Day 147 Tuesday 05.07.2011

Location:  Tunnel Terminal, Calais

We set the alarm for 5.30am it’s just a short drive to the Tunnel Terminal but you do have to go onto the A16.

We arrived at the Tunnel Terminal a bit early and managed to change our departure time from 8.50am to 7.49am.

We actually drove past the Motorhome parking area at Cite Europe after we had checked in for our train.

The train only takes 35 minutes and as the UK is one hour behind France we were back in the UK by 7.30am.

Since leaving the UK in February we have travelled a total of 5316 miles.

Parking at Tunnel Terminal



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Day 146 Monday 04.07.2011

Location:  Cite Europe, Calais, Northern France

Long / Lat N 50º55.975’ E 001º48.650’

We left Le Touquet and headed for the Le Portal Aire, when we arrived the aire was fairly full and the vans were parked really close together so we decided not to stop there.

Wissant Aire – N 50º53.211’ E 001º40.221’

We drove onto the new aire at Wissant, this is a free aire but there is no fresh water or bins just black and grey waste dump points. It’s only about 15km from the tunnel so it would be a handy place to stop on your first or last night.

We had some lunch there and Paul gave the spare water we were carrying in our garage to an English couple who were running a bit short. We decided not to spend our last night there and to push onto Calais.

We drove onto Calais on the N940, we have always used the toll free section of the A16 to get to Calais but if you’re not in a hurry the N940 runs parallel with the coast line and there are some amazing views. It was such a beautiful clear day we could see the English coast line.

Auchen Service Station, Calais – N 50º56.526’ E 1º48.605’

We filled up with diesel 1.28€ ltr and LPG 0.87€ ltr at the Auchen Service Station not far from Cite Europe.

We parked up at Cite Europe in the Motorhome parking area and did a bit of last minute shopping. The parking area was busy but most people were only staying for a short time. We weren’t sure if it would be safe to stop the night there but we decided to set the alarm and risk it.

Five other vans parked there overnight and we had no problems.

Wissant

Wissant

Wissant

City Europe

 

Day 145 Sunday 03.07.2011

Location:  Le Touquet Paris Plage Aire, Next to the Marina, Northern France

Long / Lat N 50º32.156’ E 1º35.575’

It’s very hot today, we walked along to the other aire at the equestrian centre, it’s still full of horse boxes and closed to motorhomes. There was a band playing in the square opposite.

The aire is still full.

 Le Touquet

Le Touquet

Le Touquet

 Le Touquet

 



Day 144 Saturday 02.07.2011

Location:  Le Touquet Paris Plage Aire, Next to the Marina, Northern France

Long / Lat N 50º32.156’ E 1º35.575’

Another hot sunny day, we walked into the town and along by the beach.

The aire is still very busy, a few vans pulled out but the spaces were taken almost straight away.

Le Touquet

Le Touquet

Day 143 Friday 01.07.2011

Location:  Le Touquet Paris Plage Aire, Next to the Marina, Northern France

Long / Lat N 50º32.156’ E 1º35.575’

We have stayed at this aire several times before, when we set off this morning we were heading for the aire next to the race course but we missed it and ended up at the one by the marina. We have now been told by an English couple that they stopped at the aire at the equestrian centre this morning but it was closed as there is some sort of horsey event on this weekend.

It costs 9.00€ to park here for 24 hours, 2.00€ for water. By midday the aire was almost full, we are planning to stay here for 2 nights because at this time of the year the aires fill up on a Friday with French vans out for the weekend. 

Le Touguet Marina Aire

Le Touguet Marina Aire

Le Touguet Marina Aire

Le Touguet Marina Aire

Le Touguet Marina Aire

Le Touguet Marina Aire



Day 142 Thursday 30.06.2011

Location:   Berck Sur Mer Aire, Northern France

Long / Lat N 50º23.796’ E 1º33.831’

Today our engine battery let us down again so we found a Burstner Motorhome dealer and bought a new one. The dealer had a good accessory shop co-ordinates N50º24.022’ E1º35.904’.

We are now parked in the Berck Sur Mer Aire it’s next to the marina and very close to the sea, bathing is forbidden due to the strong currents.

We walked along the sea front for about 15 minutes to the town, when the tide went out there was a colony of seals sunbathing on the sandbanks.

It costs 6.00€ to park here and someone called to collect the money, there is no electricity and the water is free. The parking bays are marked out and are not very wide so when the aire is busy you wouldn’t be able to sit outside next to your van.

While we were staying here there was a Friterie set up in the car park next to the marina.

  

Berck Sur Mer Aire

Berck Sur Mer Aire

Berck Sur Mer 

 Berck Sur Mer

 Berck Sur Mer

Berck Sur Mer

Day 141 Wednesday 29.06.2011

Location:   Fort Mahon Plage Aire, Northern France

Long / Lat  N 50º20.332’ E 001º33.333’

We have stayed on the Fort Mahon Plage Aire a couple of times before but only when it was raining, we have always referred to it as the rainy aire. Today the sun is shining and there’s not a cloud in the sky.

The aire is behind the car park in front of the sand dunes, very pleasant and a real sun trap but when it rains the parking area does get a bit muddy.

We are 2 minutes from the sandy beach and there are plenty of shops and restaurants .Some of the aire is being used for coach parking, there are several coach loads of small children here for a day on the beach.

It costs 8.00€ to park here, no electricity and water is free.

Fort Mahon Plage

Fort Mahon Plage

Fort Mahon Plage Aire

Fort Mahon Plage Aire

Fort Mahon Plage Aire

Day 140 Tuesday 29.06.2011

Location: St Valery Sur Somme Aire, Northern France

Long / Lat  N 50º10.947’ E 001º37.786’

This aire is just a short drive from the Cayeau aire, we found an Intermarche and Lidl on the drive here co-ordinates N50º10.482’ E1º38.307’, we did a bit of shopping and filled up with diesel 1.30€ ltr and LPG 0.87€ ltr.

St Vallery Sur Somme is a pretty seaside town with lots of pavement cafes and restaurants, we visited mid week and the town was fairly busy we imagine it is packed at the weekend.

The aire is a 15 minute walk from the centre of the village and the sea front, there is a barrier at the entry you take a ticket and pay when you leave, 8.00€ for 24 hours, water is free.

St Valery Sur Somme Aire

St Valery Sur Somme Aire

St Valery Sur Somme Town

St Valery Sur Somme

St Valery Sur Somme

St Valery Sur Somme

St Valery Sur Somme Town

Day 139 Monday 27.06.2011

Location:  Cayeau Sur Mer Aire, Northern France

Long / Lat N 50º 12.172’ E 001º31.602’

The aire is next to the sand dunes opposite the campsite, the location is a bit isolated and it’s a long walk over the dunes to the sea.

It costs 5.00€ to park for 24 hours and 3€ for water, payment and tokens at the campsite reception.

Cayeau Sur Mer

Cayeau Sur Mer

 Cayeau Sur Mer