Early Spring Holiday; 12 March 2026

Bellicourt, Aisne

The rain departed during the night, and the sky cleared, with the inevitable result that the temperature dropped like a stone, and in our bedroom this morning my clock said it was only 8.5° C!  However, the heating soon came on and it was reasonable - not warm, but reasonable - by the time I went to have my shower.

We decided against retracing our steps  into Troyes - we have been there before and will doubtless go again.  So we headed straight on towards Saint-Quentin, stopping for me to shop and then again for lunch.  Alas, by the time we got there, there was No Room in the Inn as the aire was full.  So we decided to come here to the Riqueval canal tunnel, where we have been a couple of times before.  There are services, but according to the nice man in the tourist office nearby, they are a new installation and don't work, so he came out to see exactly how they didn't work, so he could report it!  He also let the Swan Whisperer have some water from the tap, so we should be all right for showers in the morning.  

After a cup of tea, we went out for a walk from the tunnel mouth down to the bridge over the canal and back.  What was rather fun was that there was a barge just coming under the bridge

so we were sort-of racing it all the way back - it was travelling at about the same speed I'm comfortable with, so I pushed myself slightly.  But it moored up before reaching the tunnel, and we thought it might not go through this evening.  And on that side of the canal you have to go down to water level and up again, rather than staying on the level of the bridge as you do on the far side, which was a very long pull up.  I got there in the end, but was utterly feeble and kept having to stop to catch my breath.  Poor Swan Whisperer was very patient with me, but I'm sure he'd rather have gone on by himself rather than trailing along at my speed.  He was most polite, but....

Anyway, we are approaching the end of the holiday - Calais tomorrow, and a Last Shop in France, and then home on Saturday.

Early Spring Holiday, 11 March 2026

Pont Sainte-Marie, Troyes, Aube

We decided not to visit Dijon this morning - the prospect of a walk round the Lac Chanoin Kir (sadly not filled with the eponymous beverage!) was far more attractive. 

It was a lovely walk; the lake, artificial, is a leisure area, with loads of sporting facilities, cafés, etc, plus a cycle track and a pedestrian path - well used by joggers and walkers - all round it.  We did come slightly off it - not so's you'd notice, really - to walk alongside the Canal de Bourgogne, which is alarmingly well-groomed, and appears to have no life at all apart from some weeds. 

There were plenty of water fowl on the lake proper, though, including grebes, coots and mallards, and a heron on a post (photos on Facebook, of course).

The walk was just under 4 kilometres by my watch, and I was struggling a bit towards the end, but nevertheless enjoyed it.  Back at the WoMo, we had coffee and then the rain started!  It has continued  on and off ever since, and we are thankful we got our walk in before it started!  

We set off for Troyes going on a non-Motorway road that, although bendy in places, was mostly very well kept.  We stopped at a random Lidl to shop, and at a picnic area for lunch.  After which I went sound asleep, and have really not been awake much since.  Supper, fortunately, was leftovers, and the Swan Whisperer very kindly hotted them up.  We are not at our usual aire, because when we got there, the motorhome spaces were filled with cars (which they ought not to have been), and there was nowhere really to park up while we waited for their owners to come back.  However, there is a paying aire not 10 minutes' drive away, and we have come to it - so useful, as we can have electricity, which always helps make the place more appealing on a cold, wet night, as we can have the heating on and not worry about the lights.  But we are not well placed to visit Troyes - however, we have done that before and it doesn't really worry us not doing it again.  There is an Aldi not very far away where I can shop in the morning.

Early Spring Holiday, 9 March 2026

Chalon-sur-Saône, Saône-et-Loire

Memo to self: Where we park in Vichy is in one of the car parks by the Mairie!  We had trouble finding it and at first the Swan Whisperer wanted us to park somewhere where it would be about 30 minutes walk to get to the spa park and back - I don't think so!  But eventually we found where we like to park, and it was gratifying free on a Monday.  This, of course, means that most shops are not open, but it is not closed up quite as much as Moissac, for instance, is, and many bars and cafés were doing a roaring trade.

We had a lovely walk.  I gather it was proposed(?) named(?) as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021, and it is doing what it can to justify that nomination in terms of refurbishing the place.  Most of the park has been refurbished now, and looks very nice - the Swan Whisperer said it had been heaving the previous evening, and I'm not surprised - but a lot of work is still being done.  We were able to enter one of the "Sources", but not to drink the water, which is a pity.

