf!

Oberstdorf 2023; Tuesday 9 May

We are not yet, of course, actually in Oberstdorf; in fact, today we have only gone as far as Maurage in Belgium, where we are parked up beside the canal. 

We got up at sparrowfart this morning, had a quick breakfast and then loaded the car and were away before 7:00, arriving in Sussex at about 08:45. We unloaded the car into the WoMo, and put away the things that really had to be put away, leaving clothes and bedding for later. We then drove it round to No 6, only to find that my sister was doing her Pilates class so the family weren't ready to take us round the woods. We should have walked... 

Anyway, I helped my mother make salad - we had leftover cold chicken and Coronation dressing, which we shared with them. When my sister was ready, we went for a drive round the woods to see the bluebells and other wild flowers. There is a lot of comfrey - boneset - but I didn't take a picture of it.

 

Lunch was early, as my mother and sister were going out, and we needed to get on, so after the meal we said our goodbyes and headed off to Folkestone. I slept through most of the motorway bit. 

Quite unlike last time, we were offered a crossing half an hour earlier than scheduled, and got through Passport Control with no delays at all. After that it was a very easy, if dull, run to our overnight place, although at the last minute we had to divert due to a road closure. It was pouring with rain, although this has now stopped, and we were hungry, so supper was the end of the chicken hotted up in some stock, baby new potatoes and tenderstem broccoli, and very good it was, too. Followed by yoghurt, and now a cup of tea with biscuits and cheese! 

Early spring holiday, 4 March 2023

La Cavalerie, Aveyron

Lovely to wake up at Mas Alart this morning!

The Swan Whisperer went for a run, as he always does here. After breakfast we said goodbye to our hosts, and headed on. First port of call was the local Lidl. In hindsight, I should have walked there - it is only about a kilometre, if that - and let the Swan Whisperer pick me up, but that didn't occur to me. 

After shopping, we drove down to the beach at St-Cyprien, and walked down to look at the Mediterranean. The SW dipped his hand in, as he had done in the Atlantic at Hossegor a couple of days ago. I find walking on sand too tiring, so went back to the WoMo once I'd taken a few photos. 

We drove a little further to the fishing village just outside Canet-en-Roussillon, which we had been to before, and enjoyed a walk around it. We had hoped to go on a trail to what was called a "grau" on the beach opposite, but again it was all sand, so we just took a photo of what looked like a stone pier.

It was very windy when we walked north along the lake, and we were glad to turn back. Not a long walk today, only about a mile, but enjoyable, nonetheless. 

It wasn't quite time for lunch, so we drove on to Toreilles and had hoped to have lunch beside the sea there but, alas, the road ends some distance from the sea. So we ended up parking in the reception area of a closed campsite to have our lunch! 

Although we had a long way to go today, the Satnav said it was only half an hour longer if we didn't pay toll, so we decided to do that. We drove cross-country (although the roads were excellent) to Beziers, where we were able to get on the A75 and drive up it almost to Millau, where we have parked up in the village of La Cavalerie, which we did drive through last time. The SW has explored - sadly, the local bakery is on its annual holiday, so still no croissants for breakfast! And tomorrow we will explore before heading north. 

Early spring holiday, 3 March 2023

Mas Alart, Saleilles

Well, I did it! I walked all round the lake at Tournefeuille, a distance of almost 5K! This isn't much, but is huge for me, as I haven't been able to do so much since (a) having blood clots in 2017 and then, just as I was pretty much recovered, going down with Covid in March of 2020. I did use my trekking poles to help, mind, but could probably have managed without. Infuriatingly, my smartwatch stopped recording 2/3 of the way round. It has become very unreliable of late, and will be replaced when I get home! 

So after my walk - the Swan Whisperer had run the distance before breakfast, of course - we headed off towards Saleilles, stopping first of all to buy quiches and bread for lunch and then at Carcassonne to eat said quiches. We had travelled on the motorway up until then, but decided to come off and go via Limoux and Quillan, along the lovely D118 and 117. I knew we had gone along the latter about 18 months ago, but had no memory of stopping overnight at Limoux until I reread my blog for that day! It is an amazing road - there are sections cut through rocks, fast dual carriageway sections (none of them very long, though) and pretty little towns and villages along the route. Then suddenly you are in Perpignan and traffic, and then out the other side and going past roundabout and roundabout to get to Saleilles. 

The shop was open when we arrived, and we were recognised and warmly welcomed. We stocked up, needless to say! It is a lot less cold here, although very far from hot. And tomorrow we will be have to go and have a look at the Mediterranean before heading north! 

Early spring holiday, 28 February 2023

Hossegor-Soorts, Landes, France. 

