A summary of our Brittany tour

Tuesday 14/07/20

Blue Flax fields in Normandy

As we come to the end of our first stage of the UK trip we look back fondly on our extended tour of Brittany.  

We left the house sit just over a month ago and travelled relatively slowly around the coast of Brittany trying to wait out the UK quarantine before returning.  When the release date was moved we extended our tour slightly to cover the part of the coast of Normandy that we missed last time around.

It's been wonderful to connect with Charmaine and Shadow again.

We had become very comfortable living in the house in Noyal-Muzillac for the past 8 months,  and so were a little concerned at how we would settle back into living in Bokkie.  Reflecting back, we needn't have worried - somehow the time away from Bokkie had allowed us to relax into the travelling / camping experience and we were soon into a lovely rhythm again.  We tended to rise quite early and get moving after breakfast, travel a relatively short distance and try to get a good spot at the next site.  Weather permitting we walked and cycled to explore the area and somehow the days seem to rush by remarkably quickly.

Omaha beach, Normandy

We were on the road for 29 days before crossing into the UK and covered a total of 1,840 km (1,150 miles) with Bokkie, using up £210 of diesel (at 31.50 mpg) and around £15 of gas.  Our total direct expenses were £786 with the main categories being Groceries (£303), diesel (£210) and campsites (£124). We didn't use electric hook-up at all during the trip (until we arrived in the UK where it is included in the fees) and Bokkie's solar panels provided us with all our electrical requirements.

We probably wouldn't have stayed so many nights in campsites (7) however we started the trip off with 3 nights in a camp just to settle into the routine and then also decided on another 4-night camp-stay when the weather got very hot, so we could use Bokkie's awning.  The other nights were either in free aires or parking areas (we did spend one night in a paid aire).  We really appreciate and enjoy the French motorhome aire-system.

The French can't imagine not having a proper lunch even when travelling somewhere by car.

Oyster farmers setting off to work in Normandy

We stayed in the most wonderful places and absolutely loved every bit of the trip - especially travelling in Bokkie in the warmer weather.  

We now have five house-sits lined up in the UK for the next 12 weeks (we find this a nice way to experience parts of England while we're here),  and are also visiting with family.  

We are due to return to our house-sit in Noyal at the end of September so will to keep going with our French lessons in the meantime!

Welham Garden City, UK

Saturday 11/07/20

Bokkie putting her feet up for a well-earned rest

Bokkie has done her job well again and brought us safely back to the UK.  

After a fairly long but uneventful day yesterday we arrived by ferry in Dover and drove the 100 miles to our campsite.  It's packed with Brits, relieved to finally be allowed to camp after lock-down but, as before, we are struck at how quiet it is here.  We're a little isolated in that visitors aren't allowed in but we have been able to go out and see Charmaine, which has been lovely.

The familiar sights of the UK

I'm not sure how Toni captured this arty shot under the Thames, was it Bokkie
feeling the rough road or Toni shaking because of my driving?

We have a few more days here before our first house-sit starts in the middle of next week.  I will do an update on stats and costs of our Brittany and Normandy tour at some stage for interest, but we won't be blogging as regularly for the next while.

Many thanks to everyone who has been following Bokkie on her latest travels, we hope you have enjoyed it.

Stella Plage

Thursday 09/07/20

Bokkie is sheltering behind the dunes at Stella Plage.  We've been here before (click here) as it's a convenient distance from Calais, we seem to remember the wind howling last time as well.

The impressive Château de Mesnières. The St Joseph Institute now runs it as a college

We travelled a different route to the way we usually do, sticking to the coast a bit closer and it was a lovely drive.  We settled into a spot in between all the other motorhomes and waited for the drizzle to lift before heading out for a walk.  The sea is brown and angry but it doesn't seem to be putting the determined kids off enjoying themselves.  We found a lovely trail through the dunes and spotted some wild goats along the way.

Very pretty Sea Holly growing on the dunes 

Wild goats

I think we are definitely going to miss the quiet French roads.

