So that’s what the little red triangle we carry is for!

Wednesday 6th July
Leaving fairly early we headed for Vimoutiers where we bought the Camembert cheese last year and they have a really nice aire. After horrendous traffic and rain we did not arrive until 3pm to find the museum for the cheese was closed, Quell disaster! What was worse was that it did not open until 2.30pm the next day so we popped into the tourist office where the lady said well why not visit the farm where they make it? After a lovely warm sunny evening and night we headed for Camembert next morning although it was not as easy to find as she seemed to think, but we got there eventually. We know what we bought is fresh because they made it in the next room as we watched. Well they sort of bagged it up and packaged it in the little wooden boxes in that room.

Those of you who follow the blog will think us lucky to see it but we just quickly detoured to avoid the mayhem which is the Tour de France, what a circus!

We got to Coudeville plage aire around 2.30pm and the sky looked very threatening but we went for a walk along the prom which seemed to stretch for miles. The beach was lovely sand but it seemed there was nothing else around, no shops for food etc, all a bit boring really.

Just as we spotted a couple with ice creams we noticed the sky really looked like a storm was brewing so we made a dash for the van, as we arrived, it poured. Phew!
Next morning a circus arrived with lots of hooting and noise plus half a dozen camels which they put out to graze all along the road, needles to say we left immediately! Two circuses in 24 hours, lucky us!!

We then headed into Brittany as we keep saying we want to go there but never quite manage it. Erquy was a delightful little place with a really nice aire. We were amused at first as we watched the antics of people trying to get the sea view places, but ours was a pretty good view and as the weather was starting to behave itself we were not intending to be in the van until the evening. Then of course if there was a good sunset Joan would be out right on the promenade joining all the others with their cameras.

On our first night we walked up and over the steep hill into the town which seemed a really nice place, and returned via the beach. This seemed like a good idea at the time but began to look decidedly dodgy as I realised the tide was on its way in as we got to the bit where we had to go out around the rocks. However nothing ventured etc and as it turned out we had about 30 minutes to spare, so that was alright, although Joan seemed to be walking very fast as she was convinced we were going to get cut off.

Later that evening we asked a friendly Frenchman when the market was on in town and he pointed out a notice on the gate. This stated that tomorrow, Saturday, there was a free bus to it at 9.30am returning about 11.40 or 12.40pm. This free lark was to become a bit of a theme.

We caught the bus and boarded with a throng of fellow motorhomers plus locals all jollied along by a very friendly lady driver who as we got off told us where to get the return bus later. We spent a few hours happily wandering and purchased a few food items then returned to the appointed place. Nothing! There was no sign at the appointed time of any sort of bus/coach. After about 20 minutes sitting on the sea wall we saw the bus going the other way and as we stood up she stopped, holding up the traffic both ways.

Grinned broadly she shouted something so we nipped over and got on. She chatted away in very fast French and set off in the opposite direction to ours. We assumed that as we had the bus and the driver in sight we should eventually end up back home and relaxed. We knew the alternative would be to walk over the rocks around the bay and tried to remember where the tide was going, in or out.

Our verbose driver suddenly parked, stopped the engine and announced Coffee! So we followed her into a very nice little restaurant and she ordered. I of course expected to pay but no, she would not hear of it and finally managed to explain to these two English people that she was going back at 12.30! So we enjoyed our coffee and eventually, as she slowed her speech a little, actually managed a little conversation. When we returned along the route to the pick-up point our fellow passengers seemed very impressed to see us already on board. A lovely day topped off with a very spectacular sunset at about 10.30pm.

Sunday 10th July I think we might have stayed at Erquy but we wanted to check out a couple of possible campsites to ensure they are near nice beaches for the children, coming soon. As they are arriving at Cherbourg this time it makes sense to be closer to there and we have all discussed possible sites before on this peninsula. First stop was right up the top but when we arrived we were not at all impressed and headed for a site we had all seen on the internet that looked really good on the west side. When we finally got there, they did have a super pool and water slide but it was certainly not as good as the very high price would indicate, anyway they had no room on our dates.

Finally we headed for a site called La Chausee about 75 miles south of Cherbourg. Having driven 250 odd miles we decided to book in, as they had wi-fi and we had laundry that needed to be done. Seemed a fair exchange to me. I hadn’t had anything prepared so all we did was check with Stephen why Mc Donalds wi-fi won’t work and download emails.

Now I should say that for a couple of days now we have been having the odd problem starting the van and yesterday I even asked Joan to check where the AA/ins cover was! This morning Monday we had real trouble getting started and I thought we would be stuck on this campsite while it was fixed. However it did start and ran ok so we set off to leave a deposit at a campsite which Carole had found and which sounded brilliant, then around to an aire nearby.

