France - where else????

Thursday 9^th August

Well it seems like it’s been a long time coming but finally H (Holiday) day has arrived.   Everything was ready, or so we thought as I realised that I’d forgotten all my dresses and Del’s shirts...  fortunately I could nip back home and get them and we were finally away from storage by 4pm.   The journey to Folkestone wasn’t too bad and we arrived at Black Horse Farm at just after 6pm.

Last year we’d spotted and visited a pub The Black Horse, Densole https://www.blackhorsedensole.co.uk/ opposite the campsite so decided to eat in there this year.   We had a lovely meal – liver, bacon and onions yummy.  Very busy pub but great food, huge portions and a lovely atmosphere.  Thoroughly recommended.

Our train was at 7.20 the next morning which meant up at 5 so it wasn’t long before we had our heads down.   Despite motorhomes and caravans arriving and leaving at all hours it was a very peaceful night.

Friday 10^th August

French motorway!

The journey from Black Horse Farm to Eurotunnel is 10 minutes and at 6am it’s very quiet.   It was a great journey with the French motorways clear and smooth and even with a couple of stops and a couple of detours where the satnav hadn’t caught up our plan to go straight to La Fosse de Tigne was successful and we arrived at just after 4pm to a very warm welcome from Kathy & Dave and our friends Bob & Tracey who were there for the weekend.  Bob & Tracey took the plunge earlier this year by renting out their house in Norfolk and moving to France to help run a campsite.  They’ll be lots of catching up to be done I’m sure!

- When we arrived at La Fosse the large marquee was up which means one thing – party!!!!!!!!

Bob & Tracey

Silly games

Boules - of course, it's France!

 It didn’t take long to set us up for the 2 weeks.  There were just two other campers here – Margaret & John and Bob & Tracey, but Kathy assured us there were more campers arriving in the next week, including a lovely couple from Devon we met last year.

Saturday 11^th August

First stop a supermarket to stock up on food, wine and beer.   We’d read reports and Tracey had warned us about how expensive things were but goodness me we were very surprised.   A cucumber over 1 euro – that is basically £1 at today’s exchange rate and worse still a normal size punnet of mushrooms 99p at home, here in France 2.99 euros – nearly £3!

The party had already started by the time we got back to La Fosse with all the locals arriving by 2pm.  The music was on, the pig was being spit-roasted and the local ‘juice’ of grapefruit (pamplemousse), rose d’anjou and Cointreau was pouring from the very large barrel that Dave had set-up in the awning.  It was going to be a long heavy night....

Villagers of La Fosse singing together

The music went on until midnight with copious amounts of food arriving at the tables and being passed along, pork, ham, carrots, beetroot, potatoes, eggs, tomatoes, bread, pate, fruit salad (soaked in Cointreau and brandy) just kept coming – all good local produce and so very typically French.  Once again we had the loveliest of welcomes from several French locals who remembered us from last year.   It’s always a bit challenging having a conversation in my pigeon French and their really good English but we all get by.

Sunday 12^th August

Del’s birthday – Happy Birthday!

How's this for eating outside?

We woke up about 10am, although I felt tired my head was just fine considering how much I'd drank.   After such a long drive AND a good party we had a quiet day around the campsite.  In the evening Bob & Tracey came over for drinks and we sat out talking about their new adventures and putting the world to rights until late in the evening.

Monday 13^th August

Bye bye Tracey & Bob with promises to visit them at their campsite before we return.   Del and I needed a few more essentials so we went over to Super U.   Kathy had cooked a large curry so we were invited over to the BBQ area for lunch before wine tasting in the evening.   The rose this year was very very nice and we bought a box, along with 12 bottles of Cremant and a box of white.  We have new campers today, two couples from Essex!  

Del and I had a bowl of cassoulet (tinned) once we got back from wine tasting, wow was it good!   We’ll certainly be looking for some more before we return home.

Now a little bit of gossip....  it is an unwritten rule when on campsites that after 10pm you are quiet.  It doesn’t mean you have to go to bed but you are expected to talk quietly when outside or in your awning .....mmmm... pity our new camping friends don’t adhere to this rule – bloody hell it was well after midnight before the talking stopped.   

