Tyhjennä haku
Martin and Debbie KinallyMartin and Debbie Kinally
SatelliittiMuokkaa reittiä
matkusti 11 maahan. Lue lisää
  • MatkaajaIs it really 'Grim up North?'
    111
    Päivä 4

    Cragside House, Morpeth pt 2

    29. huhtikuuta, Englanti ⋅ 🌬 13 °C

    The house has a beautiful gallery with glass ceiling and an extension which was added in time for the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales- the future King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra and boasts a drawing room which has a stunning 10 tonne marble fireplace and the Owl Suite bedroom.

    The house even boasts a hydraulic lift which together with all the lighting powered by the hydro electric system installed all those years sgo

    The amount of rooms you can see in this house is quite amazing, well worth the £25 entrance fee, thank god for our NT membership.

    So not at all grim today apart from being rained on walking back to the van!

    After the house we stop off for some new supplies before heading to Alnwick for overnight stay.    Lue lisää

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  • MatkaajaIs it really 'Grim up North?'
    11
    Päivä 4

    Cragside House, Morpeth pt 1

    29. huhtikuuta, Englanti ⋅ 🌬 12 °C

    Well yesterday was a complete washout, quite literally. It rained from first thing in the morning until late afternoon. So despite the location it's grim rating is 8.76 😊 But it didn't put the rowers off so at least we had something to watch. A quiet day was spent reading and using our tablets. Martin did manage a bike ride late afternoon for some fresh air. So no post or pictures.

    Today was another day, dry when we woke and for most of the morning. We are visiting Cragside House in Morpeth but on the way we stop off to visit The Angel Of The North statue. I've seen this many times on TV especially when watching 'Vera' but it is quite a sight up close, really huge, if you look at the picture you can just see Martin standing at the bottom.

    Onwards to Cragside, a National Trust property which is well recommended in the Northumbria countryside hidden in the trees high above the river that feeds the turbine engine which used to provide the house with electricity. This was the first 'smart house' back in the late 1800's.

     Three floors of rooms to look around plus gardens and a 6 mile carriage drive through the woodland. We didn't do that as the van was too big. We walked through the rockery garden to get to the house. It is beautifully decorated and I especially liked the use of tiles on the walls in the corridors, very practical if you think about it, hard wearing and easy to wipe down, plus little fingers can't piggle them off.    Lue lisää

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  • MatkaajaIs it really 'Grim up North?'
    1
    Päivä 2

    Durham Cathedral

    27. huhtikuuta, Englanti ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    After a good but slow trip up yesterday due to roadworks we arrive safely at Durham Rowing Club. We have a spot right alongside the river.
    We woke to a flurry of activity at the club with boats of all sizes being lowered in to the water.
    After breakfast we walked into town centre along the river. We visited the two markets both inside and outside and bought a slab of Lemon Cake for later.
    We then headed up to the cathedral, wow it's another huge beautiful building that keeps you wondering how they managed to build such magnificent buildings all those years ago.
    Durham is a really nice interesting city dominated by a University presence contributing to a vibrant centre with bars and restaurants and many independent shops, we like it very much. So..... grim rating of zero!
    After the obligatory tea/coffee and cake we head back to the van to watch the Baggies on the TV, Now we are really talking grim!!! shame it wasn't the result we wanted. Never mind the bars open in the van and the sun's shining.    Lue lisää

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  • MatkaajaCarcassonne, here we come.
    Päivä 5

    Homeward Bound

    9. lokakuuta 2023, Englanti ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Waking again to another beautiful day and finding an interloper in the apartment in the form of a huge grasshopper, we set about pack up our belongings and head to the hotel Martin has found for us to store our luggage before departing for the airport, can't leave it at the apartment as new guests are arriving.

    We wander down by the river but not much to see here so back to the Bastide, Martin loves saying that word, can't think why.

    We are surprised by how quiet it is and noticed quite a few shops are closed, then it dawns on us 'It's Monday ' not a lot happens in France on a Monday.