  

After our walk, we headed on to what I hoped would be the nearest Lidl, but the Satnav started taking us all round the houses, and there was a large Carrefour, so I shopped there, instead.  After which I was very low blood sugar and felt cross and weepy, and it was a good 15 minutes to the picnic place where the SW had decreed we would have lunch.  Once that had happened, I felt sleepy (often do, after a hypo), and slept most of the way to Chalon-sur-Saône.  We are parked up in the municipal aire we have used before, and I'm looking forward to a walk in the morning.  The SW has gone for a leg-stretch and to remind himself of the layout of the place.  I, meanwhile, am very amused by the plethora of young people, obviously going to or from playing sport, who, by their hairstyles and dress, could be clones of my older grandson!  Teenagers everywhere look the same.... 

Early Spring Holiday, 8 March 2026

Bellerive-sur-Allier, Allier

Today made a lovely change from the wet days we've been having recently.  It was very cold overnight, and I rather wished, after I'd got up to use the loo, that I'd had a hot-water bottle!  And my clock said it was only 10°C when my alarm went off!  But it soon warmed up, and today has actually been a lovely warm, sunny day!

The Swan Whisperer went into the town before breakfast and bought a baguette and some Sunday patisserie (pear tarts, which I found slightly disappointing - too sweet, and not enough pear flavour).   We actually had ordinary toast for breakfast, as it was boiled eggs, and you can't make soldiers out of a baguette!

After breakfast, we visited the services and then drove into Maissiac, where we found a car park very near the centre, and had a lovely wander round.  The town is so very pretty - just the sort of mediaeval village I love, with just enough modern buildings and so on to keep it interesting and relevant.  There was a lovely modern complex with the Mairie and the schools - an elementary school and a "maternelle" (nursery school), at any rate; I don't know where the older children go.

Photospam on Facebook!  When we had finished our walk, we called in at a different patisserie and bought a couple of quiches for our lunch, which were very good.  We then went back to the motor home and had coffee, and by the time we had had that, it was time to watch our church service on livestream.  When that was pretty much finishing, we had our lunch - including the disappointing tarts - and then we set off to come here, which is on the outskirts of Vichy.  Last time we were here, it was very disappointing as the park was being renovated (which the French always amuse me by calling "relooking"), and there was very little to see.  The Swan Whisperer says it isn't finished yet - he went on an explore - but most of it is looking very grand.  

It was a lovely afternoon, and, along with many other people in this aire, we sat out for a bit.  The SW said that there were simply no parking places anywhere along the river - but on the first fine and warm Sunday afternoon of the year, what do you expect?  However, it cooled down, of course, and I was just moving back into the WoMo when the SW returned, so he put the chairs and table away - and just as he came in to sit down, it started to rain!  Only a very brief shower, but of course the other motorhomes here were rushing about to put their tables and chairs in.... We felt smug that we'd got ours in in time!  This place isn't a Camping-Car park, for once (I think the SW feels about CCPs like he used to about Ibis hotels - you always know what you're going to get), but it is in many ways even nicer.  Well, nicer than some - they do vary!  And, like the CCPs, we have electricity, and allegedly WiFi (which basically doesn't really work unless you are parked up absolutely snug to the router), and of course all services.

Early Spring Holiday, 7 March 2026

Massiac, Cantal

Another very wet morning.  The Swan Whisperer went for a walk round La Cavalerie, but my eyes are still slightly playing sillybuggers after the bites, and I decided to stay in the dry!

We had some discussion about where to spend the night.  Originally I had planned to spend last night at St-Hippolyte-du-Fort, but then changed it to La Cavalerie, which is actually a lot further from St-Hippolyte-du-Fort than I thought it was!  So where we had planned to spend tonight was rather too near.  So the Swan Whisperer discovered this Camping-Car Park in this little town of Massiac, just off the A75.  It's the kind that is a campsite in the summer, and a motorhome aire in the off-season.  I think we are the only people here, despite the fact that it is so  near the motorway, and has over 80 pitches!  It actually has usable WiFi, which makes a change - we are making the most of it!

However, I think we made a bit of a nonsense of today's journey!  Had we been going straight from St-Hippolyte-du-Fort to the motorway, it would have made sense to have shopped in the Auchan in Millau first.  However, what I hadn't realised was that the SW wanted to drive under the viaduct, and to do that first, rather than shop first and then go under the viaduct!  So in fact it would have made more sense to have shopped at the E Leclerc or similar - we had lunch in its car-park once - rather than go all the way to Auchan.  However,  it did mean a rather lovely drive through Millau, and we were in no real rush.