The Swan Whisperer went for a run this morning, so breakfast, by the time he had showered and changed, was not until 09:15. After it, we both went for a walk along the lake and round the village.

All very nice, but unfortunately I had neglected to check my smartwatch and it ran out of charge about 200m into the walk! I have been bewailing having forgotten to pack a beanie, as it is so cold, but realised this morning that I did have a pashmina, which I wore over my head, hijab-style, and crossed over my chest. That made a great deal of difference! Also, I don't think it was quite as cold this morning, although there was still a pretty brisk wind.

So it was about noon when we actually set off. We went a little back on ourselves first of all, to go to a large supermarket nearby - Intermarché, I think. While I was shopping, the SW found a nice place to stop for lunch outside the church in the village of Pontenx-Les-Forges. 

After lunch, we drove across country to the village of Hossegor where I spent a week or so with a French exchange nearly 60 years ago now. We have passed through it before, and I knew I had no way of recognising where we stayed - which I know was long since sold and quite probably pulled down. Anyway, the one place I did remember was the E Leclerc supermarket, which my host family's mother took me to at least once. It was still there last time, but, sadly, it has now given way to a bigger and better one on the outskirts of town, and the old building is abandoned. 

So we drove around the town a bit, and then we stopped along a huge length of sand dunes, 

and the SW climbed up to see the see, along with at least one family with small children and and another with a dog! And when he came back, we drove to this aire where we stayed last time we were here. Back then, it was half-price in the off season, but still provided everything one might need in the way of services, electricity, WiFi, etc. Of course, it has now been taken over by the ubiquitous Camping-Car parks and no reduction! Still we do have electricity and more than 10 minutes free WiFi! I resented, last night, paying €11 for no more (except 10 minutes' free WiFi) than I had got for free the previous two nights. 

In search of spring, 26 February 2022

Another bitterly cold morning - this photo shows the frost clearing away from the bedroom skylight while I was getting up. 

Our first port of call was to the supermarket for diesel and groceries, and and then we drove down to the Garabit viaduct. I have posted pictures of it before, taken from the aire on the A75, but this was the first time I had seen it from the other side. It is really rather spectacular! 

More photos on Facebook. We continued down the A75 and stopped for lunch before Millau (we had hoped to stop there, but time was getting on). The habitation door lock now seems completely buggered, so matter how often we clean the contacts, but the Swan Whisperer had a brain-waggle and has used the steering lock to keep it closed from the inside! Easily removed when I need to get in or out, and we can get the lock fixed in Sussex when we go home. 

We went over the Millau viaduct. It is more spectacular seen from below, but we wanted to get to our overnight stop before dark so the SW could have a walk. And it is pretty good seen from on it, although you can't see over the restraining walls (just as well, perhaps). 

And on, and on, and on, down the A75 and the A9, past Perpignan and Prades to Villefranche-de-Conflent where we will be spending two nights for reasons which will be revealed tomorrow. The SW has had his walk and will be cooking our Saturday sausage and mash - only the mash will be Aligot, which I rather extravagantly treated us to - we were in the area; it would have been rude not to, really! 

We are definitely seeing signs of spring here - there were speedwells in the aire where we stopped for lunch, crocuses in the one where we stopped for tea, and many of the trees are showing green. This seems to be a fruit-growing area, and many of the trees were in blossom. 

In search of spring, 25 February 2022

St Flour, France. 

Another long drive today, but much nicer than yesterday! However, first thing in the morning it was bitterly cold - and the Swan Whisperer said it was only 6°C inside the van! So, of course, the gas ran out before it was warm enough to shower, so the poor SW had to go out and change the cylinder before we could get up properly. 

So our first port of call after breakfast was an Intermarché, where he got gas and I went shopping. Was very pleased to find snail grippers and forks - something that had been singularly lacking when we fed the boys snails last week - they had to use skewers and we were reduced to the tails of mustard spoons! Which, I may say, I did the job but it is good to have the proper equipment for next time! 

Next, we drove about 20 kilometers to Saran, and used the services there, which Park4Night told us were open all year. The only reason we didn't go there last night was because it also said it was apt to be full, and indeed it was! But we drained, flushed and refilled, and so set off properly down the A71. I was delighted to see the old Aerotrain test track, and a TGV line (which superseded it) both parallel to the road. 

We stopped for lunch in an aire somewhere, near Bourges, we think, and again about an hour later as there was supposed to be a great view of the Auvergne volcanoes.

To our horror, we discovered that the hab door wasn't locking, and had to wait while the SW queried the wisdom of the Internet, which soon solved the problem - dirty contacts, apparently. Once we had solved that, we found we needed a cup of tea so had that, and then headed off again, this time down the A75. The SW decided he would rather stop at a Camping-Car Park (all right for him, but do you see him giving me the money to refill my card?) so we did another very quick stop to reprogramme the satnav, and now we are here, plugged into electricity and we can use the services again this morning, which is good as we won't have them again until Monday. 

