Wed 23rd May to Sun 3rd of June
Day One, Wednesday 23rd May
The tunnel booking wasn't until 05.50 the next day but as we had to pick up Ralph and then Amber along the way we set off at 21.00. We were early picking Ralph up but after diversions on the A1 (these were really appalling), we just got to amber on time. The rest of the trip down was fine, although there were plenty of other road closed for maintenance.
Day Two, Thursday 24th May
We arrived nice and early for the ferry but didn't get put on an earlier train as ours was the first one after a long delay. Anyway our drive through France was fine and we arrived at the site in the Loire at about 13.30 well early but were informed that the van would be ready in about half an hour. That was ok, we just wandered over to the bar but shock, it wasn't open, luckily we got a call to inform us that our room was ready and we just wandered back.
The van was ready quickly because in my opinion, they just opened the door looked in and said it was ready. It looked like no cleaning had been done at all since last year and the balcony and sun parasol was covered in bird shit. Did we moan, no we hardly ever do, we just got it back to how it should be and when we went we did the same.
Once all sorted, we made our way back over to the pool and bar (witch was now open), it was still very early but we were on holiday and had come a long way, so we had a few beers. They were still expensive but nowhere near what they used to cost. We could get a glass of Afflingem, a glass of Edelweiss, a glass of Heineken and a Cola (which cost the same as the beers), for about 13€.
Back at the van I cooked and in the end we had a nice early night, we were knackered.
Day Three, Friday 25th May
Today was a rest day, well after me and Ralph went off in the car to get the shopping we needed for the week, including lots of beer. So after that is was nothing, Amber spent most of the time on her phone and eventually we went over to the bar for a few beers. Over there Dot and Amber went into the pool but that didn't last long.
Later back at the van we had a BBQ, and some of the many beers we had bought. Later we watched a film, using the internet access we got from reception. It was a nice quiet relaxing day.
Day Four, Saturday 26th May
As the weather was great again, today was a copy of yesterday, we did absolutely nothing, except for our visit to the bar.
Day Five, Sunday 27th May
Another day as yesterday, a nice quite weekend.
Day Six, Monday 28th May
Today we went for a drive, I wanted to visit some bridges (well take photos of some bridges) around the area and we needed to do something besides sit in the sun and drink.
We headed east towards the river Loire, we had been to the Loire to the west many time before and last year we headed north to the Loire in Orleans, so east it was.
The first place we got to was Gien, it was about 26 miles to get there and we parked up just off the river but on the other side. On the river we cold see three bridges, I took photos and then we had a walk along past the road bridge towards the rail bridge.
It was quite a nice walk along the river and a quick look in the shops but didn't stay long. The road we were going to tack to our next stop was closed so we crossed back over the river and headed south. What I wanted to see was, were the the canal de Briare crossed over the river Loire, along The Briare Aqueduct.
We arrived, drove under the canal and parked on the other side, Me and Amber walked up the steps to the canal, Ralph and Dot walked back through the tunnel and up the other side. This time Ralph and Dot got it right, the aqueduct on the side Me and Amber went up was closed for maintenance. So we had to come back down and follow the others.
After a walk on the bridge and seeing as it was 662 meters long, Ralph and Amber walked back to the car to drive around to the other side and Me and Dot walked over the aqueduct to meet them. The photos do not show the length of the aqueduct or the temperature to be honest but it was long and it was hot.
On the other side of the Loire there was a marina with boats parked up and another waterway under the canal alongside the river.
We met up with the others on this side and headed of back the way they came, to see a bridge they had found on the way round to meet us.
After that we drove north to Sully-sur-Loire, where Me and Dot had a walk around the outside of the Chateau and a small walk in the town. After that, we just drove back towards the site.
Once back at the site we wandered over to the bar for a couple before going back to the van for tea.
Day Seven, Tuesday 29th May
Another day out for a drive, only today we set of south towards Vierzon. We parked up by the River L'Yevre at the end of the Canal de Berry in the blazing sun and went for a walk. We walked along to an island in the middle of the River L'Yevre and then to the other side.
From there we wandered along that side and back over a bridge further down the river. From the bridge we could see a weir across the river but walked back towards the car.
Back at the car we decided to drive passed the weir where I popped out to take some photos.
As we drove away from there we spotted another river (I should look at the map properly), so pulled over to check it out. The river Le Cher, had a couple of bridges in the town but the trees around there made it impossible to get descent photos.
On the drive back we passed a McDonald's and gave in to Ambers continuing pleading to pop into one. We ordered using the aromatic system (well Amber did) and sat down. As we got our food it started to rain quite hard but we were inside out of the way anyway. After the food we popped into a large supermarket until the rain stopped. On the way back we also popped into the supermarket closer to the campsite, just to top up.
Day Eight, Wednesday 30th May
Well today we did nothing we had finished the trips out in the car. We did go to the pool and I even went down the slide with Amber. The rest of the day was spent in the bar and making BBQ for tea.
Day Nine, Thursday 31st May
You know how I said we had finished the trips out in the car, well we hadn't. It was slightly overcast so we went out. We drove all the way over to where we had stayed quit a few time before in Onzain. Dot and Ralph had seen something about hiring a van there and wanted a look.
When we got there we parked up by the river at Chaumont-sur-Loire and had our picnic. There was some filming going on there and there were three or four helicopters flying around. I forgot my camera so we do not have any decent photos.
We had a check around the campsite at Onzain, Domaine de Dugny and then drove off to another site, Yelloh village Camping Parc.
After that we made for Amboise and did what we usually do there, walk around the shops and have a sandwich (bought from a local shop), sat by the river. One thing was we had to do, was get a photo of young Ralph sat in the same place we had years ago.
Only I like the one with Amber better.
Day Ten, Friday 1st June
This time the driving about in the car was really over and we just had a nice quiet day onsite and by the pool or in the bar. With a BBQ for tea, by now we were trying to use up all of the food we had left before we had to go.
Day Eleven, Saturday 2nd June
Spent the day getting ready to go home tomorrow and spent the rest of the time over the bar.
Day Twelve, Sunday 3rd June
Ralph decided to take a different way back to the tunnel, most of it was all right but one of the shortcuts took us down single track roads and quite a few holdups. We did however arrive at the tunnel with plenty of time to spare. In fact our train was at 19.20 but we got on one at about 16.00, so we arrived in England really early.