Except that I should have liked to have stopped at the aire du Garabit-Viaduc Eiffel, where we could probably have bought sandwiches for lunch and maybe even patisseries.  However, it was too late for that, but we did stop in an aire - forget which one - that sold local produce and got bread and also some cheese.  Not Roquefort  - we already have some of that, although only the rather industrial "Société"  This is a "Brique" made from sheep's milk, and 'M looking forward to trying it, as I do love briques made from both cows' and goats' milk!  I'd been really fancying a "jambon beurre" and had bought ham in Auchan, so that's what I had (and half an avocado and half a tomato) and very good it was, too.

We drove on up the A75, fortunately now out of the rain although you couldn't exactly call the weather very nice, stopping near Lorzac for the SW to have coffee and some fresh air.  We debated stopping at the Viaduc Eiffel, but you can see it from the road, so we decided honour was satisfied!  I didn't have time to take a photo, though, so today's photos are all rather bad ones of the Millau viaduct.

Maissac looks like a lovely small town, and I hope to explore in the morning, if the weather behaves (I think it will); the SW did go for a walk round and says it is as lovely as it looks.

Early Spring Holiday, 6 March 2006

La Cavalerie, Aveyron

Last night, when I was practising tai chi outside the van, I was tormented and distracted by flying insects.  I had, unfortunately, taken off my spectacles and left them in the motor home, only to discover, some hours later, that I have an insect bite on my right eyebrow- and just underneath my left one!  And two eyes that are nearly swollen shut, and very uncomfortable - and me not feeling very great.

Plus the price of diesel has gone up by 30 cents a litre since the attacks on Iran.  And it is raining, and it is cold.

All of which sounds very pessimistic, and I must admit, I've had better days!

The Swan Whisperer went for a run this morning, and after breakfast we headed along the D999, stopping at a random Carrefour en route for a little shopping, including a decent citrus press - the one we have has too small a dome to be comfortable juicing oranges, and the nicer one is at home!  Also some more blood oranges, which are much cheaper here than they are at home.

We stopped in St Hippolyte-du-Fort to have our lunch, noticing the turnoff to Monoblet, where a friend has a house. but she's still in the UK just now.  It was still raining, so we didn't explore, but it looks like a town that would be worth exploring, as would various others along the route.  One town, Quissac, I think, even had a very promising-looking mediaeval centre.  We arrived up at La Cavalerie mid-afternoon; I promptly collapsed on the bed and went to sleep - I don't know whether the Swan Whisperer went for a walk or not.  If the weather is not significantly better in the morning we won't be doing our usual trek round the ramparts!  Or I won't be, anyway!  We plan to shop in Millau, which is only a few kilometres away, and maybe stop for lunch in the aire du Garabit, with the lovely railway viaduct.  If their visitor centre is open, we can get lunch there.

This photo is of the view from my bedroom window today - note the leaves on the trees, despite being at about 800 metres!

Early Spring Holiday 4 March 2026

Mas Alart, Pyrenees-Orientales

The Swan Whisperer went over to the convenience store across the road first thing and bought croissants for breakfast, which were nice.  After breakfast, I went over and got what we needed for the day, and then the SW went for a walk, which he enjoyed.  We decided to drive to Quillan and have lunch there, and a walk round the town.  But oh, it is such a sad little town.  It is very pretty, with a river running through it - and a notice for anglers explaining where the town beat was, which fish were in season when, and that it was catch-and-release exclusively.  Apparently the river was used to float logs down to the mills - we saw several of the lorries that now perform this function during our day.

Anyway, the sad thing about Quillan was that almost all the shops were empty.  I saw a convenience store, a pharmacy (of course), whose window display made me smile,

a second-hand shop and an English bookshop, the latter only opening two hours a day.  Later I did see a post office and a gendarmerie, but where we walked was empty shop after empty shop, so sad, so depressing!

So we came away, and drove up to Atax, where there is a little railway that you can hire pedal-powered machines to go on.  The Swan Whisperer would have quite liked to, but the first free slot wasn't until tomorrow, so we didn't.  Instead, we drove along the lovely D117 to Perpignan, and then to Mas Alart.  They do seem to have partly, at least, built the faster road to the coast, and the poor Satnav had serious indigestion about it!  It is so new that not all the signs are up yet, and we did turn left where we arguably should have turned right, but ended up in Cabestany, although we had missed most of the roundabouts!  

