The Summer of 2015 updated 12th Oct
Wednesday 6th May
We arrived back in UK at LHR at 6:30pm.
I think Terminal 5 is poor...OK it is quiet and new but as usual a long walk anf then a "shuttle train" inside the terminal. Poor signage.
After the train no signage as to how to get to T3...it is in fact easy (can use the Heathrow express or the tube).
Then No75 bus to Maidenhead cost £10.80 as opposed to maybe £25 for an airport taxi.
We had booked into travelodge for 2 nights..all OK
We arrived back in UK at LHR at 6:30pm.
I think Terminal 5 is poor...OK it is quiet and new but as usual a long walk anf then a "shuttle train" inside the terminal. Poor signage.
After the train no signage as to how to get to T3...it is in fact easy (can use the Heathrow express or the tube).
Then No75 bus to Maidenhead cost £10.80 as opposed to maybe £25 for an airport taxi.
We had booked into travelodge for 2 nights..all OK
Thursday Friday 7th 8th May and to Friday 15th May
2nd night in Travelodge and then transfer to Hurley Riverside Park for 7 nights in a fully servicedCaravan/chalet.
Very nice and new accommodation in pleasant surroundings ! and good free wi-fi.
Buses into Maidenhead ok but limited
We need this as our motorhome is being borrowed by an Australian couple (until Sat 16th), This is good for us as we get to use their motorhome in Australia in November/December for 3 weeks.
Lots of business items done weather bad so using the Chalet was good in that we had space etc
2nd night in Travelodge and then transfer to Hurley Riverside Park for 7 nights in a fully servicedCaravan/chalet.
Very nice and new accommodation in pleasant surroundings ! and good free wi-fi.
Buses into Maidenhead ok but limited
We need this as our motorhome is being borrowed by an Australian couple (until Sat 16th), This is good for us as we get to use their motorhome in Australia in November/December for 3 weeks.
Lots of business items done weather bad so using the Chalet was good in that we had space etc
Saturday 16th May
Met the UK/Aussie couple who had been using the motorhome a bit of a problem as they had damaged the awning. They were quite sensible in that they accepted responsibility and the financial implications but...
Using the motorhome with the replacement awning inside was impossible luckily we could store it in Chris's garage whilst we organised a repair.
Our insurance brokers Comfort passed us to the claims department at AVIVA. Who were helpful. They agreed to refung the cost of the awning directly to me (less £200 excess). We thenn had to drive to a bus/lorry repair garage in Buckingham who provided the insureres with an estimate
So we just stayed near maidenhead for a couple of weeks.
We get the benefit of using their Motorhome for 3 weeks in November/December. They are based in Perth which is good as it is only a 7hr Flight Direct from Bangkok....There is lots to see and do in Western Australia
Friday 29th May.
Organise a week in a holidey let near Buckingham. Collect the awning from Chris and take it to the Garage for them to keep. Find a campsite .
Saturday move into the holiday let and partially empty motorhome.
Monday 1st June
Take motorhome to the garage (Ring Road Garage, Buckingham)
Bus back and "survive" in the holiday let.. ( I had a chest infection and Nida was not 100%)
Wednesday ..collect MH .. Thursday re-pack and drive to Maidenhead for Nida to see the doctor. (No problem)
Met the UK/Aussie couple who had been using the motorhome a bit of a problem as they had damaged the awning. They were quite sensible in that they accepted responsibility and the financial implications but...
Using the motorhome with the replacement awning inside was impossible luckily we could store it in Chris's garage whilst we organised a repair.
Our insurance brokers Comfort passed us to the claims department at AVIVA. Who were helpful. They agreed to refung the cost of the awning directly to me (less £200 excess). We thenn had to drive to a bus/lorry repair garage in Buckingham who provided the insureres with an estimate
So we just stayed near maidenhead for a couple of weeks.
We get the benefit of using their Motorhome for 3 weeks in November/December. They are based in Perth which is good as it is only a 7hr Flight Direct from Bangkok....There is lots to see and do in Western Australia
Friday 29th May.
Organise a week in a holidey let near Buckingham. Collect the awning from Chris and take it to the Garage for them to keep. Find a campsite .
Saturday move into the holiday let and partially empty motorhome.
Monday 1st June
Take motorhome to the garage (Ring Road Garage, Buckingham)
Bus back and "survive" in the holiday let.. ( I had a chest infection and Nida was not 100%)
Wednesday ..collect MH .. Thursday re-pack and drive to Maidenhead for Nida to see the doctor. (No problem)
Thus the awning was repaired and although you can see a couple of steel plates it is fine !
It is also brand new ..the existing awning was beginning to "show its age". The mechanical fittings are also better design.
NOTE to self ...NEVER leave the awning out unattended easy enough to close overnight.
So we embarked on a mini-tour of Gloucestershire Worcestershire and South Wales.
Basically "killing time" until 10th July
10th July meet the NZ couple whose motorhome we used 18 months ago. We met them off the boat in Dover and drove them to Maidenhead.
We stayed in Hurley Riverside Park for the 2 weeks they were using it
It is also brand new ..the existing awning was beginning to "show its age". The mechanical fittings are also better design.
NOTE to self ...NEVER leave the awning out unattended easy enough to close overnight.
So we embarked on a mini-tour of Gloucestershire Worcestershire and South Wales.
Basically "killing time" until 10th July
10th July meet the NZ couple whose motorhome we used 18 months ago. We met them off the boat in Dover and drove them to Maidenhead.
