The girls went to church and Ken and I got the vans ready to roll. When they returned I was ready to leave as soon as we had put the bikes on and Ken only had to empty his waste water. Kathleen said don’t wait for us we will see you there, which is good because if you go in convoy you have to signal if you want to stop and we were only going a short way, besides they needed supplies. It was only 47 miles into Luxembourg what could possibly go wrong? Joan said just follow this road out onto the motorway and turn off when the sat-nav says, easy. Well, no actually, at the precise moment it said turn off Joan was busy checking the route for the next part of our journey in a few days time, so I followed the instructions and it took me onto a ‘B’ road.
This turned into a forestry track only the width of the van and ended with a 1 in 3 down into the outskirts of the town! If we had met anybody or come across low hanging branches God only knows what we would have done. The small person by now was hyper and swore her blood pressure was higher than it had ever been. She was making unladylike threats to severely reduce the Garmin people’s ability to reproduce, plus questioning if they had any idea who their fathers were!! We did wonder why we had bothered to buy a very expensive sat-nav that we entered the size of the van into so that it would NOT take us along roads which are unsuitable and we will definitely take this further.
Very shortly we were in the campsite at a place called Mersch and booking in, when a very surprised K&K drove in. They had been shopping and thought we would be all set up by now. We cycled into town to check how we got to Luxembourg City and discovered it was very simple and cheap.
Monday 5th July
As I was about to leave the van for our day in Luxembourg Joan said, is that the shirt you are wearing? Quick as a flash I replied of course not, I was waiting for you to give me the one you prefer.
This morning we went back on our bikes to the station, left them there and got the bus for €1.50 and after a very comfortable 25 minute journey we were there. The driver was very helpful and showed us where to get the return bus and off we went.
We had alighted at the start of a pedestrian area which was more or less deserted, very strange. We noticed that several of the shops did not open until 12.30pm on a Monday so we continued our wanderings as by now it was 12ish. We did the tourist thing and started taking a few pictures when we came upon the most upmarket McDonalds we have ever seen, a pavement cafe with tables and umbrellas outside.
A trip into the church was very informative because having had a look around we were leaving just as a load of Polish people came in with a guide who of course spoke everything except Swahili, and he’s working on that. Anyway a lovely little lady who was working there was giving him information in English which he promptly translated to his enthralled audience and every time she said that’s probably enough, they all said no please continue, so I got a potted history of the country. In the middle of the city there is a gorge which is a beautiful park but we were too tired to go down into it so just took pictures and after a quick lunch we returned to prepare the van to stay on a few aires. It was our last night all together as K&K soon go home and we shared our last few bottles of wine together.
Tuesday 6th July
This morning we were heading up to a campsite in the north of Luxembourg when I stopped the van and said to Joan do you really want to go there? She said not particularly, why? Because I want to go to France and more especially TO THE SEASIDE!! She said something about acting ones shoe size but did agree with me that we had done a lot of sightseeing and fancied a paddle in the sea. Also we found it quite expensive in Luxembourg, except for the diesel which was €1.007 a litre, WOW!!
So we headed for Charleville Mezieres where there was a very nice aire. On arrival we turned in just behind another van and although it was full we all parked along the roadside.
This is quite common on aires and we did not think too much about it, levelled the van and had lunch. Just then a miserable bloody Frenchman came knocking and said you cannot stay here, parking interdit! He then threatened us with the police and a £50 fine, and stormed off. A very nice Belgian gentleman said he thought it would be fine and not to worry.
Later we realised we were blocking the old fools view of the river a bit. I should say here that the French people we usually meet on aires are really helpful. Having smiled politely we walked into the delightful town and enjoyed a bit of shopping and returned for dinner, planning to ignore him.
Joan was a bit incensed and was determined to stay just to spite the old sod, convinced that even if the Police came they would let us stay until morning. I was a little unsure and felt we would not relax or sleep well so should probably move on. As we returned we both saw the clearway sign which had been obscured when we arrived by another big van, oops, so we realised we would have to leave after all.First though we had our dinner then packed up, it was now 8pm and we headed for a place only about 50 miles further on called Catillon which was a huge Aire with loads of room. The sun was shining, the scenery was lovely and the roads were empty so we had a good run there. We arrived at about 9.30pm, totally relaxed and slept like logs knowing we would be at the seaside tomorrow, yippee!