I don't know whether the Belmas' are away at the moment, but it was the son who welcomed us and who sold us our wine.  For once, we are the only outfit here, which is nice.  We decided we would stay here for the night, and although the SW did shake out the fidgets, we have been here ever since.  I had to frog a bit of my knitting (not too disastrously), so have been trying to catch up on that, and also reading.  I made shakshuka for supper, which I hadn't made for awhile, and it was delicious.  In a bit, it will be time for our Lent Bible Study.  We are a day ahead of ourselves, and not quite sure where we will fit in another day, but I expect we'll find something.  France is such a lovely country, and we can either revisit places we know we like, or try new ones!  Or, indeed, a mix of both.

Early spring holiday, 3 March 2026

Bélesta, Ariège

A much better day!  I don't know what the Swan Whisperer did to either the burner or the hab door, but both are now behaving themselves!

He went for a run this morning, although I think it was a bit muddy.  I  got up and got breakfast - scrambled eggs today, only I put a little too much salt in them.  After breakfast, we drove the short distance into Moissac.  Last time we were there, almost exactly two years ago, it was a Monday, and everything was closed.  Today, however, is Tuesday, and things were open, especially the Abbey church.  It still celebrates Lauds and Vespers every day, as well as Mass, so I wonder if there is still a Community there.  Unfortunately, the museum that would have told us about it doesn't open until 13:30 at this time of year, and we wanted to be away by then.

Anyway, we had a most enjoyable walk, and then drove to the nearest Intermarché so I could shop. 

I had said I was not so sure about going to Carcassonne this evening, lovely town though it is, as I would have to pay €13.30 - about the same as I've been paying in the Camping-Car parks so far - and we would not have electricity.  The Swan Whisperer said that the CCP was even more expensive - I think he said >€17, and what do you expect in a tourist area? - so we decided to give it a miss.  The SW thought this place, Bélesta, might be nice - it is on the road towards Quillan and Perpignan, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, but not so high that we are at a great risk of frost.  I think we are about 436 metres above sea level.  It was rather a dreary drive, though, as the SW decided to go non-toll, and for a lot of the way it was roundabout after roundabout.  Once we got past Toulouse, which was very busy, it was much better, and the main road was very nice.  And lovely views of snow-covered mountains!

We are still a day ahead of ourselves, so I am not quite sure what we will do tomorrow.  We won't want to head straight to Mas Alart, as, lovely though it is, there isn't much to do there other than relax, once you have bought your wine.  Still, this little village may or may not be worth exploring in the morning.  Usefully, this CCP is just across the road from a small supermarket, which opens at 08:00, so we can get fresh bread and maybe even croissants for breakfast tomorrow.  Unlike last night, we have company, but only one other WoMo.

Early Spring Holiday, 2 March 2026

Saint Nicolas de la Gave, Tarn-et-Garonne

Not the world's best day!  We had decided to visit a highly-recommended motorhome repair place, about an hour's run in the wrong direction.  It was a very lovely drive, though, cross-country, through lovely countryside and loads of pretty villages and so on.  But when we got there, nobody was at home - I think it is a sole trader, rather than a dealer.  The neighbour said they had gone to Spain for 3 weeks.  Wouldn't you have thought they would have put it on Google maps, as other businesses do?

There was nothing for it but to come away.  And we drove more cross-country, stopping to buy bread, and then again in a supermarket car park for lunch in the town of Sauveterre!  Yes, of course I thought of Fabrice, who wouldn't?!  Anyway, I didn't actually need anything as I'd got bread, so didn't go in, and they were the kind of supermarket that has solar-panelled roofs over the parking spaces, so we were in the shade - necessary, as the main skylight has broken.  This machine is ten years old, and is showing its age!  The bedroom door has also broken again.  And then the gas on one of the burners turned itself off and wouldn't stay lit.  At which point, I said we would have to call it a holiday and go home, as I couldn't possibly cook on just one burner - fortunately the Swan Whisperer found how to fix it, and has!  He now says it isn't working again - I am not prepared to put up with it, so we'll have to come home if we can't get it fixed!