We stayed in Hurley Riverside Park for the 2 weeks they were using it
So our summer really began now !
We took the NZ couple to Oxford Bus station so they could move on to their next stage.
Stayed in Marlborough before travelling to Canterbury ( Monday 27th July) to overnight in the Park and Ride. This is a really useful stopover with a free bus into the City good sizes "pitches" water etc available
We took the NZ couple to Oxford Bus station so they could move on to their next stage.
Stayed in Marlborough before travelling to Canterbury ( Monday 27th July) to overnight in the Park and Ride. This is a really useful stopover with a free bus into the City good sizes "pitches" water etc available
Our Overnights in France
Calais to the Champagne region.
Our stops here were very pleasant not crowded
01 Le Pont d'Oye 50.96570 2.05365
02 Marcoing 50.12125 3.18232
03 Riqueval 49.95158 3.23523 OK but not recommended
04 Chamery 49.17417 3.95399 Good
05 Trepai 49.10969 4.18198
We then travelled eastwards
Ligny was very nice if busy but fully serviced. Richardmenil very pleasant for 3 night
06 Ligny En Barrois 48.68777 5.31944
07 Bruley 48.70640 5.85575
08 Richardmenil 48.59471 6.16126
The south to the Vosges
09 Etival-Clairfontaine 48.36368 6.86465 Nice town
10 Orbey 48.13541 7.09142 Carpark by Hotel all services
11 Munster 48.03764 7.13498 Big well organised and near the City
12 Linthal 47.94486 7.12784
13 Murbach Abbey 47.92278 7.16076
14 Ventron 47.93886 6.86880 Very good, Village very quiet
15 Cornimont 47.96153 6.83327 OK but we would have been better at Ventron again
16 Rupt 47.92030 6.66181 Adequate
17 Faucogney 47.83717 6.56046 Nice
18 Nancray 47.23946 6.18594 OK just a Carpark
19 Nans Sous St Anne 46.97671 5.99967 Good
Now southwest towards the Jura.
Highlights being the mountain drive to Mijoux and then on to Orgelet
20 Saint Point Lac 46.81300 6.30444 Large crowded but OK
21 Labergement Sainte Marie 46.77146 6.27613
22 Mouthe 46.71058 6.19527
23 Les Rousses 46.48750 6.06684 Large crowded but OK
24 Bois D' Amont 46.53785 6.13953 Very quiet..wooden box museum in the village
25 Mijoux 46.36994 6.00263
26 Orgelet 46.52234 5.60726 Good
27 Beaurepaire en Bresse 46.66983 5.38996 Simply OK
28 Louhans 46.62993 5.21270 Very good
Northwards to Burgandy
29 Suerre 47.00448 5.14347 Good
30 Semur en Auxois 47.49498 4.34972
31 Gurgy 47.86384 3.55418 Very good
33 Coucy Le Chateau 49.52015 3.31379 Very good
32 Esternay 48.73236 3.55720
33 Richebourg 50.58071 2.74641 Good
Calais to the Champagne region.
Our stops here were very pleasant not crowded
01 Le Pont d'Oye 50.96570 2.05365
02 Marcoing 50.12125 3.18232
03 Riqueval 49.95158 3.23523 OK but not recommended
04 Chamery 49.17417 3.95399 Good
05 Trepai 49.10969 4.18198
We then travelled eastwards
Ligny was very nice if busy but fully serviced. Richardmenil very pleasant for 3 night
06 Ligny En Barrois 48.68777 5.31944
07 Bruley 48.70640 5.85575
08 Richardmenil 48.59471 6.16126
The south to the Vosges
09 Etival-Clairfontaine 48.36368 6.86465 Nice town
10 Orbey 48.13541 7.09142 Carpark by Hotel all services
11 Munster 48.03764 7.13498 Big well organised and near the City
12 Linthal 47.94486 7.12784
13 Murbach Abbey 47.92278 7.16076
14 Ventron 47.93886 6.86880 Very good, Village very quiet
15 Cornimont 47.96153 6.83327 OK but we would have been better at Ventron again
16 Rupt 47.92030 6.66181 Adequate
17 Faucogney 47.83717 6.56046 Nice
18 Nancray 47.23946 6.18594 OK just a Carpark
19 Nans Sous St Anne 46.97671 5.99967 Good
Now southwest towards the Jura.
Highlights being the mountain drive to Mijoux and then on to Orgelet
20 Saint Point Lac 46.81300 6.30444 Large crowded but OK
21 Labergement Sainte Marie 46.77146 6.27613
22 Mouthe 46.71058 6.19527
23 Les Rousses 46.48750 6.06684 Large crowded but OK
24 Bois D' Amont 46.53785 6.13953 Very quiet..wooden box museum in the village
25 Mijoux 46.36994 6.00263
26 Orgelet 46.52234 5.60726 Good
27 Beaurepaire en Bresse 46.66983 5.38996 Simply OK
28 Louhans 46.62993 5.21270 Very good
Northwards to Burgandy
29 Suerre 47.00448 5.14347 Good
30 Semur en Auxois 47.49498 4.34972
31 Gurgy 47.86384 3.55418 Very good
33 Coucy Le Chateau 49.52015 3.31379 Very good
32 Esternay 48.73236 3.55720
33 Richebourg 50.58071 2.74641 Good
A very pleasant tour. Many good or very good aires. French D roads mainly very good with little traffic. Mountain roads in the Vosges and Jura very very good.
Particular Favourites highlited in Bold above
Particular Favourites highlited in Bold above