Calais, Dunkirk and further south - Dunkerque, France
Dunkerque, France
We looked at various ways of crossing the channel. New haven to Dieppe would have been more expensive, but we would have saved the extra cost in diesel. But it doesn't run over winter. So it was a choice of Calais or Dunkirk. We've been to Dunkirk before and it is less congested than Calais. Same price as Calais, so we are going to Dunkirk. It's a slightly longer crossing, but at silly o'clock in the morning, it really doesn't matter. Our first stop is at Richebourg. We had planned to stop at Saint Venant, but when I cross checked with the French books, it didn't register, so we didn't take a risk. 2.00am ferry getting in at 5.15. Then just over an hour to the aire. A couple of hours sleep then exploring in beautiful sunny, crisp weather. Cold but bright. A memorial to Indian troops killed in the First World War was spectacular. Good basic French towns - markets, shops and beautiful churches and church spires. And a visit to St Venant, where we were going to stop. It would not have been as good as Richebourg. The ducks were incredibly noisy, the parking was sloping and the borne was turned off. But lovely views, and probably a god stop in summer. A big Marina by the side of the canal. And little windy roads! A slow start. Still cold because of the wind. But out of the wind you could feel the change. Cloud cover was slowly moving across the sky. A beautiful red tinge. Not very far today, just to Le Cateau Cambresis. According to the book, free water and electricity - the life blood of camping caristes. And we needed fuel. Diesel is not so efficient in colder weather and the fuel gauge drops at an alarming rate. However, it is only €0.977 a litre. That makes it about 80p. Good aire. Two vans already parked when we arrived and one came later. The electric worked and wasn't negative polarity. So with shopping done and lunch consumed, off to be intellectual at the Matisse gallery in the town. Our trip to Mouzon was difficult - heavy fog. Visibility in places down to under 100m. The aire was a good parking place, but the electricity and water had been cut off for winter. But we were heavy with water, charged up and loo emptied, so it didn't matter. We are at our furthest point East. Our journey now takes us south west to go south of Paris through the champagne region.