Anyway, this was after we had removed the Satnav's prohibition on toll roads, and driven down the A62 (I think - I slept most of the way) and more minor roads down here to Saint Nicolas de la Gave, which is near Moissac - a town I know and love from a French Exchange here back in 1970!  I hope we can fix the gas burner and carry on with the holiday!  There is another repair place not far away, so if the SW can't fix it, they might be able to.

But what he has, finally, fixed is the hab door lock!  I don't think he knows quite what he did, but all of a sudden it started working.  Something to do with a solenoid, whatever that is.  Anyway, it's working, which is the main thing - we won't have to barricade it with the steering lock.  

Today's photo is of the pollarded trees around the aire.  I haven't had a walk today, but I did practice tai chi while the SW was having a leg-stretch.  

Supper is ready....

Early Spring Holiday, 28 February 2026

Beaumont-Saint-Cyr, Vendée

Bernay really is the loveliest town, and on a Saturday it has a street market, too.  It is quite a hike from the Camping-Car Park, so we drove to an Intermarché car park which is much nearer the town centre.  In fact, this Intermarché is "Drive" (Click and Collect) only, and they have opened a shiny new one literally just across the road.

Anyway, we walked into, and round, the town, and had a lovely time!  There will be photospam on Facebook, You Have Been Warned!  Meanwhile:

So when we returned to the car park, I did a shopping and the Swan Whisperer had coffee, and then we headed on to our stop for tonight, in a Camping-Car park near a lake, which isn't flooded, although rather muddy!  The place where we had originally planned to spend the night is closed due to flooding, so we had to have a quick rethink.  I hope this place will be nice for a walk in the morning.  

Our drive wasn't as nice as it ought to have been, as I fell asleep and the Swan Whisperer didn't hear what the Satnav was saying above the radio programme that was playing (which was, for some reason, My Fault), so we went the wrong way, and then the Satnav wasn't quite clear and I was too sleepy, so we went the wrong way again, and ended up having to drive a good 30 miles extra down the motorway and back!  And then, before we got here, the heavens opened into a very, very heavy shower, we nearly had to stop!

The weather has actually been very good all day, apart from that shower and a couple of others, but it meant it was after 18:00 when we got here.  Anyway, we've parked up and are snug, and the Swan Whisperer cooked our Saturday sausage and mash, and I have spent the evening trying to sort out where we are going next, as we decided to change our plans and not go on Le Petit Train Jaune, as we should have been there today if we were to take advantage of the cheap fares the local rail authority runs on the first weekend of every month.  So we decided we'd go up in the motor home instead, and then bottled out of the idea of spending the night way above the snowline!  So I have spent what has felt like hours trying to sort out a route that avoids the floods in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and finding places to spend the night that are actually open!  The Swan Whisperer was trying to be helpful, but really, what I need is my laptop when I can have several different tabs open at once and cut back and forth between them.  Anyway, if he doesn't like what I've suggested, he can do it himself!

Early Spring holiday, 27 February 2026

Bernay, Eure

I was awake a bit in the night worrying about a Church issue, which can and will be resolved but not until next week.  Why does one worry about things one can't control?  Anyway, I decided to treat myself to another half-hour of sleep after the alarm went off and I had taken my first pill of the day - it was actually nearer 45 minutes!

The Swan Whisperer went for a run before breakfast, and it is as well he did, as the rain started almost as soon as he got back, and has only really stopped this evening. It was not a wide band of rain, but it was a long one - and we were driving down the length of it!  Before we set out, though, we went to Auchan where I did some shopping and the SW got diesel.  The only two things I have definitely forgotten this holiday are some lip balm (which I remedied in Auchan) and the little bottle of antibacterial washing-up liquid that I use to clean my dentures.  That isn't important, as I can use liquid soap instead, but it has reminded us that we need to buy washing-up liquid tomorrow!

We got away about 11:15 and drove on in the rain down a succession of motorways, stopping for lunch, and tackling Rouen. Why they don't build a proper motorway bypass of the city is beyond me - the Satnav's directions weren't totally clear and we took a wrong turning, and then  got stuck in trafic, although not badly, and the Satnav did get us out of trouble, but all the same....  a proper rocade or ring road would be nice!

Anyway, we finally arrived in Bernay about 16:30 and found the Camping-Car Park which is obviously a former campsite - and may, indeed, be used as such in the summer.  There are a few hard-standing pitches, which we are on one of, and seem very well found.  The Swan Whisperer went out for an explore and I cuddled up under my duvet and watched videos, and it is about to be supper time!

