Early autumn holiday, 30 September 2023

Saint-Firmin

I haven't really done much today. We set off at about 10, having used the services and so on, and first port of call was a supermarket for the weekend shopping. Then we drove straight here, to Saint-Firmin, and that's about it, really!

The Swan Whisperer did go for a longish walk this afternoon, but we are in the middle of nowhere. The pitches are horrendously sloping, half the electric points don't work, the WiFi doesn't work, and there is very little phone signal. I am not a happy bunny, but you do get a few duff places everywhere. And there were some spectacular views on the drive here!

Early autumn holiday, 29 September 2023

Crots

The Swan Whisperer actually went for a run this morning, first time since he fell ill! Less than 4 km, but it's a start. He says he's very unfit still, but that's only to be expected. Later in the morning, he went for a walk, as did I a little later (photos on Facebook, as per usual). It was a bit confusing, as there is a vast campsite just near us (now closed for the winter), but then great signs saying it's a hunting preserve.

I don't think they hunt campers....

We didn't do much the rest of the day; it was always going to be a rest day. We basically sat in the shade of the WoMo and read, or watched videos, or dozed, until the mosquitos started biting, whereupon we came in and had supper! 

Early autumn holiday, 28 September 2023

Crots

It is roughly the midpoint of our holiday, and we are having a couple of very relaxed days in the Alps. For some reason I have been very tired today, and apart from wandering into the town to visit the supermarket, I've done very little. 

The Swan Whisperer walked up to investigate this clock tower

while I was shopping, and then we did very little until after lunch, when we finally got our act together. 

Unfortunately, when we were using the services, the cassette stuck, and the lever broke off! We thought for a few minutes we'd have to come straight home, but the SW has managed to work out how to get it out with the help of a screwdriver (that sounds like some awful schoolboy joke), and it should be fine until we get home.

We only had about 50 km to drive today, if that. This Camping-Car Park is a lot busier than last night's, but by no means full! Its big disadvantage is that there is no shade other than that provided by the motor homes themselves, but we put our chairs and table out and sat out to drink our tea. The SW went for an explore, but I stayed in and drowsed a bit.

We are planning to stay here tomorrow night, too, and I hope and expect to feel up for a walk as we are near a lake, almost a sort of beach resort! I want to explore at least a bit. 

Early autumn holiday, 27 September 2023

L'Argentière-La-Bessée

We are approximarely half way through our holiday, so we changed our sheets, towels, etc, which took up the first part of the morning and it was not until 11:00 that we set out for our walk. Not my favourite walk of these holidays, I must admit, as it was quite steep in places, and much of it on a footpath through woods.

It was the sort of walk I enjoy having done, but don't specially enjoy doing!

Our first port of call was a local Intermarché for a bit of shopping and the SW to have coffee, and then we drove down here to L'Argentière-La-Bessée, stopping on the Col de Lauteret to have a rather late lunch.

It is not the most beautiful Camping-Car Park, as it is surrounded by hydro-electric works, but it is not far from the town, which looks worth seeing. And there is a mirabelle tree which has shed its load, so we picked up a bowlful of windfalls and stewed them to have with yoghurt or fromage blanc tomorrow! 

Early autumn holiday, 26 September 2023

Notre-Dame-de-Mesage, Auvergne

The weather has - tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon - been being absolutely glorious, warm and sunny. But it is autumn, and early mornings and late evenings are chilly, if not cold. This, of course, means that there is a heavy dew overnight, and my feet got soaked when I went out for an early-morning dash round the playing-fields before breakfast! I was delighted to find some field mushrooms, which made a wonderful addition to the meal! 

After breakfast, our first port of call was a supermarket, and we were delighted to find, while we were there, that it had a launderette in the car park.

We are just under half-way through our holiday, so decided to profit from the occasion to do a load of laundry. I shopped and the SW got diesel and then his coffee while this was happening. Unfortunately, though, the dryer wasn't working, and although it did take the worst off, our clothes were by no means dry. However, Park4Night is very good at telling you where there are public laundry facilities, and I discovered there was one within a few minutes of where we are staying tonight, so we had lunch and then spent most of the afternoon driving down here. 

