Camping La Riviera Doree - Fountainebleau

Another late start this morning which we regretted as the heat of the day built quickly. By mid afternoon Angela was suffering badly from the heat. We changed upon an Aldi supermarket purchasing ice lollies and other supplies. A fellow cyclist, a young woman from Paris bought spinach, olives, lemons, sparkling water and an alternative milk drink. Us. Bread, crisps, eggs, fruit and a large packet of pain chocolates. Proper cycling food. Lots of carbs, fat and sugar to power us up. Yesterday John picked a bunch of table grapes from a vine overhanging the wall of a front garden. An elderly couple walking nearby laughed. It was probably their grapevine! This evening the mosquitoes are driving us mad, biting with a vengence.

The campsite is a little quirky with little hobbit houses and pods you can star gaze from. Another warm day tomorrow. We must leave early without fail.

La Rochette, Melun

After talking with a German couple who were on their way home after cycling from Dover to Bristol via the Channel Islands. They'd really enjoyed their trip unlike the German couple we met on the train yesterday who didn't like to be away from home for more than ten days as they became homesick. The thought of a two week holiday horrified them. Wasn't a lot we could say to them after that, they thought we were mad to be away camping for six weeks. Hotels all the way for them. Today was suppose to be an easy day, just a short cycle. Of course it wasn't. The cycling through the built up areas stressful and uninteresting. Eventually we found ourselves alongside the river Seine, swapping concrete for countryside.

Yesterday at the Beautiful Village campsite we'd seen parakeets, today multiple squadrons of swans. Our day turned out to be long. The first campsite static caravans only. The second just didn't feel right, the full time residents had the look of travellers. So on we cycled. Our bodies not yet fully tuned complaining.

Now we are on a nice campsite just past the town of Melun. The river Seine is opposite, and the view beautiful. Our neighbours of from various parts of Europe, two from England. We have cycled thirty five miles today, and are on course to arrive in the Loire in about four days.

Villiers sur Orge

As if train travel in France is not stressful enough, we were informed after standing for some time in the queue to buy tickets that person's travelling with bicycles must book tickets online. Sounds easy enough, doesn't it? No, it wasn't. At 12.47 today we were on the train to Paris.

Throughout the journey nobody checked out tickets! The journey just over three hours seemed long, especially as the coffee machine we were sat next to was out of order. A late arrival in Paris, just after four is not the ideal time to begin cycling. We were tired and reliant on Google maps to take us out of the city to tonight's campsite. Traffic around the Louvre was light, but a taxi still managed to almost knock John from his bike. Our route out took us along undulating paths through wooded parks. Then onto roads, steep and long. We still felt as fit as fleas, from our cycle over here a few weeks ago, well as fit as fleas with dodgy knees and hips!

 Camping Beautiful was our destination. We arrived just before eight when the reception closed. We'd been cycling for three and a half hours, and it felt like it. Camping Beautiful was run by an oriental lady who was more than happy to relieve us of almost thirty euros. We were a mere thirty minute metro ride from Paris, hence the cost. We ate salads whilst the mosquitoes ate us. Tomorrow our holiday would begin, two long days of travelling had taken its toll, but we thought for a couple in their sixties we'd started well. Should be a doddle from now on!

Cherbourg

French trip part 2. Let's hope we manage the full 6 weeks this time after having to return home early in July.

On the plus side we now have a smart new balcony attached to the back of our house and a very smart garden to go with it. Angela's worried about her plants whilst we're away as a heatwave is forecast the first week of September. The twenty five watering cans full of water she administered yesterday should suffice.

Unusually we were waved straight onto the car ferry so bagged a prime comfortable seat by the onboard charging facility. 8.30 am and the Barfleur sounded a short blast to signal it was leaving the berth.

Most days this is Angela's 'time to rise' alarm! 

Tonight we are once again staying at the campsite in Cherbourg before taking a train to Paris tomorrow and then cycling 20 miles south to camp before our proper journey starts. It's still the French holidays here, so fingers crossed we can book a train. (post script, train is booked!) 

