Well with about three weeks to go, we booked a week in La Croix Du Vieux Pont campsite, France. Not with the Motorhome not even in a Mobilhome, this time we booked a Log Cabin and it was relatively cheap. We booked to go with young Ralph and his girlfriend Fran and he wanted to use his car, as it is a convertible. He also wanted to go through the tunnel to save time, so we got Eurotunnel tickets with the booking for the Log Cabin through Canvas Holidays. The whole thing cost around £550 for all of us.
Fri 2nd to Sat 10th September
Day One, Friday 2nd September
Dot was working so I got the car ready, after she got in and had tea, we set off to meet the others at Fran's place. It took about one and a half hours for us to get there and it was about nine when we turned up. We got Ralph's car packed, had a couple of beers and then had an early night.
Day Two, Saturday 3rd September
We had to be up relay early to set off in the dark for the tunnel. The drive down went really well and we arrived nice and early only to find out that the trains were running late after a breakdown in the tunnel. We had a beer from the terminal and sat by the car in the sun. We eventually got on the train at about twelve, we could have had a nice sleep in.
Off the train we set off in the wrong direction, not by accident but because I wanted to visit where my grandad was, one hundred years to the day during Wold War One.
Bailleul in northern France, was the place, one hundred years on after my Grandad was there in 1916, although the place was totally destroyed by the French and British in 1918. So we just had a quick wander around the train station there, I did know that he had worked on the railway during his stay back then.
SEPTEMBER 9th Month 1916
3 Sun-11th after Trinity
Awaiting relief. Relieved A & S.H. (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) Marched to camp in Bailleul Lost 30 Franks and Janes photo. Had to rely on G.H.R. Nothing doing.
Not a lot I know but he was there and one hundred years later, so was I along with Dot. It may not have seamed like it but I was rather upset but very proud of my Grandad.
From there we drove on to the site, we had already used about and hour and a half and gone about 55 miles the wrong way and still had another 125 miles or so to go. The Sat Nav gave two routes, both about the same distance, the one we followed was the wrong one, well at least the slowest and we had done it before. So we should have known better and this rout even led us to a muddy farm trail, luckily I knew the way from there. We would be travelling back the other, quicker, easier, way though.
The Canvas Holidays book in was full and the rep insisted on showing everyone to their tent, caravan or lodge. Luckily the people in front of us knew where they were going and were let to set off to their caravan, that let us say that we also knew where we were going and the booking in became simple.
We got all of the gear sorted out of the car and Ralph got the roof down, we then set off to the shop. It was good to get out in the car with the roof down. With the food and drinks bought, we went back to the lodge for me to get the satellite working and to make some supper.
Day Three, Sunday 4th September
As we had travelled and had rather a long day previously, today was a rest day, a day to do nothing at all. We however popped out to the shop and just managed to get what we wanted before they closed at 12:30.
Had a nice quiet day before walking over to the lake paddling pool bar for a beer. Back at the hut we watched England play football and win 1 - 0 over Slovakia, well we got the second half, we had got the times all wrong.
Day Four, Monday 5th September
Today we had to be up early to catch the but for a trip to Paris, the bus was full, as usual and the traffic was horrendous.
The weather was pretty poor today but we had coats and umbrellas with us. After we popped into Place de la Porte Maillot, to use the toilets (and take GANT photos), we walked towards the Eiffel Tower.
As we got there the rain started to get bad, so we got on the BatoBus river boat and went for a ride along the river. We have done this three times now and I still love it, not sure about every one ells though. The boat even went around the L'île aux Cygnes at the end this trip and I got photos of the Statue of Liberty, do not think it did this before.
Off the boat it was still raining so we made our way to a bar for a drink, not only was it the bad weather but I was worn out as well. The bar seemed nice enough and the bar man had worked in England, we had a couple of beers before we left. We had four pints (large beers) and four half's (small beers) and it only came to around £45. Well we usually get robbed at least once when abroad, hope this was the last time for this trip. The weather was improving slightly and we had another walk before heading back towards the pickup point and the bar that we usually use.
The drive back in the bus took an age as usual and when we got back I had to make food for everyone.
Day Five, Tuesday 6th September
Today the weather was improving, quite warm in fact and we made our way to Soissons, to get things we needed from Lidl. Only first we had a walk around the town, the bar we have been to on our last two or three visits, down by the river was now closed, very sad. The big old building opposite had also gone and new building were going up, the footbridge over the river was also new, it all changes.
Back at the site the weather was improving and it was time to just sit and read, of course, I made the tea on the BBQ.
Day Six, Wednesday 7th September
It was really foggy on the morning but that soon burnt off for a fantastic day.
We went out for a drive with the roof down, very nice and ended up in Pierrefonds, forth time Me and Dot have been there. Ralph's foot was playing him up so we just had a short walk and went for lunch in Le Kiosque (we have also been there four times). We also had a beer (or two) before we went back to the site.
We didn't stay out too long and headed back to just sit in the sun and read, it was nice to just sit in the their relaxing. We also had a beer and a wine or two as the sun went down.
Day Seven, Thursday 8th September
The sun was shining so we spent most of the day just sat in the sun again.
Later on though we did go for a walk down to the main bar, and had a drink in the sun by the main pools.
We also popped into the other bar on the way back to the Cabin. After the drinks Me and Ralph wandered back to the cabin to make supper, the girls on the other hand, went for a wander around the lake on the way back.
Day Eight, Friday 9th September
Today we went back into Soissons, Ralph wanted to look into Aldi and then Lidl, I forget what for but we got beers and wine in there. From there we drove on to Chateau de Coucy, a place we have been many times before but it is so good.
Ones there we had a short walk around the walls but Ralph's foot was playing him up so we made for a bar. The one we have usually used was closed (very unusual), so we went to the Hotel Belle View, and sat outside in the sun. After the beer we made our way back to the site, where we lazed about to end the holiday.
Day Nine, Saturday 10th September
We got packed up fairly early and set off for the tunnel and the drive home. We took a much easier way back to Calais but we did pay more in tolls. All was going well but in the tunnel my hart went funny again and it was wrong until we got back to Frans. I was still OK when I took the photo below as we were setting off in the train.
We were going to stop there overnight but with Me feeling the way I was, Dot just drove us the rest of the way home. Another sad end to a nice time away.