Look at the sunset from my bedroom window!

Early Spring Holiday, 26 February 2026

Calais, Pas-de-Calais

This week appears to  have been inordinately busy!  "Tired" doesn't really begin to cover it, and getting up at 06:00 this morning really didn't help!

I think the older we get, the longer it takes to get ready, and it was after 09:00 when we set off for Sussex.  A slow old drive, somehow every traffic light that could be red, was.  Actually, I think that is an exaggeration, but not by much.  However, we arrived by about 11:30, and the Swan Whisperer went to get the WoMo, and we spent the next hour transferring stuff from the car and putting it away, all except the SW's clothes and making the bed, which we did on the crossing.

After a delicious lunch of kedgeree and home-made cheesecake, we set of shortly before 14:00; I fell asleep as we joined the M23, and didn't really surface until we were almost at Le Shuttle!  We got on a crossing 30 minutes before our booked one, and it was very empty.  Just time for a quick cup of tea, and we were through and on the train.

When we arrived in Calais, we did a quick trip to Carrefour to get some vegetable matter to go with the cooked chicken thighs I'd bought for supper, and then up here to the Camping-Car Park.  I am annoyed because I folded up my rainbow shopping bag, which I love as it folds almost flat, and now I can't find it.  It has to be in the WoMo somewhere, but where?  Oh well, it will either turn up or it won't, and I do have others.

Meanwhile today's photo is of the rosemary bush outside no 6, which is looking lovely.  Spring is definitely arriving - there was a polyanthus in their garden that was already in flower, and lots of blossom and primroses and so on.  Such a pity the weather is much colder today, and we have the heating on low.  

Brittany Christmas Markets, 7 December 2025

Brixton, London

So we are home.  We got up fairly sharpish this morning, and headed to Auchan, where I did a Last Shop in France, and then headed over to the Eurotunnel terminal, where we were pleased to be offered a crossing half an hour earlier than booked.  But we nearly lost it, as we were sent to go through that horrible machine where you have to get out while they send your vehicle through the machine while you stand outside and it makes a horrible noise!  However, we just made the crossing by the skin of our teeth, and got back to the UK about 11:30 local time

And it was not only raining, but foggy with it - the most appalling weather!  But we were able to drive safely and with no hold-ups  we stopped at Clackett Lane to eat our lunch, and got to No 6 by about 14:30.  By the time it was all redd up, it was about 17:00, and we got home just before 19:00.  The weather, fortunately, has improved, although it was very windy when we arrived in London.

So that's it for the WoMo for the next few months.  We will be sleeping in it over Christmas, but after that, apart from much-needed servicing, it will be garage up until March.  We will have other adventures, though - watch this space.

Meanwhile, since I have taken no photos today, here is a picture of the back of the sweater.  I started it while waiting for the WoMo to be ready for us to leave on this holiday, and finished it this afternoon.  It will now go into hibernation while I knit a matinee jacket for my newest great-nephew to wear at his baptism in January. 

Brittany Christmas Markets, 6 December 2025

Blériot-Plage, Calais, France

We discovered that La Rivière-Saint-Sauveur had a Christmas market today, literally just behind our motor home! 

It didn't open until 10, so before that we went for a walk round the Parc de la Morelle, which we always enjoy.  It is neither as nice, nor as far, as the lakes at Cesson-Sevigné, but still enjoyable, none the less.  After that, the Swan Whisperer had a quick coffee, and then we popped next door to enjoy the festive atmosphere - which wasn't, very, as it was still very early!  There were several stalls outside, including one selling local apple products - cider, apple vinegar, various jellies, calvados and pommeau.  There might have been some spending going on, as the prices were incredibly reasonable, given the event.  There were more stalls inside the hall, although these were more of the handicrafts variety, and we didn't buy anything there, although I was rather tempted by a felt waistcoat.... 

Outside, we chatted to some human and canine representatives of Aquadogs Normandie; these are huge Newfoundland dogs who go into the water to rescue people in distress, wearing a distinctive harness with grab handles. 

 

Then it was time to go, and we headed on, trying to believe the Satnav that it knew best which was the quickest way.  We had a very enjoyable drive, actually, much of it not on the motorway, although we were on it a bit, and stopped at the Aire de la Baie de Somme for lunch.  We didn't go into the building, but to the part of the car park set aside for motorhome picnics.  The SW had a quick leg-stretch, and then it was on and on again until we finally reached the aire here in Calais.  