Wednesday 7th July
The sun is streaming in but I had very carefully picked a spot which would be flooded with sunshine first thing, only to discover we had huge trees behind us and should have been on the other side, oh well. For once the sat-nav actually got it spot on and we arrived at Fort Mahon Plage at 11am and found the campervan place already filling up. It is next to a car park with public loos and has water and a place for dumping waste water etc at €7 for 24 hours. Fortunately there is a slight breeze as it is just getting hotter and hotter and according to the tourist office is actually expected to hit 32°, smashing. The place is packed and more and more vans keep arriving and slotting in everywhere they can, they have even moved the barriers which set aside an area for coaches to park. After a spot of lunch we set off to the sea which is actually a fairly long walk of about ½mile through crowds of people milling round seaside tat shops and ice cream parlours.
Having reached the front you still have to walk out about ½ a mile to actually paddle as the tide goes out so far! It is a great beach for kids as it is very shallow for a good bit so they can play on the edge safely. With all these people about you would think it would be packed on the beach but it’s so big there is still lots of room, although at high tide it may be a problem, I’m not sure. If you imagine Bamburgh beach with heat and lots of people it’s like that, miles of very fine sand. The public toilets in the car park are of course a disgrace but we have our own so no problem there, (why are people so dirty?). Although it’s all right here we think it is a bit like Blackpool and know there is another place only about 2 miles up the road where we can park almost on the beach so we decide to cycle there and see what the score is tomorrow. The evening just seems to go on and on and sunset isn’t until about 10pm.
Thursday 8th July
Woke up so early because the old sun is shining again, it feels like another scorcher, but at least there was a nice sea breeze last night so we slept like babies. This morning I hear that voice all men will recognise instantly and know a job is coming along.... Bryan ...yes dear?.... you know how I said we should park this way around so as to get the sun on that side away from the fridge? ...Yes dear... Well would you mind turning it around the other way so we can see what people are doing. But I thought we were going to move to Quend if it’s available? Yes but if we can’t because it’s full, we will be facing the right way won’t we (plus sweet smile). So of course I moved the van or rather turned it around to face the other way, and then set off to cycle to Quend plage.
Quend plage is as I said just about 2 miles up the road but is a lot nicer. We went straight to the Aire as we remembered where it was from last year. It’s situated actually in the car park which is just behind the sand dunes at the back of the beach. You just have to walk about 200 yards and you are on the beach. There was a couple called Kay and David from Derbyshire there and we had a nice chat with them then went back to Mahon plage determined to return with the van early tomorrow morning. It is always a good idea to settle somewhere on Thursday for the weekend.
On our return we cycled down a back road to the van and discovered a very nice little car park/Petang court, with a spotlessly clean loo which we used for the rest of our stay. Another trip to the sea was definitely called for as it was again very hot and this time with swimming costumes and chairs. I realise everybody will not believe me but it was really pleasant so we went in for a swim, it was great but somebody small and blonde forgot the camera!
Friday 9th July
I was a bit worried about leaving Fort Mahon as it was pretty full and I was concerned that Quend would be full. Anyway off we went and as luck would have it somebody had just pulled out from a prime site overlooking the sea, great!
Here we are with a sea view, it doesn’t get much better. As soon as we were all set up I got the chairs out and wound out the awning for a bit of shade. Just as I tilted my chair back Joan says, Kay the girl from Derbyshire says there is a supermarket just outside of town so let’s ride our bikes there. So off come the bikes and we set out, at the same time looking at several campsites to see if they may be suitable for Andy & Carole and co. (None were suitable. It is a damn shame that the country who virtually invented family camping now only have rows of very expensive chalets/mobile homes).
At around the ten mile mark we can see for some considerable distance and there is no sign of any supermarket so we head back. I have done something really stupid, (no change there then!), usually I pack a couple of bottles of water but forgot. Joan remembered there was a little shop in one of the campsites we visited so we grit our teeth and carry on. Sadly as we arrive they have just closed but there is a sort of bar next door so we went in and paid €11, nearly £10 for two tiny plates of chips and very small beers, still it got us home. Whereupon Joan says, shall we go for a swim now, so we did, this time with the camera.
