France 2016 | FindPenguins

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Traveler France 2016
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- Jul 10, 2016, 12:34am
- 🌙 18 °C
- Altitude: 103 m
- France Occitania Condom 43.956516, 0.38824943°57’23” N 0°23’18” E
Day 14
Condom
July 10, 2016 in France ⋅ 🌙 18 °C
Lovely drive to Condom along typical virtually empty french country roads, many of them tree lined. Also fields of beautiful sunflowers all facing the sun reminding me of the Day of the Triffids film. Parked up by the river side at Condom and crossed the bridge for a walk to the 15th centurary cathedral and then around the old town. Lunch in a restaurant adjacent to the cathedral was pizza washed down with a beer although Mike strangely picked a strawberry beer???
Arrived at Brian and Sarahs bungalow which is set on approximately a 300 sq metre plot with a lovely pool area. A swim and sunbathe duly followed which was most welcome in the 30degree heat. Brief stroll along "The Way of St James" which is to the rear of the property so we could walk Bella. Sun persisted till 9.00pm which made for a super setting for one of Lesleys special cold plattters.
Once the sun had fully gone to bed the stars could be seen in all their glory as there is so little light pollution here. I've never seen the milky way so clearly.Read more
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- Jul 10, 2016
- ☀️ 26 °C
- Altitude: 103 m
- France Occitania Condom 43.956429, 0.38831543°57’23” N 0°23’18” E
Day 14
Condom day 2
July 10, 2016 in France ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Early start with a short 2.5 miler part way along the Way of St James. Sun broke through the clouds and it got too hot for running. Karens official false birthday today for which we decorated the garden with banners declaring her 50th. Booboo had saved up her treat allowance and bought Karen some presents.
Afternoon spent in and around the pool after the customary fizz. Tenperature gauge reached 35C in the shade. Treated us to a bottle of Ackerman Royal before a walk into town for dinner. Lovely restaurant in a side street where we had Floc (blanc) as an aperitif. Mike had rocquefort salad for entree and i had gizzard salad. Didn't know what to expect but very pleasantly surprised by the lovely flavour and meatiness. Nearest i can compare it too is cured reindeer meat. Mains were steak with peppercorn sauce (Karen !!!). Duck breast (Mike) and Moules in Rocquefort sauce for Lesley and me. Really enjoyed them although they were quite small and took forever to eat. Absolutely lovely though. All washed down with a couple of bottles of local vin blanc.
Back at chez nous we celebrated further with a tarte citron with a candle that played happy birthday and numbered 50 sparklers. Brandy and coffee folllowed to end the evening. All in all a very good day indeed.Read more
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- Jul 11, 2016, 11:37pm
- 🌧 19 °C
- Altitude: 103 m
- France Occitania Condom 43.956394, 0.38831843°57’23” N 0°23’18” E
Day 15
Condom day 3
July 11, 2016 in France ⋅ 🌧 19 °C
Dull day today after the thunderstorm overnight.
Tenperatures still good around 24 to 30C.
As it was mild i went for a short 5.5 mile run along the Way of Saint James. Ran past vineyards and sunflower fields along to a series of fishing lakes and then back. After resting Karen then felt like going for a run so i went back out with her and did another 5 mies. I crashed out after that and had a little rest by the pool. Dinner was emergency burger and courgette fritter as the steak we were looking forward to didnt smell right!
We are moving on tomorrow towards Perigueux where we will spend 4 nights before our long trip back to Dieppe. We have had a lovely time at our friends Brian and Sarahs place, it was so kind if them to offer us the use of their house especially as they were away.Read more
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- Jul 12, 2016, 6:53pm
- ☀️ 19 °C
- Altitude: 149 m
- France Nouvelle-Aquitaine Saint-Sulpice-de-Mareuil Pommier 45.472904, 0.53518145°28’22” N 0°32’7” E
Day 16
Camping Domaine De Corneuil
July 12, 2016 in France ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Rained again overnight so we left a very wet Brian & Sarahs house at Condom ths morning. Whilst it has been a lovely stay it feels right to be on the road again. Drove north and stopped at Bergerac. It has a lovely old section alongside a wide river where we had lunch. Carried on after to our next campsite which occupies 25 hectares and we have located our camp at the edge of a wood. Sun came out while we setup, as they say it always shines on the righteous.Read more
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- Jul 13, 2016
- ☁️ 17 °C
- Altitude: 148 m
- France Nouvelle-Aquitaine Saint-Sulpice-de-Mareuil Pommier 45.472931, 0.53513545°28’23” N 0°32’6” E
Day 17
Camping de Corneuil day 2
July 13, 2016 in France ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Moderately lazy day today mopping up some rays. Bella, Lesley, Mike and I did go for a walk though and gave Bella some ballage. I carried on through some woods for a bit extra walking. We sampled a few cold beers at the bar before camperol and aperol time. Dinner of chicken and pork kebabs followed with new potatoes and haricots vert.Read more
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- Jul 14, 2016, 3:27pm
- ☀️ 19 °C
- Altitude: 149 m
- France Nouvelle-Aquitaine Saint-Sulpice-de-Mareuil Pommier 45.472889, 0.53521145°28’22” N 0°32’7” E
Day 18
Camping De Corneuil 3
July 14, 2016 in France ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Woke to a lovely sunny day with only a scattering of clouds. Wasnt too hot around 20C so after an early brunch of sausage sarnies I went for a run. Covered 8.2 miles, probably 80% running 20% walking as there were some tough hills. Once again I barely saw a soul, only a couple of farmers cutting wheat. Passed by some beautiful small chateau's the french do seem to like their circular towers.