It is going to be another very cold night, but we will programme the heating to come on at 07:00!

In search of Spring, 24 February 2022

Well, we may have set off in search of the spring but it most certainly wasn't in France today! It rained. It rained. And it rained. 

We had a very long drive today; the satnav said that the quickest way would be via Paris, but the Swan Whisperer decided not to do that, but and we came via Rouen instead, which was about two hours longer. 

Our first port of call was at a Lidl, where I bought one or two bits - blood oranges here are a lot cheaper than at home. I have a lovely But the Swan Whisperer texted me to say he needed milk and the one thing Lidl France appears not to sell is fresh milk! So we went across the road to an Intermarché or E Leclerc, I forget which where I got milk, drinking water, and beer and cider. And a Paris-Brest each for lunch pudding as they were on such a special offer it would have been rude not to, really! 

And so we went on, stopping for lunch in an aire somewhere, and again for diesel, off-motorway (it took some finding, but we got there in the end). And on and on and on, passing Chartres Cathedral, of which I singularly failed to take a photo. And there was a rainbow, a which was lovely. 

And so to this aire at Artenay, which is the car park of a public swimming pool; as this is open-air, it is not open at this time of year. There are no services, but we can get them tomorrow. Which will be another long drive, as will Saturday. 

In search of spring, 23 February 2022

Merlimont, France. 

So another adventure begins; we are heading back to the South of France to see if it is beginning to be spring there! 

Normally, we would be parked up at Sangatte for the first night, but our batteries were a bit flat, so we thought we would go to a Camping-Car Park place just south of Le Touquet where there would be electricity.

Unfortunately, I misunderstood what the ap was telling me and it was full when we got there, so we are parked up with no electricity in the station car park.  At least we are an hour down the road for tomorrow's trip! 

We will be going to bed very soon to save the battery; if we have to drive for 20 miles tomorrow morning before we can have a shower, so be it! 

I have just given myself a fright because I couldn't find my medications for the morning, but they were there, just not where I thught they were!  Phew!

Early Winter, Friday 3 December 2021

The last full day of the holiday, so of course I have to feel rotten - aching, exhausted, and really not up to par. And still coughing nicely, although less than before. As I said, if I were at home, I'd take a test, and probably will when I get home tomorrow, although as I have to self-isolate anyway until the results of our day 2 PCR tests come through, not much point, really.

The Swan Whisperer went for a walk in the morning, having been out first thing to find a boulangerie for croissants, while I read and dozed and researched a new smartphone (mine is giving notice to quit). Then I finally got dressed and we had lunch, and then drove up to Sangatte in the rain. We stopped at Auchan and I did about half of the necessary shopping, and then I made us a mushroom omelette for supper. And now I am snuggled up in bed with a hot water bottle! I feel quite a lot better this evening, so hope it was only a 24-hour bug. 

June Holiday, 15 June

We are still not allowed to go abroad, but there is plenty to see and do in the UK - specifically in England as we are not quite sure whether the borders between the home nations are open.  We think they are but.... 

So this morning we got up early and were away by 09:00, having done 9/10 of the packing the night before.  We had an appointment with our financial advisers in Burgess Hill, and once that was over we had an earlyish lunch in a local Tesco which had a café, and then drove to No 6, where my mother and sister were just finishing their lunch. We had bought some watermelon chunks and shared them out. 

Then the Swan Whisperer went and got the van and did most of the unpacking (only fair, since I had done the packing), and we eventually set off around 4:30 pm.  We have come as far as Merstham tonight, and now it is supper time. 

Shakedown Cruise, 28 May

 It was only ever going to be a short break, and it came to an end today.  We had hoped to go into Brighton this morning, but the antibiotics have kicked in and I could do nothing but sleep.  The Swan Whisperer went for a run first thing, but after breakfast I nodded off and slept soundly until he came back from a walk down to the sea and back.  Then we decided to set off, and I slept almost the entire way from Brighton to No 6!  I did rouse up a bit after that!

We had a really nice lunch with my mother and sister, and shared some of our cheese, etc, with them.  And then it was time to empty out the van, transfer everything to the car and head back to London.  Again, I slept a great deal of the way, but woke up when we reached Mitcham, and there was a massive traffic jam around Fygges Marsh junction; as bad as when it was a roundabout!  I don't know what they can do to improve things.  

Anyway, we head off again mid-June on a longer break now that we have familiarised ourselves with the van again.  I didn't take any photos today, so here is another from yesterday: 

 And by the time you read this, I will have gone through the earlier posts and amended any egregious typos - I know there are some - and updated locations.  Blogger doesn't seem to allow you to do that in their mobile app at the moment.