The Blériot-Plage Christmas Market is on this weekend, but it is a good 30 minutes' walk away, and it was raining, so we decided that one small market was enough.  However, after a cup of tea, we did set out again in the WoMo to drive round Calais and enjoy its Christmas lights.  And now back to the aire for the final night of our holiday.

Brittany Christmas Markets, 5 December 2025

La-Riviere-Saint-Sauveur, 5 December 2025

How is it Friday already?  This week has gone so fast, and tomorrow is our last full day!

This morning, the Swan Whisperer went and bought croissants and a baguette for our breakfasts, and after it he went for a short walk round the town. I, for some reason, fell asleep!

We weren't quite sure what we wanted to do today, but eventually decided to go to Camembert and see if we could buy some artisanal cheese from a dairy there. Then we would see, but probably end up in Falaise, as I needed to shop and we needed to buy gas.  As it happened, we drove past a supermarket where we could do both those two things not very long after we had set off, so we went straight to Camembert - only to find that the dairy had closed for the weekend at 12:30, and wasn't going to open again until Tuesday morning!  Bummer! Oh well.  So we ate our lunch in its car park, and then decided to drive at least as far as here - La Riviere-Saint-Sauveur - today, and then see whether we wanted to add an extra hour's drive to where I had originally intended for us to spend the night.  We decided we would rather stay here - there is a nice walk to go on in the morning, although it will be a very long drive from just south of Le Havre to Calais, and it would be nice to visit the Christmas Market in Blériot-Plage if there is time.  At that, there is one here this weekend, not at all far from the Camping-Car park, so maybe we could do that instead?  We'll see.

Meanwhile, I haven't taken any photographs today, supermarkets not being very photogenic affairs, but here is a photo of my eye drops bottle - as tonight is the VERY LAST drop to put in.  This journey started on 29 August - well, before that really, when I was first referred to Tommy's - and now, 5 December, it is finally OVER!  And I can see really well, especially when wearing my glasses, but I can also see well enough to read in bed without them, if I want to!

Brittany Christmas Markets, 4 December 2025

Condé-sur-Vire, Normandy, France

We are headed north again now, and, rather disappointingly, ended up going back up the same motorway we came down. We should have asked the Satnav to find us a different route.  However, that was later.

The Swan Whisperer went for a run this morning, and after breakfast, I went for a walk round the lakes - it is supposed to be 3k, but my smartwatch only registered 2.2k.  I think it is a bit slow! 

Anyway, I made sure of getting my heart rate up by playing martial music on my phone to walk to, which really does make such a difference - I am not good at walking fast without some sort of help!   And yes, I went the whole of the red route!

Our first port of call was supposed to be the local Carrefour, but we couldn't find anywhere to park, so while the SW was getting diesel, I decided to programme the Satnav to our destination for this evening, and added in a supermarket while we were at it.  We decided not to go to the aire I'd originally thought of, but to a Camping-Car Park in a nearby town, as that would have electricity and services, and the one I had chosen may well have locked its services out of use for the winter.  And we were really rather low on water, not having been able to get any yesterday.  The SW has topped up the tank with the 11 litre watering-can we keep for just such emergencies, and we will do a proper "vidanges" in the morning.

It had been a lovely sunny morning, but just as we got to the outskirts of Condé-sur-Vire, the heavens opened and there was a serious rainstorm, and it has rained on and off ever since.  We arrived here in time for a late lunch, and it really wasn't worth going much further today.   The SW did do a short leg-stretch in the rain, but I have stayed in the WoMo all afternoon!

Brittany Christmas Markets, 3 December 2025

Cesson-Sevigné, near Rennes, France

Very tired today, for some reason, so have done nothing except reading and knitting. We were unable to get water this morning as it appears to have been cut off due to road works outside the winery, but we think we have enough to do us. 

It was not a long drive today, so we decided to go via Châteaubriant, where there is a beautiful castle 

 The Swan Whisperer walked round it, and after lunch we drove up here, where we have been several times before, and he went for a hike. Tomorrow I shall walk round the lake here, such a lovely walk!

We have just had our Advent Bible Study, which was good, and are now about to have our final cup of tea! 

