Friday 8th April 2022. Sorted all the last minute items out for the trip and finished loading the car and Eriba by 10am, destination Brighton Caravan and Motor Home Club Site.

All was going well and we were making average to good time along the M4 up to Reading where the wacky idea of the “Forth Lane” (no hard shoulder) took over. Frightening prospect for anyone with a sudden vehicle breakdown. Traffic was light with the exception of the dozens of old and young “Boy Racers” who insisted on weaving in and out of the free moving traffic as if they were on an American Cops and Robbers series.

Just as I was getting comfortable and my worries about the journey were easing, our new Sat Nav chipped in and asked us to turn off the M4 at Reading East and head for Bracknell. We had only just been discussing this as many years ago my Boss always insisted on using that route instead of the M4/M25 South and it made no sense to me as, although a shorter distance, it was hectic regarding local traffic and traffic lights.

Anyway, we decided to follow the Sat Nav and ended up having to negotiate all those traffic lights and roundabouts before heading North East on the M3. A huge traffic jam while filing back on to the M25 but the M25 heading west clockwise was grid locked for many miles which could only suggest that there must have been a massive hold up on the M4/M25 junction. Phew, good old Sat Nav.

We eventually arrived at the Brighton Campsite at around 3:30pm. Quite a nice campsite and friendly wardens. We got a good pitch where we wouldn’t wake too many people up as we had a 7am start on Sunday. £45 a night though! Sheesh.

It was then that we found out that many of the roads in and around Brighton were closed on Sunday from 5:30am till 7:30 pm for a Marathon. This included our quick getaway road along the seafront east to Newhaven. The organisers hadn’t bothered to inform the Campsite so the only information they had was from the website.

Saturday 9th April. Took a drive into Brighton (otherwise quite a long walk from the campsite) and parked as close as we could to “The Lanes”. Very disappointed as we though they were full of Antique/Bricabrac shops but no, full of Jewellers. Evidently the Antique shops are in the North Lanes Area but we couldn’t find them. Gosh, isn’t Brighton a bit of a strange place? Lot’s of “interesting” people.
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Sunday Morning 10th April, bright and early, fine but frosty, we left the campsite at 7am as we needed to be at the Newhaven Ferry Port at least 90 minutes before the 10am sailing. We had decided to bite the bullet and carry some milk, butter, cheese and bacon to the Ferry Port as it was left over from our fridge at home so if it was to waste the let the Border Police chuck it. We also carried two of our potted indoor plants that we didn’t entrust to the family to look after. One of the plants has travelled with us abroad at least 5 times previously.

Arrived at Newhaven 7:30am and there were only a few others there. However, the main check in gates were opened at 8:00am on the dot and the passport/covid/pet animal health certificate (only 12 pages long and costing £80 on every occasion you wish to take your pet abroad) were all checked without any issues. We were asked to scan the chip in the cat ourselves so that was easy.

Next stop was the search. A number of questions regarding shotguns, handguns, explosives, knives etc before a cursory glance into the Eriba and getting the all clear.

One of the first in line, we sat patiently and waited. A fine but cold, breezy day, we stayed in the car and watched as others turned up. We assumed the Ferry was parked around the corner as we couldn’t see it and it should have arrived as there is only one day crossing and one night crossing each way (4 hours long).

Imagine our surprise then when at around 9:30ish, the Ferry arrived. It should have been loaded and departed by 10:00am. Nobody had said anything about a delay and as the time wore on people were getting anxious. I started asking other passengers if they had been told about a delay and nobody had.

Eventually they started loading the Ferry and it took an age sorting things out. Much more than usual. However, as usual, we found ourselves being one of the last ones on but we had a nice spot in the bottom of the ship near the exit. By the time we were leaving it was 11:30am UK time, a full 90 minutes after it should have with no explanations or apologies. It should have been common courtesy to tell everyone as they arrived that there was a delay but no such luck and of course, nobody complained. Stiff upper lip and all that.

I was really annoyed as we didn’t bother with a toilet break thinking that we could hold on until we boarded. Then it was a case of “we’d better not go now in case the queue moved on”.

Anyway, the aged old tub called the Seven Sisters moved out of port and made good time arriving at Dieppe 4:00pm local time AND I blagged a third to be released off the Ferry although we were in another queue.

So, here we are about 20 minutes outside Dieppe in a lovely ACSI Campsite called Camping 2 Rivieres (ACSI 999). Nice pitches beside a lake and two rivers, basic shared toilet facilities which are very clean (no loo paper), free Wifi signal and very friendly staff.
All for the grand cost of 16 euros a night all inclusive plus a total of 5.40 euros for tourist tax.