What happened next could only happen to us according to Joan. We nipped in for some diesel and naturally switched off but after filling up, the van would not start. I did all the technical bloke things like hanging on the starter for ages, swearing at it and pressing on the throttle, nothing. Fortunately we were on a slight slope back so I thought I will run back and park, thus not blocking the petrol pumps. I’m nice like that. The French twit that would not move when Joan pointed out our plight, made me brake. I told you there was a slight slope down but also there was one indentation into which my wheels fitted perfectly, isn’t that great? NO IT’S NOT!!!!!

So here are Joan and I rocking the van back and forth to get it out so I can jump in as soon as it gets rolling, scary stuff. Well we did it and put our little red triangle out as all good motorist do, (hence the title above). I have to say that the AA was very good and after about 30 minutes this huge recovery lorry arrived. The chap got out and did all the clever mechanic things like opening the bonnet and hanging on the starter then looking into the engine compartment, coming around and hanging on the starter again.

However we knew he must need further training because he didn’t swear and forgot the sucking of the teeth while shaking the head indicating a huge bill. (Little did we know!) No, he needed to take us to a garage. He showed me how he wanted me to run back, turning so I ended up going uphill a bit , with him and of course Joan pushing, Hey I know how to entertain a girl! I then had to freewheel down into the huge car park at the bottom of the hill and stop and wait for him with his lorry. All this with no power steering and no power assisted brakes, ho hum.

We were loaded onto the lorry and taken to a very nice garage where it was pointed out to us that the recovery was free but we pay for everything else. All without shaking heads or sucking teeth, how French, (apparently). We then sat there for what seemed hours and we heard them start it up. Oh good I say, they have cleared the fuel blockage, we should be away soon. WRONG!

Finally the boss who brought us in, gives us the telephone so a chap from AA he has been talking to can tell us that the van needs a new fuel pump and regulator which will cost 1330€, is that ok? Well actually no, I say, but realistically what choice do we have so I say ok. I asked him to check if they thought the problem was due to bad servicing. The mechanic said no, there is a lot of this work at the moment, they think it may be a problem with the diesel. So we wait again and it suddenly occurs to us that they must close soon and our van is inside the garage with all our gear. Yes they do close and it’s in an hour. So what do we do? They explain that we can have a car and go to a hotel arranged for us by the AA. Just then the AA ring again, but a different branch, and tells the garage owner to put our van outside so we can sleep in it, hes not happy but he did and kindly provided us with electricity then left and locked the gates. We are hoping tomorrow he will turn up with a baguette!

Looking on the bright side, last night’s camping cost us 30€ tonight is free, it’s an ill wind.

Thanks to all who have emailed with the news from home, it’s appreciated so please send more! Love to your mam, Maria, I’m glad she’s
Lots of love to you all
Joan & Bryan XXXXX

Tuesday 12th July
Oh joy it’s absolutely pouring with rain, and has been since 6.30am. Why we awoke so early is totally beyond me. We cannot do a thing until they fix the van and of course the part has to be delivered before they can start. The staff arrived about 8.30am but no baguette. The AA rang to see if we were ok which was very nice and all we could really say was yes. However the prospect of another night here is not a very cheerful one. Still we have each other and free electricity so it’s not all bad.

The weather improved mid-afternoon and became sunny, so around 3pm they came out and said the part is here, please take this car and go and see Granville and return about 6pm hopefully all will be done by then. You see some people would have said we should have made the insurance people provide us with a hotel/B&B but we have everything we need in the van and where would we have gone during all that rain? As it was we were making cups of tea/coffee and had lunch, all nicely in the dry.

Granville was very nice and amazingly we got straight into a parking space. When we returned they had still not completed the work and in fact it was not done until 8.30pm! The other strange thing was, the bill was actually less than we expected, not by much but still a bit of a shock. When we left everybody was all smiles and we headed for an aire fairly close by as Joan was determined not to go too far until we were sure it was fixed, fortunately.

After a very pleasant night planning our next trip while enjoying the odd glass of wine, we awoke and tried to start the engine. It appeared to be as bad as the original problem but did start eventually. On our arrival back at the garage they showed great concern and apologised profusely. After another hour they explained that there had been a blockage in the fuel line and all was now well. Which it was, the van sounded really good but just to be on the safe side Joan insisted I stop at the first supermarket so we could stock up and of course have to restart the van.
This time it started immediately and we were on our way at last to a campsite at Fermanville. The site is very nice and fairly near the sea but there always seems to be a hitch just lately for us. This time we have free wi-fi, actually in our van, but our stupid computer (whose days are numbered!), will not connect to it!!!!! So why am I writing this? Well you never know I may get it sometime.

Love
Bryan & Joan
XXXXX