A FEW PICTURES

FRANCE

Since the border posts came down there is one sure way of knowing you have arrived in France. Check the first layby. If there is an old Peugeot or Citroen with a man standing next to it relieving himself, you are there. Bienvenue en France.
We have had a couple of days in the town of Chalon en Champagne where we found a sensibly priced set lunch for 18 Euros each including wine and coffee. Salade de Thon, paupiette de veau and Paris Brest for those who are interested.
We are now in Cheverny in the Loire Valley. Cycling to a couple of chateaux, Cheverny and Troussay,visit to a vineyard and staying in a nice woodland site which closes tomorrow.
Onwards to Urrugne south of Biarritz from where my next post will come. Good wishes to you all.
J&P

HOLLAND

Having swapped Belgium for Holland we have spent the last 4 days in Maastricht, a lovely old city on the River Maas. Eating out in belgium and Holland have proved a bit pricey & we have not done so save a bag of frites and mayo. The cheapest 3 course set menu is 25 euros and even acroque monsieur, which is merely a jumped up ham and cheese toastie will knock you back 9 euros!
All the people we have met on sites have been Belgian, Dutch or German. The Belgians are a pretty miserable bunch and the Germans will stiffly acknowledge you with a "morgen". The Dutch, however, are very friendly and they all speak good heavily accented English including checkout girls and roadsweepers. In fact I'm inclined to think, in the vein of the Gary Larson "cows" cartoon thet only speak Durch to each other when tourists are near and as soon as our backs are turned they talk to each other in accented English. Whilst I cannot forgive Steve Maclaren's tenure as England Manager I am quite understanding maybe his famous press conference.
More next week.

BELGIUM

One week on and we are in Bredene on the Belgian coast near Ostend. Good opportunities to try out our bikes on fairly flat terrain and loads of cycle paths. Pauline who was not confident on her bike is now zooming off like Mark Cavendish whilst I am holding the "lanterne rouge".
Everything working in the van except the TV which we have given up on at the moment.
A bit of Belgian stereotyping: Belgians smoke a lot of cigars (men & women); they also favour bushy moustaches (mostly men); they drink strong beer at all times of the day and it is a bit incongruous to see the vagrants drinking super strength lager which is about half the strenghth of what the rest of the population drink.
By next Sunday we will be in France having spent a few days in Maastrict.

More then.

COLLECTING VAN

Van collected on 3 August and safely driven back to its storage home in Heaton Norris.
Trial run before the big journey up to Blackpool and then Cartmel in the lakes.
Everything works except the TV/Satellite.
Satellite repaired and European journey prepared. Leave on 31 August and stay overnight near Oxford.
Nice site at Greenhill Farm with walks along the canal and decent pub The Rock of Gibraltar a short walk away.
We must remember our age as loads of sites give discounts for over 55's.
Next day leave for Angmering in West Sussex for 4 nights. Welcome visits from cousin Jo and friends Deb and Mike and goddaughter Catherine from the Isle of Wight. A few glasses shared.
Weather so far great and driving even something 7.5 metres long has been pretty straightforward.
Picture above is on site in Angmering before the rain started today for the first time.
This means time indoors to prepare next couple of weeks. Folkestone for a couple of days, then ferry on Wednesday to Calais and drive to Bredene in Belgium for 7 nights.
Would take advantage of poor weather to look at TV but broken again!
Next post, next week.