Later when we returned I cooked us a meal, and washed up as I do every night. Then this cheeky little sod says do you fancy a walk around the town? So, I’ve moved the van, cycled 20 miles, been for a swim, cooked a meal, washed up, dried the dishes and put them away, not surprisingly my reply was NOT in the affirmative!!
Saturday 10th July
Oh dear, the small one cried, it’s foggy. Actually it was just a sea fret and would probably soon burn away but it was a shame for all the people on day trips who had been pouring into the car park since early this morning. Still it was time for some serious thinking, how do I keep Joan amused? Oh yes of course, what about a little hand washing, by me of course as she didn’t have any rubber gloves. But she hung it up and kept moving it around until it dried so she was kept pretty busy, problem solved and we got clean clothes, am I clever or what?
(Joan says – Bryan forgot to mention that I didn’t spend my time lying in the sun eating grapes, I gave the van a thorough clean inside and the only reason he cooked the night before was that I’d cooked the previous three nights. Anyway, I have to keep him on the move or he’ll get lazy!)
As I thought, the mist had cleared by mid-day and we set of to find the church which was not listed on the official map we had been given by the tourist office. When I asked the girl there behind the counter she was a little bemused but started to tell me in French, my accent must be improving!
She was going on about small white something and pointing at the door? When we looked out of the door, immediately opposite was a little white church hiding behind a big tree! Boy did we feel stupid!
In fairness it was not on the official list but as a sort of picture in the corner. When we went and had a look at it, it was delightful and Joan said I am really looking forward to coming here tomorrow.
After a spot of lunch we set off to walk along the beach to Fort Mahon which we could see in the distance. It turned out to be a fair way, over an hour there and back, but we managed it and in the process noticed that the beach is cleaned every morning as the tractor rake lines were still there. In the evening we went out into the square to listen for a while to the local brass band and got chatting to some locals between tunes. Our French is still appalling but we seem to manage and they expressed dismay when we left so we must do something right? I think that we mangle it so much they dine out on it for months afterwards.
Sunday 11th July
You would not believe any more cars or motorhomes could get in here but they are still arriving and going in. Fortunately we have a lovely spot and really nice neighbours with two girls. Joan is off to church and I am going to cycle a couple of miles to get some water as we are getting a bit low what with having showers etc. It’s almost impossible to get to the water point here and I can only get 15 litres which here would cost €2 but is free 2 miles away and I can get Saturday’s paper there. With hindsight I realise we should have filmed this car park because it’s amazing and people are still trying to get in. The streams of people staggering down to the beach with multiple cool boxes are only surpassed by those who having found a spot to park in immediately get out a barbecue and fire it up. On my return I put the water in the tank and went to meet Joan who has enjoyed church and also has met the people we were with last night, who were delighted to see her.
It is now mid afternoon and several of the big vans including our neighbours are attempting to leave, rather them than me. Oh that’s nice, they approached us and thanked us for being such good neighbours and said goodbye. At the same time they introduced us to another family who are taking their place but who speak no English, well that’s alright we speak no French! After a short trip to the beach because there is a bit of a nip in the wind, we notice an Irish number plate. Later the owners, a lovely couple called Derek and Lynda, stopped by our van and after a brief chat as they were going to the beach, they said pop over later to our van.
It’s strange, out of the wind it is still scorching and its 8.30pm but the wind has an edge to it. About 9pm we went into Derek & Lynda’s van and chatted until well past midnight and consumed rather a lot of wine plus Derek shared his last tin of Guinness between Joan and me. Well Spain finally won the world cup. I know because from time to time Derek put the match on so we could catch up with the score, I must say it looked like a good game.
Our van has surpassed itself and after 5 days without a plug in we are going to head for Le Treport where electricity is included with your fee. The only trouble with this is we have not had any wi-fi and the computer battery is gone, I wish somebody would produce a laptop which works on 12volt. Apparently what I need is an inverter but I don’t think they do much good for the battery although Paul has one and he wouldn’t have if it was harmful.
So there we are, a bit long but I am afraid if we don’t get wi-fi that’s what will happen. Hopefully the pictures will help to break it up a bit. We are now at Le Treport and have electricity so I was able to complete this up to date and tomorrow we will cycle to McDonalds and hopefully get it onto the web.
Lots of love to you all
Bryan & Joan XXXX
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