UK, Brittany and Loire

Page 2 of  4

Life in Aberdaron was very peaceful and it was quite impossible to find a mobile phone signal anywhere!

 

Our next port of call was into Snowdonia and a small hamlet called Betws Garmon which is on the road from Caernarfon to Beddgelert.  It was here that we had arranged for our annual UK Gathering of Carthago owners at the Bryn Gloch campsite.  After several weeks of planning everthing was ready, we just needed some good weather!

 

You can read all about our meeting on our Carthago Owners UK website just click on the link button below.  When you want to return to this website just use the back arrows on your browser.

Welcome back!

On our way back home from North Wales we had to split up as Desnée needed to be back in Worthing for a prior appointment and George needed to take Priscilla down to Van Bitz at Taunton to have an inverter installed. We travelled ‘coupled up’ until we got down to the M4 / M5 junction just outside Bristol and then went our separate ways!

 

 

Back home again but only for a few days before we were off on our travels again.  This time heading for France, via Plymouth—Roscoff ferry and eventually attending Keith and Grace’s wedding in Latillé (near Poitiers) on June 26th.

Our first stop on the way to Plymouth was a small campsite near Wimbourne in Dorset. This was a Camping and Caravanning Club CS site. 

On arrival George had to inspect the field to find a level area and was welcomed by the owners dog who bit him on the arm!  A good start! 

The site was very environment conscious and was proud of their ‘earth toilet’ which comprised of a wooden seat with two holes to sit over which had mesh baskets underneath each hole.  Why two holes!!  Were you supposed to use one for each function—if so which was which?  Or, were you supposed to use the facilities as a couple! Once you had attended to your needs what were you supposed to do then?  There were no instructions!  Furthermore, we could not find a light and so even in daylight, when you closed the door it was pitch black inside!  Maybe you left the door open?

We decided to use our own facilities and vowed never to go tenting at that site.

However, the owners daughter was also an eco-warrior and was starting up a business, hopefully, renting out Yurts which they had erected on site. They look lovely with their own log burning stoves but we still have reservations about the toilet facilities!!

However, we wish her luck with her venture. 

If you would like to know more or make a reservation click on the link —>

Whilst we were at home we visited Michelham Priory, Arlington, near Hailsham, East Sussex.  In June it is simply delightful and there was so much to do for children.  Well worth a visit with young grandchildren.  Below are just a few snaps from the gardens.

On our way down to Plymouth we visited friends in Torquay and stayed at a beautiful Caravan Club site (Ramslade) just outside Stoke Gabriel. Stoke Gabriel is a pretty Devon village beside the River Dart estuary. It was a pleasure to walk around and watch the children catching crabs and the youngsters learning how to sail and the oldies showing how it should be done!

A rather pretty new development in Stoke Gabriel village

Whilst staying on the Ramsdale campsite we watched in amazement as a caravan owner decided to change pitches to improve his TV reception.  Rather than pack away his awning he gather a group of volunteers to lift up the sides whilst he manoeuvred the ‘van with his remote control.  See right —>

 

 

We met up with Gordon and Jacqui who very kindly took us out to dinner in Totnes.  We ate at the very popular Waterside Bistro, right beside the river and the grub was excellent!  Thanks Gordon and Jacqui for a special evening!

Click on the logo to visit the Waterside Bistro.

 

Worth a visit if you are in  the area!

Our last stop in UK was at a CL site in Plymouth ready for an early start for the ferry the next day. It rained no-stop all the time we were there but by 5:30am it had stopped and we set off shortly afterwards for the ferry.

The ship was the new Brittany ferries ‘Amorique’. Very large and not filled to capacity. It was wide enough to turn Priscilla around inside in one go with plenty of room to spare.

It was a six hour crossing and so after grabbing a full English breakfast we went to the cinema, which helped to pass the time.

The Amorique is a lovely ship and very comfortable throughout.

Stoke Gabriel Crabbers.  Some had up to 20 crabs in their buckets.  Apparently, the ‘hot bait’ is bacon slices!!

The weather in Brittany was not much of an improvement but at least it was dry when we arrived at St. Efflam just outside Plestin-les-Greves on Brittany’s north coast.  We stayed over for the next few days in the municipal campsite which was very pleasant; just like staying in somebody’s back garden.

St. Efflam bay. The tide went out for about half a mile and there were regular sand yacht races on the beach.

We did have sunny days as this one. A crépérie and ice cream café just down the road!