AH SURE AZURE

Author: Kathy

  • Every Twentyfour hours 4

    Every Twentyfour hours 4

     

    Beautiful weather again. Plotted out my next part of the journey. I am taking it in chunks of 200 km which will take at least 10 days if I have no stopovers. I am nervous to be honest of the French auto routes even with AA Europe Assist. 200 km takes me past Caen, but not as for as Le Mans.

    So I choose a place called La Chappelle pres Sees. Never heard of it. But it is exactly 200 k and I have booked a campsite. I am travelling on Sunday as I believe the traffic is lighter that day.

    I have sourced some fresh vegetables at a local farm where the sweet peppers are purple. They taste the same.IMG_5680

    The tractor at the top of the page has clearly been upcycled for use as a support for a grape vine. You would never see a Massey Ferguson put to this use in Ireland. They are treasured items and you will see regular rallies of tractors around the countryside where great pride is taken in the more ancient vehicles.

    Le Bequet is a very pretty port down the road from the campsite. The old lifeboat house has been converted into an exhibition space but manages to keep its old sea dog personality as a boathouse.

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    I gave into temptation at the Artisan Boulangerie, choosing a small tart with raspberries on top which was presented in its own box. The range of patisseries and breads was vast.

    We are very close to the site of the Normandy landings here. I have visited the beaches at Arromanches and Utah in the past and I do not intend to go again this trip. They are of course a must see item in this part of the world.

    I managed to do a crude fibreglass job on the back of the caravan. It looks awful but it will keep out the rain if we get any.

    I ended the day having dinner on the beach listening to the waves break gently in succession again lulling me to sleep. I seem to find it very easy to sleep which is wonderful when you are travelling.

    Apprehensive about the trip in the morning but really enjoyed my time at Camping Cotentin

     

     

  • Every Twentyfour hours 3

    Every Twentyfour hours 3

    Camping Cotentin Website

    I took the decision to be conservative and safe for my first night on the ‘Continent’. Honestly, I only drove about four km from the ferry terminal but on the way I found I had used all my data allowance and I could not access google maps. I had to spend some time talking to Vodafone and resetting my network.

    Without Google maps, I could still locate the camping and see me as a dot on the screen, so I advanced in the right direction. When I got to a fork in the road, I stopped to make sure I had the right direction. A car pulled out from behind me and a hand waved out the window for me  to follow. I think the maybe the caravan was a giveaway , but they realised I was going towards the Camping. At the next junction, the driver got out and there it was – my first time speaking French in eight years and it came out perfect. I had to catch up quick to get what carrefour (crossroads, not the supermarket) and tout droit meant – (not turn right but straight on), but it was wonderful to be using the language again. A curious head peered out from over the wall  beside us and disappeared just as quickly. As the friendly driver went back to his car, someone tooted from behind. The head appeared over the wall again – ‘Patience!’ This time I could see it was a man with a small ponytail working in the garden.

    I drove on behind the car and they signalled the correct turnoff at the roundabout. The friendliness of the French is greatly underrated.

    My welcome at Camping Cotentin was equally friendly. Especially when I found it impossible to reverse the caravan into a very tight space. The owner, Odile, allotted me another one and a neighbour helped me back it in.

    The clean, orderly campsite is perfectly organised. €13.67 per night including electricity. Many older occupants who own their homes spend the summer here. Across the road is a beautiful beach -Plage Collignon. IMG_5659I had my first swim of the year and I was glad to see my arm that broke when last December is working perfectly even for the overarm crawl. Watersports are popular here, with sea kayaking, surfing,  and windsurfing.

    I had a pizza from the cabin on the road – delicious thin crusted and a bottle of craft cider from Armagh washed it down nicely.IMG_5672

    This is a quiet spot, perfect for me to plan and regroup. I am tackling a spot of fibre repair on the back of the caravan where I had a collision ( or a collision was had in my caravan as I cannot remember it happening). Lets see how that goes.

     

     

  • Every twentyfour hours

    Every twentyfour hours

    I slept on a banquette outside the cinema last night, lulled by the roar of the ships engines. There was a sign saying no sleeping – footwear must not touch the couch. I have learned on this ship that as long as you do not break every rule, leeway is easily given. So I spread out my €9.99 blanket from Lidl and stretched out.

    The obliging Portuguese client service officers turn a blind eye to many things including the guy who was sleeping with his legs hanging over the end of the couch. I just hope I didnt snore as I woke so refreshed I must have crashed out completely.

    After a breakfast in the immaculate Stena line restaurant- all shining floors and gleaming glass – I took a turn around the deck and did the weird exercise routine – lunges, squats and pushups before there were too many around. A French couple passed by and he remarked- ‘you are right’ …

    Back on my banquette, I took out my knitting. Like a latter day Miss Marple, I could observe all the goings on without looking threatening.

    The dehydrated Irish guy who wrestled with the vending machine and appealed to the portuguese – ‘Eduardo, I only want three  bottles of water- how hard can that be’. He glanced in my direction for support and I just smiled.

    Eventually the transaction was complete and an exchange of coinage went on under cover of the friendly banter.

    We pulled into Cherbourg exactly on time and disembarked without event. I had the feeling of being on a cruise with none of the feeling of being herded like sheep.

    I could not resist including the photo of the sun setting as we left Rosslare.

    My first night will be very close to Cherbourg so I can get my bearings including driving on the right hand side of the road. Fingers crossed…