Chasing Eggs in France 2023

September – October 2023
  • Away... Again
  • Shurms travels
France with Bobby-Claude, our trusty Chariot.
A tour of France during the Rugby World Cup 2023, taking in a few of the matches and the sights and tastes of France.
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  • Away... Again
  • Shurms travels

List of countries

  • France France
  • England England
Categories
Car, Couple, Sports, Tours, Vacation
  • 1.9kmiles traveled
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  • 35footprints
  • 22days
  • 414photos
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  • Let the games begin!

    September 8, 2023 in England ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    It seems right to preface our trip today, as we sit in our garden, 1st Friday beer just opened.
    The 8th September 2023, the opening day of the RWC.

    Planning for this trip started during our RWC 2015 trip around England and Wales. Previously a little ambivalent towards rugby (Sam), emotions got the better of me before the first game had started! The RWC 2015 opening ceremony paid tribute to the origins of rugby, focusing on William Webb-Ellis's rule break during a game of football to create a new game. It's widely publisised that the Webb-Ellis theory is a romantic myth, but you come to your own conclusion.
    By the time our trip had finished we were looking to future tournament finals. Japan 2019 was deemed too complex with the added challenges of travelling with a disability. So, on 14th November 2017, when France pipped South Africa and Ireland to the upright we had the bones of a trip.
    The preparation, imagination and trepidation of planning a trip is often excluded from travel yarns in this Insta age. We jump to the final page when a great deal of joy comes from the creating, the research, talking through plans with friends who drop in golden detour nuggets. Our stops are a blend of finely arranged days, right down to bus times and menu choices made; through to 'it'll be reet' visits where we will take the days as they come.
    We will share the route before we leave these shores, a couple of weeks from now, and we hope you enjoy following our trip around France.

    And now we are ready, the bags are yet to be packed but the itinerary, carefully woven around game days is created and printed.

    Let the games begin!
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  • En route a France

    September 21, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Certainly beats a Motorway Services!
    Lunch in the very quaint village of Chacombe. Very nice food at The George and Dragon too. 😇🐲🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
    Onto Folkestone 👉

  • Folkestone at last

    Sep 21–22, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Things peaked at Chacombe.
    Sat nav said 2 1/2 hours to Folkestone but the m25 had different ideas.
    2 hours to go 4 miles wasn't funny.
    Anyway, we are here, barman put on the rugby, the hosts v Namibia, beer is not touching the sides and the first people we meet in the bar are from Lancaster and also heading to Lille for the Chile game!
    Thai meal out for them, Stella Artois for us.
    See you in the morning at Le Shuttle! 🚆
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  • Eurotunnel

    September 22, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Decent nights sleep and the Holiday Inn Express had pretty good disabled features and very friendly staff.
    Seems Dupont has a broken jaw and that was the talk of the breakfast room.
    Through passport control and waiting to board the shuttle.
    Next stop Calais and then onto Dunkirk
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  • Arrived in the lovely Lille suburbs

    Sep 22–25, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Arrived in our lovely little Gites in Flequieres.
    Crossing under the sea was as seamless as usual and driving on the right has been remastered with only one petit faux pas! 🤭
    Raining in Dunkirk so didn't mooch but did take in the Museum dedicated to Operation Dynamo in WW2. Very thought provoking.
    Our first supermarche provisions shop had the usual ooooo, look at this, look at that, look at the price of wine, what the f#*k is that? Always a good experience, this time enhanced with the checkout girl reversing Kev back down the checkout ailse to a wider exit spot!
    And now we are relaxing with beer and wine, one of Kevs all time favourite beers I may add, Kwak.
    We're watching Argentina v Samoa in this sweet little Gite which reminds us both very much of our house in Spain...
    There was always beer and wine on offer there too!
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  • England 71 - 0 Chile

    September 23, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    Our first Rugby game off British soil.
    England fans friendly and in great spirits.
    The people of Lille welcomed us all and were so helpful.
    The Chileans were absolutely incredible. Sort of a shame we didn't get to see them celebrate any points.
    They sang and danced until the very end.
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  • Lille Citadelle

    September 24, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Had a right ģood post breakfast natter with our Gite neighbours, the Teesiders and the Cornish before heading back into Lille to explore the beautiful Citadelle.
    Perfect weather today, low 20s with a gentle breeze and a cornflower sky.
    We headed to O Scotland bar for Scotland v Tonga and bar snacks. Seems Lord Farquard is actually a West Ham fan and can be seen around Lille's bars this weekend 🤣
    Moving onto Champagne region tomorrow, Villenauxe le Grande. Just for one night, not sure Kev trusted me in that area of France for any longer 🥂🍾🥂
    Lille has been fabulous, can highly recommend this beautiful town for sightseeing, walks, food and bars. We also highly rate our Gite, Gites du Frêne https://gitesdufrene.fr/ and would love to return. A chilled little haven, just the job!
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  • A night in Villenauxe la Grande

    September 25, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Another super friendly host and a stay in a mill on the outskirts of the village, Moulin de Cutesson.
    Delicious food in the recommended restaurant, Le Flaubert.
    Some photos of the village and our short stay...

    We are now on our way to Dijon through the Champagne vineyards.
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  • Lille to Villenauxe la Grande

    Sep 25–26, 2023 in France ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    We said our goodbyes and set off south to Villenauxe. As we were only half an hour from Belgium we took a detour across the border. Kev wanted waffles 🧇 but couldn't find a purveyor of waffles within 'the border region'!
    Setting the sat navigation to 'no tolls' is great. Not only do we save wine tokens, we skirted the Somme region and stopped at memorials to those lost in the first and second world wars.
    Spotted a chateau from miles away and did a short detour which didn't disappoint. Still warm here so stopped for an orangina, Laurent, the bar owner was chatty and when we complimented his lovely little bar he enquired if we wanted to buy it... bit far to travel to Horwich for my office days and although AXA offices are everywhere, I didn't spot one up by the chateau!
    Long 4 hour drive on unfamiliar roads (without the stops) but really worth it!
    Just the one night in Villenauxe, we will focus on this gorgeous village tomorrow.
    Now for food.... night all 🍾
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  • One for you Mave 💙

    Champagne region

    September 26, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    What a great drive!
    The last time we drove through France we were en route to a new life in Spain. We chose fast routes which now appears to be a big mistake. The choice to take D roads has paid off.
    Today the stunning Champagne region delivered in barrels!
    A couple of years ago we drove through a concentration of Scottish distilleries and the windows open, the smell of malt whiskey was heavy in the air. Same went for today, we may as well had our heads in a bucket of Champagne! Unique experiences!
    And now, we've arrived in Dijon, both a little tired. Me, we've covered more than average miles over the last two days. And Kev, that's what MS does to him. He slept while I listened to French radio, his snoring only made me turn it up once 😄. MS fatigue will be helped with a good night's sleep so bed by 9pm and praying for mostly unbroken rest.
    Night all, Dijon updates will follow!
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