We have filled in the forms we think we need to get back to the UK so we'll see how things go.  We're visiting family and friends, as well as doing quite a few house-sits in the UK for the next couple of months - and will then head back to France by the end of September.

Mesnières-en-Bray

Wednesday 08/07/20

A swan family on the Seine

Bokkie pulled into a familiar aire next to the river Seine near Saint-Nicolas-de-Bliquetuit (we've stayed here before, click here) but before she could settle down we decided to push on.  It was grey and drizzly and we agreed, after some lunch and coffee, that it was better to be driving than walking or cycling.

We stopped off to fill up Bokkie's diesel tank and headed to an aire in a very pretty village.  It means we have done the longest drive of our trip back to the UK today, so will have some time tomorrow to do some last-minute French grocery shopping (although Bokkies lockers are showing some signs of strain already!).

Longues-sur-Mer

Tuesday 07/07/20

Bokkie in her spot for the night

We were woken bright and early by the oyster farmers' tractors heading to the beach again at low tide, but we didn't mind too much as it was a lovely morning.  The harness racers were out exercising their horses again.

We set off to the American cemetery which seemed appropriate as the two beaches, Utah and Omaha, were the American landing sites on D-Day.  The cemetery is certainly thought-provoking, bringing a dose of reality to any romantic notions one might have about the war and the invasion, in particular.  The entire place is immaculate and well run; it was just as well we arrived early as it was starting to fill up by the time we left.

Crosses for the almost 10,000 US soldiers who died during the landings.

Omaha beach in the backdrop

Memorial Garden of the 1,500 missing US soldiers, their names covering the walls.

The 7 metres high bronze statue entitled ‘The Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves’.

We have stopped at a point near the Longues-sur-Mer german coastal defence battery, one of the best preserved sites in the area.  We went to have a look at them and then cycled into Arromanche which we had visited before.

One of the 150mm cannons capable of firing on targets 22km away.

Approaching Arromanche

Poignant graffiti on the wall of a restaurant in Arromanche

Bonus pic, we don't often have this view from Bokkie's window.

The cliffs obviously making for good ridge-soaring.

Tomorrow we start our journey towards our ferry crossing - more driving, less sight-seeing.

Utah Beach near Les Dunes

Monday 06/07/20

Bokkie in her spot, metres from the sea at high tide

High tide when we arrived

We were treated to a special sunset last night as the sun disappeared behind a cloud on the horizon, and then watched as it dropped out below the cloud like a molten drop of gold before disappearing again.  It almost made up for the fact that the wind kept shaking us awake right throughout the night.

We've relocated to a spot right alongside the sea at Utah beach and cycled to the various memorials in the area.  It really does make one think about the courage and bravery of those who lived and died in the madness of WWII.

This afternoon we watched from Bokkie's window as the tide went out to expose the beds of cultivated oysters.  The place is a hive of activity at the moment with horse riders, dog walkers, cockle collectors and oystermen and -women all going about their business.  

Bokkie parked in the middle of picture, it's hard to believe the waves were only a few metres
away when we arrived

It should be peaceful overnight but I think we'll be woken up early at low tide again by the oyster farmers.  It can not be an easy job for them, having their working day dictated to by the tides.

We organised security for Bokkie while we went cycling

Nez de Jobourg

Sunday 05/07/20

Bokkie is so close to the UK she is picking up English radio stations!

The day started off very grey and drizzly and, as we drove towards the tip of Normandy it got progressively worse.

When we got into our parking spot it was completely white all around and we couldn't see beyond the hedges of the parking area.  When it lifted, however, we were treated to the most wonderful view.

The view from Bokkie's door

We are currently in the windiest part of France (according to the information board), so have parked Bokkie facing into the wind and we should hopefully have a comfortable night.  There are the most beautiful views from here with the Channel Islands in the distance, and it is the closest we'll be to the UK until we get to Calais at the end of the week.

Nez de Jobourg, the 'nose' or 'Cape'

Tomorrow we head along the Normandy landing beaches to our next stop.