Brittany Christmas Markets, 2 December 2025

Vertou, near Nantes, France

After the storm, it was sort of a lovely morning, so after breakfast we went on another walk around Port-Louis, this time going along by the sea and the river, and then back through the town, by which time it was raining again! Today has definitely been sunshine and showers, either clear blue sky or else pouring with rain, but very little in between! 

After coffee, we used the services and headed off, stopping at an Intermarché to shop. The Swan Whisperer suggested we could go via Carnac, as it wasn't too far out of our way, so we did, and had our lunch parked up by one of the fields of menhirs, which you have to pay to actually go in, but can see from outside (just as well, really, when you come to think about it, otherwise you would get gangs of youths with cans of spray paint!). 

After lunch, we drove on to this place, which is a wine growers not far from Nantes. It is France Passion, but as well as parking, you get services and electricity in exchange for a wine tasting. A very copious wine tasting, I should add! Both of us are a tad light-headed now. Anyway, we have bought two bottles of a very nice, very dry white wine, a 5l box of rosé and two 3l boxes of grape juice, also very nice! The latter will be donated to the Church Christmas party on the 13th. There were several other kinds of red, white and rosé, including sparkling, but this were our favourites. 

Brittany Christmas Markets, 1 December 2025

Port-Louis, Brittany

There was nobody about at the cactus farm this morning, either, so we softly and silently vanished away once we had had breakfast (boiled eggs this morning) and cleared up. As it is 1 December, I broke out my Christmas socks for the first time this year. 

Our first port of call was going to be an Intermarché, but the Lidl was nearer, so I went there - no real coupons, like they have in the UK, but plenty of offers if you had the app. They also do on-line shopping, as they do in Germany, but that hasn't made it to the UK as yet. 

However, the Swan Whisperer needed milk, and Lidl in France only sells UHT, which is fine for yoghurt, but he won't touch it in his tea or coffee. So we did go to the Intermarché, and I finally found my favourite black pepper Boursin, which I have been looking for ever since I got to France. Also some Kouign Amann, which is kind of the local equivalent of lardy cake, and very good it is, too! 

We then set off towards Port-Louis, stopping for an early, and light, lunch as the SW felt rather sleepy. When we got here, we had real trouble finding the aire, but finally found the local campsite, which has now been taken over by Camping-Car Park's ever-expanding empire. It is actually next door to the CCP we had been meaning to go to, but it's fine. The only difference is that it isn't hard-standing, and as it is rather wet, the SW is worried that we will stick.... I don't expect we will. 

We had a cup of tea, and some more kouign amann, and then set off for a walk round the town, which was rather wet and extremely windy! I don't think there is a named storm going on, but it is nearly as windy as if there were! So we didn't stay out all that long, as although it was exhilarating, it was very tiring to walk against it! So back to the WoMo and snugged in for the night! I am making a sort of chicken curry/casserole for our supper, and then there will be fruit and maybe a tub of café liégeoise for pudding. 

Brittany Christmas Markets, 30 November

Guipavas, Brittany, France

It has been lovely and sunny all day. We had a leisurely morning, and at about 10:30 we used the services and set off to the local P&R, which was really nice, and positively welcomed motorhome! You took a ticket to enter, and this also entitled you to 24 hours' free travel on local buses in Saint-Malo. The bus timetable was easily available on-line, and we had about 20 minutes, so the Swan Whisperer had a quick cup of coffee, and we arrived at the bus stop just as the bus did. 

The bus terminus at the other end of the line was just by the Old Town and the Christmas markets, and we spent a lovely morning walking around both. We explored the Old Town first, which is sort of within a walled fortress, and then walked back down to the harbour where the Christmas Market was. By then it was pretty much lunchtime, so we treated ourselves to a galette and mulled cider from a stall, and very good it was, too. Not quite as good as the one we had in Caen two days ago, but not bad! 

When we had finished eating, it was nearly time for the next bus back to the P&R, so we caught that, and ate ice-cream for our pudding before we used the services and set off to drive here, which is near Brest. It is a France Passion place, but there was nobody around, so we have parked up and will introduce ourselves in the morning. They grow cacti, of all things, and I gather one can have a guided tour of the greenhouses. We shall see. 

There has just been a sharp shower of rain, and I am not sure what the forecast for the next few days is. I hope we will have as much sunshine as we did today, which was really lovely, and not too cold, considering we had both forgotten to put on our hats! Photos on Facebook, as usual.