Poole

This morning the forest bathed in sunshine. A drove of donkeys quietly appeared. The young ones adorable. They were quite happy to be stroked and photographed whilst their parents watched over them. Ah...so sweet. Yesterday evening we decided to go back to Burgess Hill to view the VW Club Joker, so we telephoned the garage to make an appointment to view it this afternoon at two. Just over an hour into our trip the garage telephoned to say it had been sold. The decision had been made for us. Marge, you're safe. 

Sadly, we must now stop jollying around and return home. Wednesday our balcony begins, hopefully. Some of our rental houses need work, hedge trimming and fence painting and our own house has jobs to be done as well before our August visitors. But before all that, and before the school holiday begin and it's difficult to get around locally, we decided to drive over to Swanage for fishcakes and chips and a walk before we're invaded by holidaymakers.

How long before we can't resist to sneak off for a night or two? Who knows. Watch this space.

Brockenhurst (Day 2)

We've decided to stay another night as it's so peaceful here. Angela tired from driving suggested a walk down to Brockenhurst village which according to the lady in the site office was two miles each way. Really. More like a round trip of six miles! On reflection we wondered why we hadn't returned our Brompton bicycles back under the table in Marge. Two legs and two wheels suits us better than just two legs. 

Our reward for completing the walk locally produced venison burgers and sausages cooked on our outside grill. Delicious! This is the life, Marge. Today should have been the day we officially returned from our cycle tour in France. We are still upset about having our trip cut short, but we mustn't dwell. Instead, we enjoy the evening. The cows that roam the site are very vocal and the horses frisky, running through the site to free themselves from the flies. How lucky are we to be here in natures palyground? 

Brockenhurst (Day 1)

The small parking area beside the river was full last night. Two vans which arrived after ten ended up parking alongside the road. Sadly, we think the popularity of this spot so close to Chichester will result in a 'no overnight parking' sign going up.

The festival of speed at Goodwood has been cancelled today due the high winds. Above Marge the tree shook off the last drops of rain and the rays of a determined sun found its way through fast moving clouds. We decided to head to Hayling Island. John has never been there before, and Angela last visited with her sons twenty-eight years ago. As we drove over the bridge the wind whipped up the high tide into a frenzy tossing the moored boats in every direction. The clouds raced across the sky casting dark shadows over the ground. The weather did nothing to enhance the area. As for campervans and motorhomes, forget it. You're not welcome as most of the seafront car parks allow them not to park. if you feel you must spend time here, parking by the kite surfers beach is allowed. Fifteen pounds! Whether you stay five minutes or all day. What's wrong with these councils? Perhaps they should consult with the local trades people as to whether they'd like some of our money spent in their shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants. 

We are now heading back towards home so have decided it would be nice to stop at a campsite in the new forest. The hollands wood site was over £30.00 a night, so we drove a couple of miles away from Brockenhurst village to the round hill site which was £15.50. That'll do nicely. We have spent all day discussing the VW van we viewed on Saturday and even though we'd discounted it, we couldn't forget it. Oh, dear Marge. You're not safe yet.

East Lavant

What a cracking little spot last night turned out to be. Upon our arrival Angela wasn't so sure, but as with some of the French campsites we have stayed on she has learnt first impressions don't always count. This morning we realised there were in fact two men living in the Honda Jazz parked in front of us. We could only imagine what their living conditions must be like and sympathise.

Today we travelled to Burgess Hill to Camper Sales to look at a V W Westfalia Club Joker. Although a lot smaller than Marge it impressed with its storage and layout. But impressed as we were something just didn't seem right, The van had done barely any miles over a couple of years, one year just seven between MOT's. We also realised from the registration plate it was local and would explain the amount of corrosion John spotted when looking for the water outlet on the underside from the salt air, and the aftermarket wheels with low profile tyre. Shame. Marge you're safe for now. Though we may return as they had a fantastic array of Westfalia vans. 