I had a couple of beers in the bar afterwards to refresh myself. We had booked the Table d'hote fot dinner whch was served on a long table. There were approximately thirty adults and twenty kids on a separate table. Food was a lovely quiche followed by duck leg and ratatouille. Dessert being a chocolate sponge, some ice cream, strawberries and a macaroon. It was all washed down with a couple if caraffes of local vin blanc. We chatted the evening away with a very nice group of Dutch people, all in all a perfect dinner.
Back to camp for a coffee, chocolate and brandy nightcap. An earlyish night for us all, I for one was just a little wobbly!Read more
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- Jul 14, 2016
- ⛅ 17 °C
- Altitude: 14 m
- France Normandy Dieppe Dieppe Ferry Port 49.933994, 1.0898949°56’2” N 1°5’24” E
Day 18
Camping De Corneuil day 4
July 14, 2016 in France ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Beautiful hot sunshine for our last day here. Pain au chocolat and coffee for breckie. Popped to reception to download a new book using their wifi and saw the terrible news from Nice, France is certainly getting hit badly recently. Joined at bar for a beer by Mike soon followed by the girls who guessed where we might be. 😉
Chicken salad for lunch washed down with some fizz for a change hah hah.
More sunbathing followed and then Salmon for dinner followed by Ben & Jerries cookie dough tubs. Karen had bought 5 tubs, one for each including one for BooBoo too of course🐒🍦
Bit of stargazing then earlyish to bed as travelling home tomorrow.Read more
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- Jul 16, 2016, 9:46pm
- 🌙 17 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- English Channel 50.055405, 0.90753650°3’19” N 0°54’27” E
Day 20
Last day!
July 16, 2016, English Channel ⋅ 🌙 17 °C
Packed up camp and said our farewells to the owners and then sadly to Bella, Mike & Lesley. Somehow doesn't feel like the holiday is over yet ?
Although a family campsite with plenty of kids i really rate it as the staff were superb, the pitches and facilities great with the added bonus of woods all around. One to use again if in the area.
Drove up to Richleau where we stopped for a break we were extremely low on fuel and getting a bit fanicky but managed to get some at an Eclerc. Noticed that the drivers side front tryre was very squidgy and found ot 20psi in there, so much for the garage fixing that bedore we left! After topping up the tyre we parjed up in the town and walked into the main square. This town seems to be one of those placs you see in films of the french revolution era where the rich were ridiculously rich and spent all sY shouting about it in flamboyant costunes and makeup.
They were in fact having a "cape and epis" festival in the grounds of the former chateau which in its day must have been incredibly beautiful. The gardens and some buildings were still there and truly spectacular. We had a lovely merguez sausage, sweet pepper and onion baguette with a beer for lunch then back on the road. Stopped off at a winery in Chinon, Vignobles du Paradis, and sampled some wares before swapping another wedge of euros for some clanky boxes😄
Then on to Saumur again (well we were close!) where we picked up some more pink fizz and a couple of cases of Cremant. Checked TomTom who said our eta at dieppe was 11.30 for a 11.59 crossing ( Oops😳) so we pressed on a bit. Arrived at about 10.45 so no drama in the end. Ferry left on time and now feeling better for a couple of Stella🍺🍺Read more
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- Jul 17, 2016, 6:15am
- ⛅ 17 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- England Gosport District Alverstoke Gilkicker Point 50.771917, -1.1226650°46’19” N 1°7’22” W
Day 21
Back to BIighty!
July 17, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Uneventful crossing to Newhaven and a short hop to Portsmouth on empty Sunday morning roads. Made good time so caught the 6am boat rather than the 7am one we booked. Only our camper and two caravans on this first boat of the day. The Solent is blissfully calm this morning with barely a ripple to spoil the mirror like surface.
Our van (bless her) has performed faultlessly all holiday taking us over 1200 miles without complaint despite me reversing over our rear step.
What a great time we have had this year and sad that it had to end as I really think I could do a much longer holiday but work as always gets in the way. Still now we have the fun of planning for next year and hearing about the Wards adventures for their remaining 6 weeks as they explore the Lavender fields of Provence.
Au Revoir xRead more
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