Trip to France

[Pudsey Bear]

Looks to be a superb location. Is it easy to find the retail outlets selling tokens for water?

Might be if they've finished building it.

 

[TJBi]

Might be if they've finished building it.

Looks like a residential development nearing completion in December 2022. It's one that I may well try to visit if I'm anywhere near Angers, but not on a public holiday or sunny weekend. Comments from French motorhomers 2014-2021 all very positive; others reported it as a pleasant, peaceful location in autumn 2023, but there are a couple of more recent reports of a long-stayer with 3 loose large dogs.

 

[Drover]

Looks to be a superb location. Is it easy to find the retail outlets selling tokens for water?

We have always got ours from the local Marie office.. (town hall)
It was 2 years ago we were there last. very quiet except for the weekend.but even then it was not that busy.

 

[TJBi]

We're really hoping to wild camp as we do not like being too close to others at all, so Aires for the facilities will be nice but if crowded we will move on.

If you don't like to be close to others, do bear in mind that this June will be the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the area around the landing beaches will be rammed, plus there will be road closures and no doubt closures of parking areas etc. as well for reasons of both logistics of the commemoration events and security of all the dignitaries (several heads of state). I've seen reports that some campsites (yes, I know that you don't like them, but it's an indicator) are already fully booked for that period.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Thanks Tom, we're going April time so hopefully it's not going to be too bad, if it is we'll go where others aren't.

 

[TJBi]

Thanks Tom, we're going April time so hopefully it's not going to be too bad, if it is we'll go where others aren't.

Hi Kev,
Areas around the landing beaches should be fine then and well into May.
If you're going early April for 6 weeks, be aware that the immediate vicinity of Fécamp could be busy 8-12 May. https://en.normandie-tourisme.fr/highlight/fecamp-grandescale/

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Liz keeps telling me when we're going but as usual with wimmin she goes all round the houses and I forget the details.

 

[barryd]

Are you going beyond Normandy and Brittany Kev in the six weeks?

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Yes, we had a chat, well Liz told me she'd like to nip into Belgium and the Netherlands and a quick drive into German & Switzerland, we tend to move 100 plus miles every day so we will cover some land, we hope to get right into the Pyrenees too, I prefer to travel than sit around I do enough of that at home.

She did actually ask me only last night to ask you about places to visit and avoid, if you could email me something along those lines it'd be great, and others of course, there will be some info in the thread already but disseminating it isn't something I do well, reading isn't my way to absorb info at all.

 

[barryd]

Yes, we had a chat, well Liz told me she'd like to nip into Belgium and the Netherlands and a quick drive into German & Switzerland, we tend to move 100 plus miles every day so we will cover some land, we hope to get right into the Pyrenees too, I prefer to travel than sit around I do enough of that at home.

She did actually ask me only last night to ask you about places to visit and avoid, if you could email me something along those lines it'd be great, and others of course, there will be some info in the thread already but disseminating it isn't something I do well, reading isn't my way to absorb info at all.

If your going to Normandy though Belgium and Holland are in the opposite direction. Not been to Holland but I have been to, Belgium which to be honest I found a bit "Meh". Holland is also very flat. Amsterdam is nice though, I have been there.

If I were you I would do Normandy, maybe some of Brittany if you like nice beaches and pretty villages then head down to the Pyrenees maybe via the Dordogne or just go down the Atlantic coast. Six weeks aint that long! Although knowing you I think you do like to get a wriggle on! Did I send you my Pyrenees guide? Probably a bit out of date now.

 

[trevskoda]

I read summat this morning about Win 7 coming back

That was the best as it was yours, still think linux light or mint is best, mint got voted the top operating sys for a pc, not that i would blow hard on my trumpet LOL.

 

[trevskoda]

Not true Trev. May be the case for Win 11 in S mode, but not vanilla Win 11.

Prefair strawberry myself.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I have a date at last, 23/4.

 

[TJBi]

I have a date at last, 23/4.

Who is she?

 

[Pudsey Bear]

 

[TJBi]

Here are a few more dates for you:

01/05 - May Day
08/05 - VE Day
09/05 - Ascension
20/05 - Pentecost Monday

All were public holidays in France, and still are with the exception of Pentecost Monday, which the French government decreed some years ago would be a "solidarity day", when workers would work without additional pay, with wages and payroll taxes for the day being used to fund a special budget to boost care of the elderly in the community. There was a lot of resistance to this, so while no longer a public holiday it is treated as such by many.
Expect many businesses, including supermarkets, to be closed on at least the first three of these days. Also expect roads to be busier around this period, especially given that people are quite likely to decide to take 3 days' holiday around 08+09/05 and get a whole week off.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Looks like we'll have a duvet days for those dates then.

 

[barryd]

Looks like we'll have a duvet days for those dates then.

Dont be shy in joining in the various celebrations Kev! The French generally put on a good show. Bastille day 14 July around Annecy is a site to beholden. Absolutely bonkers but in a brilliant way.

The French often have little festivals and stuff going on over holiday or special days. I went to a Cabbage festival in the Pyrenees once which sounds crap but it was brilliant. Loads of nice food and stuff, music etc. The best one was some kind of early Christmas festival in Quinten in Brittany we came across by accident in November. The little town put on a hell of a show and everyone got involved.

I think you are doing the right thing going late April rather than March. Weather will be better especially if you do get further south although I remember running out of road on the Col de Tentes above Gavarnie in May once. If you do get down to the Pyrenees it will be fabulous as there will still be plenty of snow up top but likely lovely lower down.

The end of the road!! Above Gavarnie (Must see!) May 2010 I think.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

That bloody Emma has bombed your shot again.

 

[TJBi]

Dont be shy in joining in the various celebrations Kev! The French generally put on a good show. Bastille day 14 July around Annecy is a site to beholden. Absolutely bonkers but in a brilliant way.

The French often have little festivals and stuff going on over holiday or special days. I went to a Cabbage festival in the Pyrenees once which sounds crap but it was brilliant. Loads of nice food and stuff, music etc. The best one was some kind of early Christmas festival in Quinten in Brittany we came across by accident in November. The little town put on a hell of a show and everyone got involved.

I think you are doing the right thing going late April rather than March. Weather will be better especially if you do get further south although I remember running out of road on the Col de Tentes above Gavarnie in May once. If you do get down to the Pyrenees it will be fabulous as there will still be plenty of snow up top but likely lovely lower down.

The end of the road!! Above Gavarnie (Must see!) May 2010 I think.

D923 above Gavarnie? Saw marmots there August 2018.