We drove down past Grenoble, and the turnoff to Villard-de-Lans, wishing that we were going there for the Mountain Cup again - so many wonderful memories, so many friends made, so much fun had.... I do realise it's uneconomic to hold it now, and the rink is not particularly helpful, but I know I'm not the only one to miss it badly. Not that I skate any more, and it's only a dream...but we did have such fun! 

Anyway, we got here at last. We are parked up in the car park of a tennis-court/football pitch complex, and there is a constant stream of cars dropping off children for practice! I could be in Walthamstow on a Monday night - the main difference being the adults don't go in with their children to register them, but just turf them out of the car and drive off. 

The SW has gone for a walk which he says looks lovely - I'm hoping to do a shorter version with him in the morning - and I will start supper soon. I had been going to do a chicken casserole, but we are not quite level this evening, and that sort of dish is easier to cook on the level, so we'll have Leberkäse with an egg and chips and a fried tomato, I think. The casserole can wait - and by then I will have bought leeks and mushrooms, which always improves it! Last night's fishcakes, by the way, were delicious, but did fall apart rather.... And I have finished my gooseberry chutney!

Early autumn holiday, 25 September 2023

Saint-André-du-Vieux-Jonc

We did like the campsite we were in last night, mostly because the owner was so nice. He not only took orders for bread last night, he even delivered it! And he let us put off registering, etc, until we were about to leave.

First port of call was a Super U; didn't need much, but got almost everything we did need, except I forgot fizzy water. But then there was a problem with the hab door, which didn't want to lock, and the Swan Whisperer didn't remember that this has happened before or how to fix it. However, he managed in the end, and we drove to Besançon, where we parked up at what we think is the citadel.

We had lunch, and the SW went for a quick  explore, but I was very sleepy and, indeed, ended up dozing most of the way to here, near Bourg-en-Bresse, which is a lovely little aire for 5 motor homes, gravel pitches separated by bushes, in a park (photos on Facebook).

The SW is sat outside reading, but I made fishcakes for tonight's supper and put them in the fridge to firm up (I am very bad at making fishcakes, but they will taste good,whatever!) and then went  for a wander and got soaked testing the taps on the services! So am in my pyjamas, but as another motor home has now joined us, don't quite like to go out to do a tai chi practice! Oh well! 

Early autumn holiday, 24 September 2023

Geneuille, Franche-Comté

Gérardmer, it transpires, is pronounced "Jeremy" (or thereabouts) because the name derives from Gérard d'Alsace, who established a tower or hunting lodge or something on the banks of the Jamagne (local river); the suffix "mer" coming from an old Oil language word meaning the garden. Hence its pronunciation; conversely the nearby villages of Longemer and Retournemer take their name from "mare", the water body in old French, but which explains why their suffix is pronounced "mère". 

So that is where we were this morning. I got up first and went to the bakery for a baguette and pains aux raisins, which threw me by having chocolate in them. No thanks! But the baguette was sourdough and lovely! It was a glorious morning, but very cold and very misty.

The bakery was only across the road, so when I got back the Swan Whisperer was still getting dressed, so I started to get breakfast. 

This was a disaster! There was nothing wrong with the baguette or the scrambled eggs, but first I knocked the aeropress over, spilling all my coffee grounds into the sink (It could have been worse - it could have been on the floor!), and then, when I had ground a new lot, the straining lid fell off the aeropress and into my cup, taking all the grounds with it. The Swan Whisperer rescued it, but the resulting brew was so weak and (by then) a bit cold that I had to have another cup after our walk. Most unlike me - I usually only have one cup a day, and perhaps a small cup after tai chi on Wednesdays. 

Anyway, after breakfast we did go for a walk, which was lovely. We didn't go all round the lake - it is 6 km all the way round, and the SW, who did it yesterday evening, said the path was very uneven and unpleasant to walk on. He also didn't really want to do it again! So we contented ourself with walking to the lake and round a bit of it before heading back to town - about 3 km in total. 

Then it was time for church, which we were able to listen to on livestream from our home church, and when it was finished we headed south towards this village which is, I think, near Besançon. We stopped for lunch en route, so didn't get to this campsite until about 5. Nobody in reception, so I rang the proprietor who said to settle in and he would come and see us in due course.