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Monday 11th April and a drive back towards Dieppe for a spot of food shopping. As we were near to another Dieppe campsite we decided to take a look. It is Camping La Source ACSI 988. We were thinking of staying there on the return journey.

Another nice looking campsite, perhaps a bit posher than the one we are on but it was deserted. There were caravans there but no staff to be found.

On the way back to our campsite we drove very close to Chateau d’Arques La Bataille which we can see on the hill near the campsite. What an impressive very large ruin and what a strategic position spread out on the top of the hill

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Sounds fun Roger. Thank you for the review on the campsite near Dieppe. Id bookmarked these three for our return crossing in Sept:-
Campsite Le Marqueval ACSI 1001 = Euro 18 = 4km
Campsite Les Deux Rivières ACSI 999 = Euro 16 = 8km
Campsite Dieppe Vitamín ACSI 1002 = Euro 18 = 4km

Colin

Les 2 Rivieres is a really nice site.
Not too fussy but nice pitches and adequate toilets.
Easy to find. WiFi in the van if you are close enough to reception.
As the name implies,we are between two small fast flowing rivers and a couple of lakes.
We would definitely use it again.

Thanks Islay. Well visit later this week

During the afternoon there were some interesting arrivals on the campsite. A neat little Eriba Nova which was shorter than our Troll and a huge heavy 4 wheel drive lorry from the UK with several small children aboard. Best of all was a Renault based Eribacar from about 1986/7 I’m guessing. They were parked outside a chalet

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Tuesday 12th April and 250 mile drive south to a place called Montreuil-Bellay, about 10 miles SE of Samur (Loire). The town is on the River Thouet which is a tributary of the Loire and the river runs just behind us on the campsite.

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It took us 5 ½ hours to get here using the peage where available. We knew that the Le Mans peage was expensive as we’ve used it before and it cost us 45 euros to travel 177 miles. By the way, it would appear that petrol and diesel prices are a tad cheaper here than at home and the wine and spirits are a lot cheaper.

The final approach to the campsite was impressive as it took us along the river under the cherry trees and alongside the Chateau which will be a 5 minute walk back along the river. The campsite is called Le Paradis Les Novis D’Anjou (ACSI 1225, 16 euros a night plus tourist tax). An interesting campsite with many cabins and chalets but plenty of camping pitches too. Only a handful of people here at the moment. Our pitch backs onto the river but it’s a bit disconcerting that the cabins and chalets are raised at least 2 feet above ground. The one across from us is more of a tree house than anything else. There are also many signs around showing a little bloke running for the exit with a tidal wave behind him.

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During our journey, we experienced the temperature moving up by a few degrees before plummeting again as we ran into torrential rain. It’s not been too bad at this campsite however but since we left home we have suffered really cold weather thanks to the strong winds. I can’t remember ever departing on a European camping holiday wearing long trousers before. The shorts have not come out yet. Maybe I’m getting too old for this caper.

.Wednesday 13th April. What a lovely day. No wind and plenty of sunshine.

We decided on a lazy day at the campsite but first a walk up to the village of Montreuil-Bellay high above us.

The campsite is quite nice and all pitches are large and flat. Swimming pool, bar/cafe. Certainly can’t grumble at 16 euros a night. One or two small problems but we put it down to the fact they hadn’t long opened for the season. Wifi is extra however.

It’s about a 5 minute walk to a hefty flight of steps with some lovely flower displays, to get to the village. Near the top of the steps there is a Tourist Information Shop with a very helpful young man who furnished us with all the information on the village. Plenty of shops and narrow streets to explore and, on course, the large Chateau which is open to the public

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We chose to camp here as we have done Saumur before and this campsite had a good rating. Saumur and the Loire river is only a short car drive away so plenty of places to explore.

Randa

Thanks for the picture of the Renault Dauphine, Roger. It was the first car I ever drove. Happy memories of my very patient Dad doing his level best not to give me a bollocking when I did stupid things in his pride and joy. Was it really 55 years ago?

What a lovely car Brian. I loved them at the time they were very popular but alas, never owned one. The French were always good at making cars look attractive.

There you go young Sir. Feast your eyes on this:-

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Roger

Lovely! Thanks, Roger. Dad's Dauphine was green and had (I think) the word 'Aerostable' (whatever that meant) on the engine cover.

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I remember the old fellow jacking it up one day and the jack coming up through the floor. Tinworm was a common problem with cars of the era. The Dauphine's replacement was a Mk 1 Cortina 1500 with a very fierce clutch that I had great difficulty mastering.

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Who's the lady Brian?
R