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As you can see Il de Re is prettier in the sun as am I – south we go!
The Wine Challenge
After extravagantly spending over 3 euros for a bottle of wine that seemed to taste more like 8 euros, we decided that we should see how low we could go before stomach upsets and crippling headaches took over. Therefore our subsequent visit to the supermarket we bought some 2 euro wines and drank those again with ease and no ill effects. We obviously had not taken the French quality of wine seriously enough. Next day we got down to the 1.50 euro mark and cheekily I found a sparkling wine for the grand price 1.16 euro. It was only when we got this home did I notice it was actually imported proseco. This must be undrinkable, it even had a plastic champagne cork. Eureka! It was gorgeous – where they hiding all this stuff from the British.
The experiment has been a success. Our new mission statement ‘To boldly go as low as possible for the drinkable sub euro wine.’
After all this considerable effort to cut costs on essentials – this was blown by a moment of madness when wine tasting Carlo bought the most expensive wine there for 14 euros. Some lucky person we will get the benefit when we stay at theirs.
Stayed for 1 night in the grounds of a Châteaux (see pic) – didn’t try the pool still a bit nippy up in the north of France.
Carlo’s cooking skills knows no bounds (Carlo says) treated me to a delicious meal of duck legs and the local calvados.
After being warned that there was a large wasps nest near by I took great care to avoid that area…unfortunately wasps move! Our fluorescent light seemed to be a beacon to them..they were like bees around honey except they were wasps & mahoosive ones at that. But being the courageous type of guy, I flung myself in front of Alice & did battle with the ravaging hoards… OK I turned out the light & ran for cover.
After packing away the tent in a serene mood without any expletives I made the fatal mistake of letting Alice set up the Tom Tom with the destination of Le Touquet in mind. 60 miles later we arrived in the small hamlet of Le Touquet about 100 miles from the sea. Alice had omitted to tell me that 3 options came up on the Tom Tom and she chose the first one. I know what you are all thinking here comes Vesuvius but the new unemployed Carlo took this in his stride was it the new Carlo or the fact I had nicotin causing through my veins, (smoking again) but not for long.
We finally arrived in le Touquet a couple of hours later than planned and had the most glorious lunch sitting on the beach eating fois grais and drinking red wine isn’t life wonderful. (see picture).
Part deux – I did some exercise
I had to add this to Day 2 as it was pretty momentous. Got to a campsite that was less peaceful than the last one and I think Carlo put it quite aptly we officially feel like ‘trailer trash’, sorry to any caravan owner. However the area is very beautiful and saving every penny as we are trying to do we wanted to purchase a beer and did so by cycling – we didn’t need to we have a perfectly good car, but apparently it is nice and good for you to do this things. 3 miles later – yes for those that know my lack of cycling prowess that is a lot we had in our hands 6 mini kronenbourgs (we saved 8 euros) and then another 3 miles back. Wow do people choose to do this – strange but look I will be fit when I come back that is a PROMISE.
Also first night where the theatre of cooking started see pics above.
Note: my protestations that we would find wi fi everywhere were unfounded or at least free wifi, hence lots of posts and pictures at once. – Sorry!
9:30 – Finally after much anticipation Carlo and I left Dorset for Europe. We were luckily heading off for the Ferry – well planned on my part. For those of you that have been on Mars chunnel is still not running properly after a fire.
3:30 - However after steaming through the South west it was still delayed. My first night plans were already getting spoiled.
5:30 – Arrive in very sunny Calais – hopefully this is an omen. Carlo’s lack of camping knowledge comes crashing into my consciousness with the comment “will they let us bring the car to the camp pitch” – it did make me wonder how the hell he thought we would carry a tent, duvet, pillows, sheets, bags, full size gas bbq to the tent. Anyway to his relief I explained that yes we can park the car right next to the tent.
7:30 – Arrive at the first and only booked campsite. It was very quiet and what was immediately obvious was we had brought the average age down by about 20 years – maybe we can get in some wills!!. Tent was put up with minimum fuss – well done us 22 minutes so far.
8:30 – Due to our late arrival the theatre of cooking had to wait one more night as no supermarches were open. We went to the restaurant and had a passable meal (expensive), litre of house wine (v cheap ).
10:30 – Bedtime – there is not much to do when it is a) very very dark and b) freezing. With the duvet from Peri and the throw she also gave me we tried for an early night
1:30 – Wow it is cold. How the hell are we going to do this in November
3:30 – Is it possible my dribble has turned to ice – I think so. Is wearing a hat and gloves to bed what campers do – probably not they go camping in Summer doh!
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