    We decide on lunch in The Plaza and sit down to eat and people watch before heading back to the hotel to pick up the bags. We ask the nice lady if she could phone for a taxi for us. In between our limited French and her slightly better English, followed by a couple of phone calls we find that taxis also do not seem to work on Monday's. Oh no what to do now, Martin is also having no luck with Uber. There is a shuttle bus from the airport to Carcassonne so we ask her about that. She kindly looks it up on the computer and tells us its running and where to catch it, off we go to the bus stop.

    By the time the Bus/Coach arrives there are about 15 of us waiting to get on, most seats are already taken and by the time we make the last pickup at the Medieval Town, no seats and people standing all along the gangway, surely not safe but hey ho the only way to get to the airport, thankfully its not far. Plane is on time and after queuing for security and passport control its straight onto the plane and homeward bound,

    Good journey back to end a great few days away,. Great place and would highly recommend Carcassonne for a short break. Thanks for the great company Fiona and Mark, now to plan the next one.    Lue lisää

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  • MatkaajaCarcassonne, here we come.
    Päivä 4

    Lac de la Cavayere

    8. lokakuuta 2023, Ranska ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    After a lazy morning catching up on emails and FB we headed out to The Plaza Carnot for lunch, very civilised sitting outside to eat in the sunshine in October.

    We then colllected our towels and swimming costumes, ordered a taxi and head out to Lac de la Cavayere just a few kilometres away. The taxi driver was hilarious, he spoke quite good English and was telling us how he loved Princess Diana but not so much King Charles and his was dishing the dirt on President Macron. He also agreed the French can't, make beer 'it's piss' his words not ours.

    Lac de la Cavayère is an artificial lake close to the mediaeval town of Carcassonne. also known as Carcassonne Plage, and was created by the building of a 23 metre high dam in 1988 after severe forest fires affected the area in 1985.

    We walk down to the sandy beach and have a paddle, nowhere to change so no chance of a swim. We then take a walk around the lake watching people on the zip wires and climbing ropes high above us. We also saw a red Dragonfly, never seen one of those before

    It's a lovely place with quite few people but nowhere to get a drink or ice cream so we head home using the same taxi driver.

    Tonight Fiona and Mart walked up to the bridge to take some pictures of the Medieval City all lit up.    Lue lisää

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  • MatkaajaCarcassonne, here we come.
    Päivä 3

    Market's and Canal trip

    7. lokakuuta 2023, Ranska ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Saturday is market day so we head off for a mouch. The first one is full of fruit and veg, cheese and olives. A fairly large market and very popular with the locals. The next one is more clothes, belts, handbags and odd and sods. It has an African/Moroccan feel to it.
    We then head into town for a drink while we decide what to do next.

    Decision made we're heading to the canal for a boat trip. We go for the City trip including two locks. A lovely sedate trip with commentary in English. Not too much to see and the view of the Medieval City was from quite a distance but pleasant enough in the sunshine. We arrive at the first lock to be greeted by the lock keeper, no winders and pushing against the lock gates here it's all done electrically with the push of a button . We sail through the lock and immediately turn around and return through the same lock, felt a bit cheated but the leaflet didn't say 2 different locks.

    Back to the central plaza for refreshments before shopping for tea and home for a restful evening.

    Ye another pleasant day in Carcassonne.    Lue lisää

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  • MatkaajaCarcassonne, here we come.
    Päivä 2

    Carcassonne, Old Town

    6. lokakuuta 2023, Ranska ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    After a leisurely breakfast we make our way to the Medieval part of town crossing over the river on the old bridge.
    What a fabulous place climbing up the cobbled street to enter the fortress into the narrow streets peppered with restaurants and shops.
    The views over the town are spectacular from this height and the weather's fabulous.
    We stop for a beverage in the square and sit and people watch before continuing around the circuit of the walls.
    A late afternoon meal before a ride on the mini tourist train before heading back to our park for crepes, then back to the apartment to chill.    Lue lisää

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  • MatkaajaCarcassonne, here we come.
    Päivä 1

    We have arrived.

