September 2014 Blue Dormobile goes overseas
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September 2014 – it must be Spain then!
We had a couple of weeks holiday in September and were convinced by Marc (Treasurer of the Temps des Series Club) that, as it would coincide with the Bal de Series in the Auvergne, we should attend. We also had a rendezvous planned with our grandchild (and family and friends) in the Vendee. That gave us the locations for the middle and last weekend so it didn’t take much to add Spain for the first.
Ferry tickets were booked Poole / Santander (on the last LD Lines crossing) and return Caen / Portsmouth for the Blue Dormobile’s first European tour.
Setting off in a rather slack, we are on holiday mode and Poole isn’t far off Portsmouth is it, we called in on Michael in Buxton to drop off a hood stick he needed. After an hour or two the Sat nav was giving some strong indications that getting to Poole a couple of hours before leaving was going to be a challenge. Coupled with the fact that the Dormobile’s throttle only opened ½ way and at (relatively) high speeds it lost oil, the drive got more challenging as it went on. Esther rang the LD Lines hot line 3 times to see what our plan B was, but was always told that we should execute (and fail at) Plan A first! There’s Customer Service for you.
We were obviously panicking far too much as we arrived in Poole and checked in with 45 seconds to spare. Last on (had to reverse on) and first off!
Good crossing but an empty duty free shop. Good job we took our own 47% Bombay Saphire and tonic!
Due to the time of year, we had decided to make our first stop only an hour and a half from Santander at Ramales de la Victoria – quite posh, but quiet with a lovely bar in which we managed a few beers before evening meal and bed.
Next stop was in the Pyrennes, not far from the border
Checking out the local wine
T he following day, we headed for St Jean Pied de Port – up into and over the mountains through the cloud, stopping on the border for a view check.
We had wondered what had been eating all available grass on the verges and the culprit(s) was here to see.
After stopping off to purchase some wine and cheese, we trundled along to a place called La Bastide d’Armagnac, in, surprisingly enough, the Armagnac region of France. Lovely village but it was dead hot , so decided to find our next evening stop.
Lunch stop
La Bastide
Now last year, we spotted a website (France Passion) that offers free camping at a list of approx 1800 different farms, vinyards and producers. The book (and membership) costs £25 ish and, as long as you are self contained (own toilet facilities, own water and take your rubbish) allows free camping. All they ask is that you say hallo and goodbye – but, as most are producers ,they also sell their wares, however, there is no obligation to buy.
We had found such a site in Armagnac, in a chateau and museum. It had it’s own shop and tasting session. We had free entry to the museum, secure camping (they locked the gates!) access to a toilet and tasted several armagnacs from 5 years old to a wonderful 1985 variety which retailed at 100 euro a bottle. An interesting night was passed due to non stop crow scarers ! Allegedly to discourage wild boar from eating poultry.
Mobile still from a few years ago
Can’t mot have coffee and cake at 4 pm !
And a glass of red once the sun has gone down
Sunrise
We came away with a couple of bottles of Floc Armagnac, (for our Grandchild’s Fete) which is 1/3 Armagnac and 2/3 wine, 2/3 bottle of a 2000 Armagnac and a 1/3 bottle of the delectable 1985. Too soon it was morning and,after a final wander around the grounds, we departed for Perigeaux.
Perigeaux is a wonderful old town, with medieval , roman and modern bits. We enjoyed a stroll round, some lunch before arriving at our campsite for the night at Saint Antionne et Trigonont.
A pair of teeth (not quite sun down though)
Perigeaux
Over the years, we have developed a preference to not drive any more than 3hours unless we have to with a target of 2 ½ hours. This allows us to enjoy our travelling and to stop where and when we want to. We make a rough plan before we leave the UK with maybe a few key stops but things change.
Lunch spot (forgotten the name but it was big on Hydro power)
We head for the Auvergne. Home of cheese (bleu d’auvergne, Cantal etc) and Saler cows and volcanoes (extinct ).
Having never visited the region, it was a very pleasant surprise how nice it was. A suitable farm was found in our France Passion book and after some refreshment in the town of Egliseneuve d’Entrange,
we followed the cows going for milking and to our campsite. It reminded us of Norway, as did the temperature when we woke of 6 degrees !
L’auvergne also produces wine as well as cheese and although not up there with the great wines, it was exceedingly palatable with locally made cheese.
Practising some tunes for the Fete of our grand daughter.
The next day saw us on the road again to another Chateau (Perigere) to meet up with the Temp de Series weekend. This came at the right time as the steering was beginning to loosen up and required the services of the legend that is Toby Farlow, who soon sorted it out for me (thanks again).
The menu for le Bal de Series was broadly; arrive (once located!) and pitch in the field, meet up with friends (old and new),
Be alright when its finished!
Dormobile mod cons
Friday evening meet up in the big hall for a “faith” supper and a few drinks, set off Saturday morning for a (mainly) green lane / track tour of the countryside in three groups, meeting up at various chateau to compare notes. Saturday evening we joined our hosts for an aperitif and a formal evening meal with large quantities of wine, before retiring for the night. There were some wonderful vehicles on show, from Holland, Italy, Switzerland, England and of course France. We took out leave on Sunday morning, as we had a few miles to go and a few places yet to see, but can thoroughly recommend it.
Our next visit was to another Chateau, but with a difference. This one is being built in the exact same way that it would have been in the 13th century. 9 years done and another 10+ to go. We camped nearby and spent a very enjoyable day there (25 degrees+ again!)
Wench powered winch!
Les ramparts!
Onwards to Le Loire and, after a “conventional “ night in a campsite, piggy backing on to a classic car meet at Chambord, we arrived at Vouvray another France Passion site, in a vineyard. Standard form; have a chat with “landlord”, get shown where to park up, bob down for a tasting and wander back with a few of his bottles.
Vouvray
Evening meal with a rather splendid Chinon
The weather was still great and we decided to break our 2 ½ hour rule and head for the Vendee coast – the isle of Noirmoutier. It is a very very French holiday spot (we were the only English there) but very pleasant.
Matching curtains and bedding
Can’t miss the opportunity of wine sampling
Just to prove we were on an island
This part of France is famed for salt
Didn’t expect to see this
Back on the mainland
We enjoyed a couple of days relaxation before heading off to meet son, daughter in law, grandchild and son’s in laws for “la fete de Rose” – the celebration of Rose’s almost 12 months on the planet, complete with music, ancient bread oven, food, drink and great company.
Proud Mum
And Dad
And Grandmother!
Good food and company
Making bread dough for the enormous oven
All the practising was worth while
Rose is assisting with packing
Back at home
We stopped off on the way back from the ferry to pick up 4 rims – which turned out to be 5 rims plus tyres – and they fitted – just!
In summary, the Blue Dormobile’s first overseas trip was a success. 2000 miles door to door, a few niggles still to sort (replace intercooler, replace exhaust fanimold gasket to reduce oil consumption, get panel lights to work, sort oil leak on rear near side hub, ditto on rear diff) but it was comfortable, almost quiet and we are looking forwards to our next trip – a week in Scotland in June.Wow Alex
what a fab adventure !
we’re hopping to do a Spain – Morocco – Spain trip next year so are looking at the crossing to Santander – but the plymouth one is very expensive at the moment ..love the photos and the write up and the meeting in France … very envious !!
glad the Big Blue went well – love the decor and bed covers !
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