The weather although warm is wet so we decided to head back towards Chichester. The Festival of Speed is on at nearby Goodwood so the rocks are busy. Angela found us a little overnight spot just north of Chichester by the river Levant. When we arrived, other vans had obviously decided it to be a good stopover as well. Room for a little one? Fortunately there was a space on the end to squeeze Marge in. There are seven of us in total, the van behind is Danish.  If it wasn't raining, we'd appreciate how pretty the area is. The birds undeterred by the weather entertain us with their evening chorus. They sound cheerful. Perhaps we should be as well. Tonight, the two men at Selsey Bill will once again squeeze into their small car for another night. Unlike us, they don't have the luxury that Marge offers.

Selsey Bill, West Sussex.

Before leaving this morning, we walked down to the cove. Lulworth cove has always been one of our favourite places and we've lost count how many times we've visited over the years.

Sadly, it has quite quickly become a victim of commercialism. Boat trips, ice cream parlours, cafes, hotels, a visitor centre with cafe and beautiful cottages, the locals now priced out, our all-holiday lets. Thankfully, we can see past all this and remember the area in the 'old days', about five years ago when there was one cafe, one ice cream parlour a gift shop, hotel and public toilets. Strip all this 'it's what the visitors want' away and you still have rolling countryside, a beautiful coastline, fantastic geology and beautiful walks. Oh, and be warned. campervans and motorhomes parking is, a mere twenty pounds, how ever long you stay. Fortunately we know where the free parking is. 

By lunchtime we were back in Poole at Aldi restocking Marge. Then home to put on a wash and take a shower. The weather was perfect for a washday, warm and windy and within three hours we were back in Marge and on our way to Sussex. Tonight, Marge is located above a beach of shingle.

The sea is wild, a strong wind blowing it onshore churning the stones. Our neighbours appear to be houseless. One in a large van, the other living in the small confines of a Honda Jazz. We realise how lucky we are. Tomorrow we're off to Burgess Hill to look at a smaller van. Don't tell Marge.

West Lulworth, Dorset

Seaton is always a peaceful overnight stop. Up early we watched the town wake. Walkers, joggers, dog walkers and swimmers passed by all not bothered by the vans and very friendly. One lady swimmer crossed from the flats behind propping her small wooden ladder against the seawall so she could hop over.

It amused us. But an early morning dip was not for us. We had no cossies. And we didn't think the genteel folk of Seaton were ready for skinny dippers with breakfast! Away just after nine thirty arriving in Lyme Regis before the crowds, Marge was the first van in the motorhome parking section. Car parking charges have shot up this summer in west Dorset and after parting with £6.30 for three hours parking, we could see why many of the car parks were half empty.

Lyme Regis means pasties, and before twelve we'd eaten two. A walk along the beach, devoid of fossils, but still the fossil hunters came and then into the town stopping at a shop that sells quirky items and Ercol furniture, where John spent time talking to the owner before heading over to Bridport where we parked Marge next to a Volkswagen Exclusive, German registered.

It was very impressive, and at one time we thought of buying one. Not wanting to be too far away from home we drove up, over and along the coast road to Weymouth passing a cycle tourer along the way. We sympathised with her struggle on such challenging roads but were not envious. This coming weekend should have been our last in France. We are still very sad not to have completed our trip. Portland was our overnight destination.

Twice we have stayed next to the sculpture park at Tout Quarry. After settling in a van arrived and within minutes started up a generator. That's a no to us. So, we moved down into the centre of Weymouth, but cars with noisy exhausts, or fart pipes as John calls them and the location made Angela feel uneasy so we drove on to West Lulworth where we knew we'd be able to park by the church, which is where we are now with another van. Tomorrow home to Poole just down the road, and then perhaps another couple of nights away. An update on our balcony is steels up by end of Wednesday and French door fitted from kitchen Thursday. At last!