Beautiful La Fosse de Tigne

Tuesday 14^th August

We went off to the chateau at Brissac-Quince http://www.chateau-brissac.fr/eng/ this morning; the satnav took us on a lovely tour of the French fields.  Seriously how can 1 satnav + 2 google maps all say different ways to get to the bloody chateau????????   Anyway, despite all the hassle the Chateau was of course well worth the visit it is breathtaking and includes some lovely garden walks although it was very clear from the dried-up river bed that there had been little rainfall this season.

Chateau Brissac Quince

We returned to the campsite to find the barbeque in full swing so we joined Kathy & Dave, and Dave’s son Luke for lunch.   Guest campers Michael and Suzanne had left and we were joined by 11 times returning campers Steve & Ruth from Devon.

Ruth & Steve (Hector) "just pull me vest down when you finished"

The weather had been lovely during the day today but this evening it is clouding over again and it’s become quite breezy – better check the storm straps Del!  Here at La Fosse it is very open and the small campground is surrounded by fields so the wind can whip up.

Kathy came round and said the ‘bar is open!’ so we all went down to Kathy’s bar (the cellar of their house) and had a drink with fellow campers to get to know each other.   There was lots of talking, laughing and story swapping – let’s hope that everyone gets their heads down at a reasonable hour.

Wednesday 15^th August

Humph!   Well it seems our new(ish) campers the 'Essexers' are completely unaware or choose to ignore the unwritten rule of camping – no noise after 10pm!   This also includes lighting up the barbeque at 10pm because “we never eat before 10” - jeez it was gone midnight before the noise died down and what made it worse was the fact that they were all talking at the top of their voices about us (and their fellow campers)!!!! Yes we heard you because we were outside putting up our fairy lights.

Fairy lights 

Today is a French holiday so everything is closed.  We decided to go out for a little drive and ended up in Doue le Fontaine.  There was just one place, open a restaurant, so we decided to stop for lunch and I’d say do some people watching but there wasn’t anyone around!   Strange thing though because at 2pm all of a suddenly people and cars appeared, just for a few minutes it became quite busy.

On return to the campsite Kathy invited us all to a lovely Chinese restaurant near Angers, where we’d been last year.  There’s never any pressure to go but she does have to book a table.  Of course, we said ‘oui’ and agreed to be ready by 12 noon on Thursday.  

Thursday 16^th August

Grrr... the Essexers did it again!   This time at 11pm Steve went over and asked them in a polite truck driver’s voice “how long is this going to go on for?” and "even they (pointing at our van) have said how noisy you are!" (cheers Steve tee-hee), so they did at least stop and return to their vans.  

Anyway, come the morning one of the Essexers told us all that they weren’t going to the Chinese because it was too early for them to eat.  Strange though because the women totally ignored us....   something’s brewing me thinks!   They all went out about 11.30 anyway.

So, off we go to the Chinese and very very nice it was too.  It’s all you can eat and there’s an amazing choice of lovely fresh cooked food.  Steve a definite meat and two-veg kinda guy tried a little chinese beef with a pile of chips!  Then and THEN as (just to build up the drama) we return to the campsite to find the Essexers have gawn!!!!!   That’s it, caravans, awnings, chairs, tables etc. all packed up and gawn!   To celebrate we sat outside with Ruth & Steve until early evening, what a lovely couple they are!

Ta-ra Luke and safe journey back to the UK.

Friday 17^th August

Up and off to Montreuil-Bellay today.  We got to the chateau just as it was closing for lunch – typical! Note: they close for lunch for two hours...  So we wandered into Centre Ville and treated ourselves to crepe and cafe au lait.

The chateau is stunning from the outside and is quite imposing as it looks out over the town and the river; however, it was rather disappointing inside.   You have to go on a guided tour which is all in French and you visit the kitchen, sitting room, 1 bedroom and a staircase, really? – poor Del was beside himself with boredom.  I’d like to be able to show you some photos but you weren’t allowed to take any.   - Advice to anyone thinking of going, just pay to go into the grounds/garden don’t bother with the chateau.

Chateau Montreuil-Bellay

We did spend some time in the beautiful church with it's stained glass windows and took time to light a candle for our loved ones.