Shakedown Cruise, 27 May

The weather forecasters had promised that today was going to be a lovely day. They were not wrong! So after breakfast (my turn to have the slightly cold shower - I was not impressed!) we drove over to Ashburnham House and went for a wonderful walk round the lake.

Most photos are on Facebook. It was very beautiful but by the end I was glad to sit down in the Orangery tea rooms and drink pink lemonade while the SW had coffee and lemon cake (I had a bite - delicious!).

When we went to leave we had a problem, as when we drove round the one-way system, we came up against the place where there was a gallery across from the dormitories to the main house, giving me flashbacks of the vicar's wife filling hot-water-bottles and chivvying us off to bed. ("Yes, Matron!" - most of us had been at boarding school, some even at the same school as me). Anyway, the SW went and asked and was told we could go out the wrong way, delivery lorries always did, but be careful, and as it was, we didn't see any other cars until we were back on the public road.

We moved on, and discovered that our tour took us past Hurstmonceaux castle and the observatory.

It was quite nearly lunch time, so the SW went off to see what he could see while I made hot rolls for lunch.

This turned out to be nothing, as it was all closed.

The afternoon was spent crawling through a massive traffic jam in Newhaven (we should probably have gone via the A27) but we evergreen arrived in Brighton and the op site here. The Swan Whisperer went for a walk and I fell asleep, but I'm awake now and am going to get supper. 

Shakedown Cruise, 26 May

We did manage to find a few television channels last night - and again today, come to that - but of course not the ones we wanted!  Ah well, that's life, and at least we get to see Springwatch on BBC2!

Woke to a gloriously sunny morning and the hot water came on when we had asked it to and also turned it off when we had set it, which was just too early so the poor SW got a cold shower!  After breakfast we "redd up", as my in-laws say, and set off mid-morning to visit friends for lunch.  It was fantastic to see them agaiin, and by the time we were ready to leave, it was mid-afternoon. 

We are parked up in a campsite near Battle, and just next door to Ashburnham place, where I have dire memories of church weekends away!  I gather they now have  very nice café that is open, so maybe we will explore tomorrow.  The SW is about to go out for a walk; I think I shall flop on the bed and read for a bit. 

Shakedown Cruise, 25 May 2021

This time, it was ten months between trips!  So another shakedown cruise is called for, to make sure the motor home knows what it is doing and whether the batteries will hold a charge before embarking on a longer break next month.  Which will still have to be in the UK, alas.  

So the Swan Whisperer went skating this morning and I began to pack, and when he came back and had had some coffee, we loaded the car and set off to Sussex, where we had lunch and then he brought the van around and we loaded that up.  Then my niece came round with her younger son, who we had not yet met.

We set off at about 5:00 pm and headed for our first overnight stop, near Gatwick Airport.  In normal times, I expect the skies would be hideous with plane noises, but there seem to be very few planes this evening - only one departure scheduled and about 3 arrivals.  So it is peaceful.  We are up by the sanitary block, which the Swan Whisperer says is very nice - and I have just heard the first and perhaps only plane of the evening - and we have spent most of the time trying to make the television work.  With singular lack of success!  Oh well, there is always Catchup, but I do wonder why our aerial doesn't work (we suspected the roof aerial didn't, but thought the portable one would). 

Moselle Valley, 19 February

I should have had my act together this morning, got up betimes and headed into Koblenz, but singularly failed to get out of bed until the Swan Whisperer had got back from his "run". Poor man - it had, apparently, looked a lovely place for a run on the map, but when he got there it was far too steep and slippery for any but the most cautious of walks!

We started homewards after breakfast, agreeing that we will definitely come back both to Koblenz and to Lahnstein one of these days. But for now, we drove to Kerten, near Duren, where I did a Last Shop in Germany, and we got diesel, and then - while I slept - to this aire on the outskirts of Charleroi.

And the gas, which the Swan Whisperer was convinced was going to run out at the weekend, is still going strong, like the Widow's Cruse.... 

Moselle Valley, 14 February

"Extra for the mice, extra for the lice,

Two per cent for looking in the mirror twice!"

I really think the aire at Trier must have been taking lessons from the Master of the House, as on top of the not insubstantial overnight fees, we had to pay for electricity and for using the services and had we wanted a shower (which we could not have had anyway as they were out of use for the winter), that would have been extra, too. They did say at the entrance that you could use the loos for free.....

So anyway, the Swan Whisperer went for a run and after breakfast we went to a Kaufman where I did a shopping, and then we drove on here through some very pretty villages - it is lovely  now and will be really lovely in a month or two - to a village called  Schleich where we have parked up by the Moselle.