    5. lokakuuta 2023, Ranska ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Well we've made. Good journey down the motorway and flight left on time. Carcassonne is a lovely little airport but lacking in taxis. After waiting in the heat we phoned a taxi, when it arrived 3 people pounced on it, thankfully I had given the driver my name.
    The apartment is lovely and has a view over the gardens. Drinks in the park and shopping done, meal in tonight and chilling .    Lue lisää

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  • MatkaajaNormandy
    Päivä 19

    Homewards bound

    25. syyskuuta 2023, Ranska ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Well this morning it's the last day of our Normandy jaunt. A leisurely day as we are filling in time till we head off to the tunnel. Wim booked in on the 10.20pm crossing, hoping the motorways are quiet so we can get home around 2am Brit time. So that's the plan any road.
    Eventually they hoofs themselves off their backside un gus for a walk to the front and along the prom before a spot of Lunch. The expanse of beach is amazing, as far as the eye can see.
    Well what a difference a day meks, its cloudy un cooler than yesterday un the aires arf empty . Most of the shop am shut as are the restaurant's so they ay got much choice fur lunch, especially as they dow like mussels.
    It's one of the biggest beaches of the holiday with beautiful soft sand, it stretches for miles.
    Right lunch well thems down tu two restaurant's now as ones just finished serving, it ay even 2 o'clock yet. So its in this un before they shut, it touch un go but the uman let's them in, he's having Fish un Chips and hers havin Pizza, portion of chips un 2 small beers, nearly 40 euros. Yep eating out ay chep in France.
    Back to relax before packing up un heading home,

    UPDATE
    Stopped to get petrol 11 km away from the Tunnel. Felt me arse rocking a bit, so on a whim after fuelling me up, he has a gander under the bike rack cover and bugger me I've got another illegal aboard again, bloody cheek. He prods him in the ribs and tells him to gerrout and bugger off. He must ave clocked me UK plate and tried it on. He's checked me chassis now as well for cling ons!

    UPDATE 2
    2 hour delay on tunnel crossing! It's gonna be a long night/morning.    Lue lisää

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  • MatkaajaNormandy
    Päivä 18

    Fort-Mahon-Plage

    24. syyskuuta 2023, Ranska ⋅ 🌬 18 °C

    After breakfast they meks sure we con get off the aire what with all the partyin last night and yep not a thing out of place, yu wunt ave known anything had bin goin on, the Frenchies must have got up early to tidy away.
    Any rowd up weem on the move agin to the final destination, not countdown Mark, that's a song.
    Weem goin to Fort-Mahon-Plage, it's in between out first and second nights stops. A little town with a beach and sand dunes.
    We starts by goin uver the hump backed suspension bridge, that was a sight, before hitting the motorway. Its a good journey and the miles soon pass by. We hits the town but oh oh, Deviation on the rowd we needs tu gu up but it's okay we gus round the back street un gets us to the aire, looks like weem just in time as its filling up quickly, well it would, it's Sunday, the sun's out un weem by the seaside, what more cud you want, oh yes a ruddy great flea market all the way up the High Street, hence the deviation.
    Well of course thems gotta check out the market, both sides of the only main high Street for at least quarter of a mile, I've never sin so much tat. His mate Kev loves a market (not) he would have loved telling the Frenchies to bog off, yow cor ave it for 20 cents! They does well un keeps their hands in the pockets, the unny time er got excited was when her found a load of Tupperware, she's got quite a bit of what was there including the jelly mould used each Christmas for the Ice Cream Christmas Pudding.
    They strolls down to the beach checking out the restaurant's as they go looking for somewhere for tomorrow's lunch then back hum to watch sun go down on the last night of holiday.    Lue lisää

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