On return to the campsite our lovely Devonian friends from last year had arrived and it was so lovely to be met with such a warm welcome.  Of course, new campers mean Kathy’s bar is open!   Our new friends Ruth & Steve and our friends from last year gelled and I can only foresee lots and lots of laughs over the next couple of weeks!

Saturday 18^th August

Another barbeque at Kathy & Dave’s - what a lovely sociable thing it is to do but once again, there is never any pressure to go.  However, it is a small campsite (just 5 pitches) and it’s nicer if you all ‘get-on’.  Dave usually lights the barbie for eating around 2pm, everyone brings their own bits and pieces and we sit together under the awning chatting, sipping the local wine that is often offered by Kathy & Dave.  That evening the six of us, whilst waiting for the infamous La Fosse sunset, sat out talking until 9.40pm when it got quite chilly and windy – time to retire to our wobbly boxes.

Sunday 19^th August

New campers today - welcome to Pete & Jane.  They arrived whilst we were eating another barbeque with Kathy and Dave.  They very quickly parked up and came over for a few drinks.   There’s always such lovely people here – well nearly always (cough Essex).

Monday 20^th August

Now for avid readers of Moonstarr Travels you will remember from August last year that we went to Saumur to find the elusive 'Chateau with the ramp' that we’d stayed on in 2016 but after dragging Robert & Fred around for about two hours, getting very wet, eating a dodgy croq monsieur in the only bar that would serve us because nothing else was open, we gave up.  SO, this year we arrived prepared and we parked at the Chateau and decided to walk into town to the shops and to have a drink in the bar we’d sat outside two years previously – having found the shops we were told that they were “ferme” because it was Monday!  We walked and walked (mostly uphill) and had a few cross words but the elusive ramp was just not to be found which explains why the guide in the chateau looked puzzled when we asked.   Defeated we decided we would just never find it so decided to revisit the chateau...  “I don’t remember this”, “let’s go up to the roof where you can overlook the town... er, no because you can’t get up to the roof” – 'ang on a minute have we actually been in this chateau?????   Err it seems from a quick look at our blog via our phones we actually didn’t go in this chateau and the chateau with the “ramp” was actually Amboise...   oh god, we’re so sorry Robert & Fred....

Chateau Saumur

Uphill all the way

Beautiful views though

To soften the blow 😜 of not finding the chateau-with-the-ramp we, well I - because Del was driving - went on a tour of Ackerman followed by wine tasting.   The tour was very interesting and you were given an iPad with all the information and history of the vintner.  I was very impressed with the presentation because not only was there a clear audio version but it was also deaf friendly and had the same script written on screen.  The tour lasts about 45 minutes but you need a jacket as it is very cool in the caves.   At the end of the tour you are invited to try as many different wines as you wish.  Emeline our French sommelier spoke excellent English and knew all about each wine.   We left with a large trolley of Cremant de Loire Rose Cuvee, Cremant de loire Blanc de Noir Brut and a mixed box which included my favourite Touraine.   We also treated ourselves to two beautiful decanters.

For those who are unaware Champagne can only come from the Champagne region of France.  However most of the other regions of France make their own “champagne” which is called Cremant - with many of the vintners supplying the likes of Moet etc. with grapes, therefore Cremant is equally if not better (in my opinion) than the likes of Moet etc.  The difference and what a BIG difference is the price!!!!!!!   A bottle of Moet at ‘Duty Free’ was between £40-60 whereas Cremant is around 6 euros a bottle (£6 at today’s rates).   I thoroughly recommend the Rose Cuvee.

In the caves at Ackerman there was some fabulous artwork

Back to La Fosse and an evening of yet more wine tasting....   followed by a raucous evening in Kathy’s bar playing games.

