Balladins Confort Hotel Calais

With the time difference we arrived in Boulonge at 2:30 and headed south to the village of Montreuil-Sur-Mer. Sur Mer means on the sea, but deceptively this place is more than 15 miles inland. That's ok though I had been here each year while in London on a boys booze cruise ...

We awoke to the noise of trucks and early morning deliveries..Took Lucy for walk and packed van ready to hit the road again..Start? Yes!!<br><br>Breakfast at the Happy Chef opposite the Marina in Dover was very welcomed, and to be recommended. We will be checking out Uncle Sam's next time we pass through. Now down to the Ferry port for check in..<br><br>Ooh la la......<br>

... the motorway at the first opportunity, and retraced our steps, along with the Landyprikkers, but we lost them shortly afterwards, as they sailed off missing the turning again.<br>We then followed the roadbook ok, but missed most of the things we should have seen along the route.<br>The Landyprikkers caught us up later, and we travelled together for a while.<br>

... we ordered 4 kebab pizzas????? which I missed out on as shortly after arriving at the restaurant, was throwing up outside!!<br><br>Joe had to take me back to the hotel, with a stop off to the burger van for a 2.5Euro burger!<br><br>Whilst i was being put to bed, about 6pm by the way, Kris had a menu snatched off him in the restaurant as he was laughing in to it (tash and kris were in absolute stitches all ...

We set off to France today for a new period in our life in Europe. <br>Work still chugs on, but with only 12 shifts in 42, we have plenty of time to ourselves. <br>We decided those "spare" 30 days should be spent in Europe.<br> <br>I'll skip over the months of research and prep work and bring us up to today where we are now on the 4pm ferry instead of the 2pm ...

... the middle ages was famous for its troubadours. In the 1200s it was also the centre of a significant religious group called the Cathars, who were declared heretics by the Catholic Church, and a Crusade was launched against them (the only one internally in Europe), which pretty well wiped them out. This area is also well-known for Cassoulet and leg of duck confit (slowly cooked in it's own fat), and although the weather was quite hot I did eat the latter dish. Just outside ...

... again. The van seemed fine the next day so we decided to leave for France on Wednesday as planned. The drive to Dover was fine, we arrived right on time, but were told that our ferry was delayed by 2 hours. We parked in our lane and got something to eat, I had to choose carefully as I had been feeling ill the night before and that morning (another thing I didn't need). After sitting in the van for 2 hours our lane was directed to drive onto the ...

We soon climbed out of the tunnel and raced towards the train's first stop at Lille. The land was flat, bathed in sunshine and looking decidedly and strangely 'foreign' !!!<br><br>We were served with a late lunch during this section of the ride. Well cooked and well served! Also with a nice glass of champagne!!! <br>

08/09/05 Trip to Gandspette was easy. Found site easily, were allocated a pitch (number 6) at the far end near the static vans, and new toilet block. Pitch is sloping in 2 directions. Backing on to pitch the motor-mover disengaged (it was faulty and is being repaired/ replaced under warranty without question), before I ...

The only way to go to Europe the first time was surely to catch the Dover to Calais ferry,and watch the White cliffs of Dover recede,and the continent appear on the horizon.France seemed quite alien when Irrived.It was strange seeing how even the smallest things such as taps in washrooms,or architecture or signposts were so different,when I had never been out of my own country before,and taken such subtleties for granted.