He's just been - lovely man; we are to register and settle up, etc, in the morning, and have ordered our baguette and croissants for 8:30! It is a pleasant campsite - I've not taken any photos yet - but very basic, but on the banks of the Ognon - the river Onion!!! Photos of Gérardmer on Facebook. 

Early autumn holiday, 23 September

Gérardmer, or Gérômé, as it is pronounced locally.

So we are back in France, but not before shopping in Germany! I was delighted to score both Federweißer and a basket of squash to take home (I am about to drink at least some of the Federweißer!), among other things. 

We also stopped off at a DM, where I got various travel-sized bits and bobs.

Then we tried to get back into France, but roadworks on the bridge meant access was basically for cars and small vans only, and just too narrow for us, so we followed the lorry route which took us practically half way to Münich (I exaggerate) before getting back. We found out, too late, too late, that there would have been an intermediate route we could have taken, which would probably have been a great deal quicker. And then, if course, the Satnav had reset itself so it took us through the Saint-Dié tunnel, which we had asked it not to do! Pity it can't pay the toll for us, too!

We eventually arrived here and parked up in an enormous aire, which is free during the day, and just €7 overnight. I should have liked to have accompanied the SW on his walk, but feel rather tired and a bit achey - not unwell, just stiff - so decided it could wait until tomorrow, even though most of the shops will be shut. 

Early autumn holiday, 22 Se[ptember 2023

Kehl, Germany.

It's days like today when you know why you have a motor home and go on touring holidays rather than spending the time in one place!

We got up early this morning and we're away by 09:30, retracing our steps about 20 km to visit the town of Bitche (pronounced "Beach") which we had gone through yesterday and looked worth visiting.

Indeed it was. The motorhome aire was free, although we only used it to empty grey water (I believe buying water and rinsing one's loo out did cost about €2, but we didn't need to do that), and actually parked in the main car park. What we had come to visit was the Citadelle, which was up rather a steep slope - to my irritation, I couldn't manage it without a couple of stops for breath. But I got there in the end, and the SW was very patient with me!

Once we got there, we discovered that there was a path all the way round, about 1km long, and fairly flat, which they recommended you walk round, so that's what we did. It was seriously lovely, views both over the town and of the citadel itself, now a monument.

When we had gone all round it, we went back to the van and headed to a local Intermarché, where I did a shopping and the SW got diesel. I don't know why people say the French are unhelpful - this is almost never true in my experience, and today was no exception; the bill came to a little more than the authorised limit for contactless, and I'd left my credit cards in the WoMo - so she suggested I pay in two lots! Which I did. Very helpful.

Then it was time to head on - not very far today, just to Kehl, where we have been so many times before, usually much later in the year as a base for the Christmas markets in Strasbourg. The SW set the Satnav to cross the Rhine at a barrage - forget its name - and then take us up-river towards Kehl. It was lovely - you can't see the actual Rhine, as it is up a high embankment, but there is a small stream or canal flowing alongside - presumably for overflow purposes - which obviously has a lot of fish in it. We saw loads of heron, a coot or two, masses of swans, and a cormorant. I could not think what the latter was called, and had to have recourse to the silly poem about laying eggs in paper bags.

The aire is fuller than it usually is in December (such a surprise!) but there was still room for us. I would have liked to have gone into Kehl to shop, but when push came to shove, I realised I would get over-tired if I did; I still have to pace myself a bit despite being massively better. The SW set off to go to Strasbourg, but he missed a tram and then it started to rain, so he came back. And I had bought us choucroute for supper - we were, after all, in Alsace - so we have just eaten that, and I think it is time to close our shutters for the night. 

Early autumn holiday, 21 September 2023

Obersteinbach, Alsace 

I slept badly last night, with the result that I went back to sleep after my alarm clock had gone off, and didn't stir until gone 9. This put us late for the morning, and it wasn't until about 11:45 that we found ourselves in the blissfully warm waters of Thermapolis. We have been here twice before, and it was as good as ever, and rather less crowded. After a wonderful massage and pummelling that left me very relaxed and sleepy, we thought we had better do some shopping before lunch. 