Tuesday 21^st August

The following morning with slightly thick heads we all went to ‘Chez Paul’ for lunch.  Chez Paul sounds so posh but it is actually a glorified transport cafe on the way to Angers.  Chez Paul is only open at lunch times and it is advisable to book.  The clientele ranges from truckers, locals and of course campers.  On arrival there is a menu du jour with about 6 different dishes, all good wholesome French cooking.  You are shown to your table where there is wine, cider and water and a big bowl of fresh crusty bread, you take your plate to the large fridge where there is about 10 different plates of salad and pate as your starter – just one trip but you can have as much as you want.  Then you are served with your main course, followed by a platter of cheese and then your dessert which is often a tarte, mousse or ice-cream.  Coffee is available in the room adjacent.  All this for just – 13.48 euros (£13) each.  We had salad starter, beef in red wine and frites, cheese platter, apricot tarte constant stream of wine, cider or water, bread and coffee.  The place was rammed!!!!!

Despite the weather being hot we decided some light exercise would be advisable so we (Del, Ruth & I) played boules and then fell asleep in the chair.

Now throughout the latest travel blog I've not mentioned our visiting friends.  The first couple of nights I was woken by what can only be described as 'chomping' outside the van, as I couldn't be bothered to look out the window I chose to ignore it.   Dave later told me that because there is an abundance of apples and pears on the floor it was more than likely wild boar!   Then we had lots of evidence that Mickey & Minnie had been having a field day in the awning each night - they even ate through my freezer bag despite there being nothing in it.   Ants!  but we'd gone prepared.  Every type of bug and insect you could think of could be found, not that it bothered us.  However, this colourful little bugger in the caravan did bother me!

Wednesday 22^nd August

H (Home) day is creeping up and we’re both pretty down in the dumps, it’s all gone too fast.  We weren’t really sure what to do but decided we needed to break camp for a few hours so we went to E.leclerc which is a large hyper market.   It was quite nice browsing around some different things and Del bought a really nice jacket and I bought a new fleece jacket.  Probably not somewhere we’d rush back to but it made a change.

New campers arrived today – Ken & Ruth who have been to the campsite more times than they can remember!

It was all round to ours in the evening and we sat out until almost 10pm chatting with Steve & Ruth and our friends from last year.

Thursday 23^rd August

Today was the last day we’d be able to spend some time with our new friends so we booked a table for six at Chez Paul again.   It’s difficult to comprehend what you get for your money but we all came out of there with very full bellies!  The evening was spent huddled around Steve & Ruth’s moho as the weather had really turned today and although warm it is very very windy and quite cloudy.

Friday 24^th August

Off to Intermarche for last minute spends – yet more wine, presents etc.  We weren’t long out as we had to get back to camp to start the mammoth packing up task.  Fortunately Kathy had lit the barbeque and we did stop for some lunch and of course wine.  It takes a while to pack up, especially after two weeks but it was all done and dusted in about 3 hours (we don’t rush), with the caravan and car parked up on what we called ‘the naughty step’ (grassy area just outside the pitches) so when we left at 7am we didn’t disturb anyone.

Tonight as it is our last evening Kathy invited everyone to the bar for a drink or two.   All the campers were there and Kathy & Dave cooked some pizza for us all, what a fab time it was too.

Saturday 25^th of bloody August, bloody going home day.....

Humph!  We left at 7am as planned, hoping we didn’t really disturb anyone.  About 45 minutes later I received a text from Ruth & Steve, they’d left about 30 minutes after us, choosing to take the motorway like us.   As they have a moho and can drive faster than us we thought they may overtake us at some point, they didn’t but we also only stopped the once to refuel and a quick wee.  However, we kept in touch via text and although they had originally planned to stay overnight in France before using the tunnel on Sunday, they decided to drive to Calais and take the train.  Although still behind us just as they arrived we got called!  It was something out of a carry on film – we’re waiting to board and we saw them come flying round the bend, Steve jumps out followed by Ruth – air kisses and ‘safe journeys’ from myself and Ruth – Steve making ‘almost’ obscene gestures (there were children present) and shouts of ‘clear off you reprobates!’   All of this sums up what great friends we have made during our stay and it really does give you a warm feeling when new friends say they want to return at the same time as you next year.


P.S. - "friends from last year" have not been named as they didn't wish to have their names published AND I'd just like to say that I'm an Essex girl so I'm not bad mouthing ALL Essexers!

Oh yes, I nearly forgot no glorious sunsets this year, just a few beauties, but I got a lovely picture of the night sky at La Fosse de Tigne.

Sunset over La Fosse de Tigne