DAY 5 (7th July)

The weather doesn’t know whether to shit or cough. Today we’ve had heavy rain, bright sunshine and drizzle. As I write this in Chateau de Martragny, an impressive thunderstorm has just arrived. The journey from Les Eaux was uneventful: an earlyish rise; breakfast of croissants, baguette and comfychair; and a leisurely packup allowed departure before 10 o’c and a prompt arrival at Martragny. Given the dodgy weather, we set out for the nearest of the three daily markets but (if it was ever there) it had given up before our arrival at Asnelles which was greeted by heavy rain. We continued to Arromanches (site of the Mulberry Harbours that my father worked on) which boasts an extensive D-Day display, some leftover D-Day hardware in the sea, a large party of English schoolchildren and not much else, except the church (rebuilt in C19), which has some relatively recent stained glass, which obliquely depicts WW2.

Eschewing a bar in the town, we headed towards Bayeux, in search of a supermarket for tonight’s salmon and (after some supermarket- and soul-searching) a pack of Hollandaise sauce. On the way to the Intermarche, we noticed an impressive-looking church not far off our route and tried to locate it on the way back. Taking (what seemed like) the appropriate turn, we never saw it again and may try again tomorrow on the way back from Bayeux itself.

Back for a bier, a read, then salmon, hollandaise and a stirfry. We watched two episodes of Frasier on the DVD player, which has performed excellently – opting for the 9” screen rather than a 7” was definitely a good plan. We brought Leap of Faith (not yet played), Frasier, Outnumbered and Due South.

One entertainment failure has been the lack of all-night radio – my normal response to sleep failure is BBC Radio 7 (now rebranded as 4extra) on a pillow speaker. We failed completely to provide for radio entertainment and information although the car will supply a noisy 198 long wave. Tonight I might hook up my ipod to the Dab radio and listen to my current story,  Reginald Hill’s Stranger House.

Tomorrow, scrambled eggs for breakfast then the tapestry and back for butter chicken from a Patak bottle.

The original plan had been to camp again for one night at Rookesbury when we return to Blighty, but if the weather remains dodgy, we’ll head straight back for London: no point in spending a soggy night in a field with no awning as we couldn’t be arsed to raise it for a one night stop.

 

The talk for next summer is of a long ferry down to Spain. We did that years ago and cut straight across to France on the way to Rennes-le-Chateau and the Mediterranean,  but this time a tour of Spain may be the plan.

DAY 6 (8th July)

Saw the Bayeux tapestry and found a market on the way at Trévières. A modest market where we bought veg and pêches. The nearby church proudly displays a statue with war damage.

We failed to find the hidden church or, indeed, any supermarches on the way and so will try again later.

The tapestry is a remarkable thing, perhaps the first portable cartoon as cave paintings are perforce static displays. Photographs are not allowed and so these images, showing the comet and Harold getting one in the eye,  are sourced in Google. We entertained ourselves (and probably annoyed our fellow observers) with our witty and trenchant interpretations of the images and inscriptions. In the gift shop we bought cartes postales for the grand-meres (which, unusually for us, we managed to both write and send while still on holiday), my usual commemorative fridge magnet and I secretly sneaked in a DVD of the tapestry so that we can relive the pleasure tonight.

Bayeux cathedral is large but visually unexciting.

We found the supermarches and the way to the church but the latter, in Sommervieu, is not accessible as it is owned by some Fraternal Ordre de Christ.

One more night (with butter chicken) and 8 o’c alarm clock with an intended 10:45 departure. A dry awning would be good, but looking increasingly unlikely.

The principle: we have concluded that caravan camping is superior to camper camping because of the added freedom the car provides.

The details: the bed is significantly larger, far more comfortable, and much easier to put up. The water supply (cold in both) is usable in the puck. We haven’t used the cooker in either because curries tend to linger and, in any case, I would prefer to cook outdoors. The external table is also a boon.

LAST DAY (written on 10th July, the day after returning).

The butter chicken was very good, for a bottle.

More rain overnight, so we packed a wet awning, the clincher in deciding to head home. The journey to the ferry was well-timed but the ferry ran an hour late. The gendarme on French border control insisted on opening the Puck to look for “stowaways”.

 

Although in first place on the ferry, there was no advantage as they let the cars off first – the only effect was a covering of spray, which dried to a hard salt coating I spent this morning washing off.

 

We eventually arrived back at home closer to 9 than the estimated 7 o’c and managed to get the Puck back in place with some neighbourly help.

 

A jolly good trip.

Further preparations

There's a Brompton in the post and another auction finishing today: we could pick that up on the way.

Just ordered a DVD player to pick up later today, a 9" Toshiba.

Preparations for France

No camping in June, but three outings booked for July, a week in France and two 2-night trips to Nottingham and Brighton.

Some new equipment to report, following the success of the firepit and the failure of the Wilko hatchet, I have invested in a folding saw from Amazon. And tongs from Ikea.

In accordance with French regulations, I have ordered an Hi Viz Tabard. We already have a set of bulbs and a warning triangle.

We are trying to buy a couple of Bromptons on eBay before we go. [Got the first, 26th June.]


Sailing from Portsmouth to Le Havre on LD Lines, we are booked into Rookesbury Park either side of the crossing. We plan on three nights at Château de Lez-Eaux (we spent some time there in the VW, probably a decade ago) and two nights at Château de Martragny.

A propos de rien, here's a pot of Puck cheese spotted in Asda today.

Norwich

Incleboro remains my favourite campsite, especially if you get one of the secluded pitches. The weather was variable, but most of the rain was at night.

Several of the new items were great successes. The old cast iron BBQ has been recycled as a firepit,  small but delightfully effective.

The XMI small amplifier is brilliant.

For the sleeping bag, we chose a Coleman which was a much better fit and remarkably comfortable.

We visited Norwich, the finest feature of which is the Book Hive, Cromer and Sherringham. Sherringham's best pub is the Windham Arms,  which served the best pint I have tasted in several years, Woodforde's Norfolk Nog.

Bikes

We have started a Brompton Fund, but in the meantime, I have spent the day trying to resurrect an old Dahon we had in the attic. After spending around £45 (2 inner tubes £9; 2 tyres a bargain £20; a chain tool £8; oil and paraffin £3; and cleaning substances £4), viewing lots of YouTube guidance; and perhaps 5 hours' work in the garden, it sort of nearly works. It certainly looks much better than when it emerged from the attic.

Regrettably, it seems to be designed for people shorter than me and I will not be able to pedal it for any distance in comfort.

And here's another thing, our neighbour, across whose entrance the Puck must be pushed took delivery yesterday of the materials for what I assume will be a patio. The have been working hard today (much harder than me) and there is hope that our exit will be clear for Norfolk on Wednesday.