However, when we arrived at the nearest E Leclerc, we found that the car park was surrounded by height barriers, so there was no way in for the likes of us! Well, if they don't want our custom, they needn't have it. Their loss! 

We had, we realised, parked up by a bakery, so I went in and bought a multigrain baguette and a couple of chaussons de pommes, and we had a nice lunch, albeit without the carrot salad the Swan Whisperer has been longing for (I didn't buy it when we arrived as we had some coleslaw to finish; that has now happened). 

Then it was time to head on to our next port of call, here at Obersteinbach. We have been here before , too, but it stopped being a France Passion host during the pandemic. I was delighted to see that it has started up again - it has now put in loos and a picnic area, as well as the barn where you can see the goats.

We bought some yoghurt at the farm shop, plus a saucisson sec and a couple of goats' cheeses, one pepper and one "Garden vegetables". And an ice-cream cone each.

As we have Plans for tomorrow, and want to get away early, the SW decided to go for a walk in the woods, as he does love it. However, the sky looked very threatening and just as he said he was about to go, the heavens opened! That was a fairly short shower, though, and he dodged the raindrops to go up to the border and see a rock formation he likes.

And then he came back and we had supper (tomato and vegetable sauce with tortellini and cheese), and it is raining and raining! I do love to hear the rain on the roof, but I hope it will be away before morning. 

Early Autumn Holiday, 20 September 2023

Amnéville. 

Bother, bother, bother! We realised today that I had - and the Swan Whisperer had not noticed I had - misdated the spreadsheet, so we have a day less than we thought. It actually doesn't really matter, though, as the campsite where we had been going to go on 29 September closes the next day for the winter, so we can just leave it out and have the planned rest day then. I think, though, we might have to find a launderette a little earlier, we shall see!

I wish I could say that the Swan Whisperer went for a run this morning, but he is not yet quite able for that, but he did go for a walk/jog before breakfast. After it, we both went for a walk into the village of Montaigu, which wasn't particularly attractive.

Then I went to the farm shop where we were staying and bought some pâté, eggs and some "porc en gelée", which will make a nice meal sometime.

Then it was time to head on, first looking for a burger bar in a London bus which was supposed to be in the village, but we didn't find it, and then stopping at the next village to go to the bakery, where we bought quiches and a lemon and a rhubarb tart for lunch (so we haven't had the pâté yet, after all!).

We arrived here in Amnéville at about 16:30, and after taking on more water (we will use the rest of the services in the morning), we had a cup of tea, and then the Swan Whisperer went for a walk and I read and knitted. Tomorrow we will go to the Thermapolis, our main reason for going this way. I hope the weather will remain as glorious as it has been all day - even now, at 20:15, it is still very warm. 

Early autumn holiday, 19 September 2023

Montagu, near Laon

We didn't hurry this morning; the Swan Whisperer went to get croissants and a lovely fresh baguette for breakfast, and after it he emptied the loo and the grey, although he didn't bother taking on any more water as we already had plenty. 

We decided to drive most of the way on the motorway, as it would have been much slower on non--toll roads. However, first we went to the Auchan on the outskirts of Calais and I did a shop and the SW tried to buy gas, but neither he nor the cashier could make the cage open, so he gave up and had coffee instead. 

After that, it was a matter of driving along a rather dull motorway. We stopped for lunch in a service area, and then didn't stop again until we came off the motorway when the SW made another attempt to get gas, this time successfully.

It was not long after that that we arrived at this France Passion farm, where we were warmly welcomed. The shop won't be open until tomorrow morning, but we hope to buy some charcuterie there. And maybe some eggs and some farm honey, we'll see what they have. 

Madame warned us that she closed the main gate at night, but didn't say what time, so the SW was reluctant to go for a walk in case he got locked out. We plan to have a walk tomorrow morning before we head on. He lay on his bed and read, and I did a tai chi practice, read and knitted, and then got supper, which was pre-prepared kidneys in madeira sauce, new potatoes and carrots, followed by the most delicious chocolate mousse with raspberries on the bottom. And I treated us to patisseries for lunch as it was the first full day of the holidays!

Early autumn holiday, 18 September 2023

Calais, Rue d'Asfeld motor home park

One reason why I was a little stressed when the trains went wrong yesterday was because I knew there wouldn't be much time to unpack and repack before heading off again this morning. 

I had done as much packing as I could before I went to Bradford, but still had to sort out my overnight bag, and decide what knitting, etc, I wanted to take with me. And pack the second crate with stuff we needed until the last minute - tea bags, coffee (which I nearly forgot)), Marmalade, etc. And even then there seemed to be an awful lot of things to pack into various nooks and crannies. And I regretted not having packed the tomato chutney when we had our belated dinner! 

We finally set off at about 10:45 and half an hour later - not that we had gone that far as the traffic was terrible due to a road closure and the new LTNs - had to turn sadly back as the Swan Whisperer had left his phone behind. However, we arrived in Sussex at about 12:45, just in time for lunch. After which I went to sleep, but the SW was very energetic getting the motor home, transferring stuff from the car, unpacking that which needed to be unpacked, etc. 

We left Sussex at about 16:40 and had an uneventful journey to Folkestone, arriving at the terminal in time to be offered a crossing an hour earlier than the one we had booked on. So we said yes please, and went straight through passport control, etc, and only had to wait a very few minutes in the holding pens. An uneventful crossing, during which we finished unpacking, and then we drove to this aire in Calais, which is pretty busy, and the Swan Whisperer got supper, which we have now eaten and are about to have a cup of tea before going to bed! 

I haven't taken any photos today, so here is one of the cream tea I had on Saturday. 

Saltaire and Haworth

This weekend I'm in Bradford for the New Chalet Club Annual General Meeting. As they try to do every other year, but for obvious reasons haven't been able to do since 2019, it is a residential weekend.

I came up by train from London yesterday, changing at Leeds, although I had to use Plan B and go to Bradford Interchange rather than Plan A to Bradford Forster Square (which is next door to the hotel) due to a signal failure. However, it is only a short walk from Bradford Interchange.

Always lovely to meet old friends and make new ones on the Friday evening, and today was the planned excursions. 

In the morning we went to Saltaire, the model village created by Titus Salt, and specifically the New Mill,

as they call it, now a Venue with an art gallery, café, and various shops - antique, jewellery, expensive outdoor wear, books and stationery, that sort of thing. I had a cup of coffee and then went up to the top floor where there was a history of the place, and also a film about Sir Titus, as he became, and how he really did try to make his workers' lives better! Mind you, he was very against drunkenness, and did not allow a pub in the village (the one on the main drag is called "Don't tell Titus"!), but did build an Institute where people could go in the evenings for classes or to socialise and play games, etc. 

All very interesting, but I wanted to go to a craft shop that was just near where we were to get the coach, and time was getting on, so I came away and went to the craft shop, where I got what I wanted. The woman running the shop was lovely, but very slow, and I was nearly late back!

We ate our packed lunches on the bus, like a pack of schoolgirls rather than the pensioners that a majority of us are, and soon arrived in Haworth. It was a long, hard pull up to the village from the coach park, but I managed far better than I expected! 

First port of call was the church, which was lovely, and there was a memorial poster about Patrick Brontë, the father, who seems to have been a lovely person! You get the impression that he was a strict, joyless type, but not at all - he campaigned for better conditions for those in the workhouses, etc, and preached a God of love, not fear.

But the church was lovely anyway! I loved the Communion table and the mosaic thing of the Madonna and child near the font (apparently made out of toast!). 

Then it was time to visit the Old Parsonage Museum, which was pretty much as you might expect it to be, but still interesting. And then I walked down to look at the rather twee shops and found some of our party having a cream tea in a café, so treated myself to one, too,

and then, as we were all tired, went back to the coach to await the rest of the party.

Back to Bradford, and I nipped into the mall across the street from the hotel as I needed to go to Superdrug - gf course went in the wrong entrance for it and had to walk all round before I found it. Now back at the hotel and resting before changing for our formal dinner. Tomorrow is the AGM and Book Sale, and then back to London before heading off again on Monday morning!