Hunters European adventure

July/August 2013

 
 
 
 
 
 
Ally
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Re: Hunters European adventure

 ·  Posted: 15.08.2013  ·  #81
Happy Birthday Bryan!! :hapbir:
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Re: Hunters European adventure

 ·  Posted: 15.08.2013  ·  #82
Thanks guys!
No driving today :D lol
Going to the pool now & out for a meal later in the wee village beside us.
Ordering Bryan a cadac for his birthday 8-)
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Re: Hunters European adventure

 ·  Posted: 20.08.2013  ·  #83
We have been without wi-fi for a few days ... lots can change in a few days!
We are no longer in France, we moved back into England this morning & are now at The Caravan Club site beside Longleat Safari Park, we pulled up & could hear the sealions calling to us! Ella was v excited! Bryan was even more excited because he can get fish & chips for his tea tonight from a chip van that comes on a Tuesday night! It's the simple things in life that please us the most!

I ended up making my first booking mistake of the trip on Saturday night, we arrived at the campsite in Gravelines (20 mins from Calais) & they couldn't find our booking ... because we weren't booked in until the next night. I had completed missed out a site to stay on 17th August ... they were full but managed to squeeze us in :D

So what have we been doing for the last week?

Before moving back to Calais we visited le Croisic ... from what we read about Portrush on this site it reminded me of there!
It was a very authentic & beautiful town where we enjoyed visiting the aquarium, eating out & buying some souvenirs, spending our £, only to return to our van to have received (we think!) a parking ticket =)
All carparks had a height restriction, the aires we found were full (8/9 spaces in each) & the place was teaming with people, with MHs driving past us by the dozen. We parked on a grass verge behind another MH & then a 3rd one came in behind us ...
We asked 2 different French people what they thought & they both said we might get a fine anywhere from 17 -30€ - we'll see what happens?!? One guy said write a sorry letter & we might get away with it! We still can't see what we were doing wrong!

At the campsite outside Calais we met 2 couples who had travelled extensively - France, Belguim, Netherlands, Switzerland, Croatia, France, Germany, Spain etc. An Australian couple with 2 kids in a borrowed van from their father in law, we were attracted to speak to them by the sign on the back of their van 'Adventure before Dementia' Really nice family & we swapped contact details so we could hear more about their trip & destinations. We also met a lovely young couple from England who had renovated a VW van & had an amazing 8 weeks across Europe. It is great to hear all the different stories people have to tell ...
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Re: Hunters European adventure

 ·  Posted: 20.08.2013  ·  #84
Not long now until it's back to the chalk face, glad you had a great adventure.
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Re: Hunters European adventure

 ·  Posted: 20.08.2013  ·  #85
Thanks for sharing it all with us. It was most interesting and I really enjoyed reading it all. It will be hard to get back to routine life af
Yet you're experience. Best of luck.
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Re: Hunters European adventure

 ·  Posted: 20.08.2013  ·  #86
We know! This day next week we will both have our first day back at school over us! :fgrin:
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Re: Hunters European adventure

 ·  Posted: 21.08.2013  ·  #87
Great day on Saturday at Markethill fair, Stayed with county Down D.A. in Gosford. That's how boring my life is !
Was telling Jean about your trip.
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Re: Hunters European adventure

 ·  Posted: 21.08.2013  ·  #88
Yes, we have been away so long & missed so many things that happen at home, the Fair Day is always a great event.
We have heard NO news since we left home ... we have no idea what has been happening in the world for the last 6 weeks, you know it is quite a nice zone to be in! Chilled! It is literally quite a bit cooler here than in France!
Longleat - what can I say, amazing day all round (even nicer as our last 2 days have been pretty much free :-) - 2 nights stay in caravan club site here at Longleat, we had 2 free vouchers to cover that & then we got our tickets in with my Tesco Clubcard points, on top of that caravan club members get 20% off all food & drinks in the park).
Highlights -
- bat cave, the bats are flying around your head
- the animals that you can walk through, penguins, meerkats, monkeys, parrots etc - it really is an up close & personal tour
- birds of prey display with owls, kites & vultures, you really had to duck so that they didn't land on your head!!
We were in the park before it opened (caravan club site right in the middle of it!) & didn't leave until it closed at 7.30pm, it is a brilliant family day out & highly recommend visiting & using the caravan club site.
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Re: Hunters European adventure

 ·  Posted: 22.08.2013  ·  #89
Great bit of info on Longleat. Edna has always wanted to go there.
I sell my caravan club vouchers so will now keep some for Longleat.
I had a very enjoyable sat night the week before the Markethill fair with about 7 other Craic vans in Gosford.
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Re: Hunters European adventure

 ·  Posted: 24.08.2013  ·  #90
We are home!
How many miles did we travel?
3,500 miles :fgrin:
Everyone in one piece :D
Ally
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Re: Hunters European adventure

 ·  Posted: 25.08.2013  ·  #91
Welcome home :D
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Re: Hunters European adventure

 ·  Posted: 25.08.2013  ·  #92
welcome home hunters,

thanks for sharing your adventure with us, :up: :up:
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Re: Hunters European adventure

 ·  Posted: 25.08.2013  ·  #93
Our pleasure!
Plans are started for the adventure next summer ... hear whispers of Holland, Germany, Italy ... will keep you posted!!
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Re: Hunters European adventure

 ·  Posted: 26.08.2013  ·  #94
Good to hear you are home in one piece.

The long drives didn't cause any problems then?
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Re: Hunters European adventure

 ·  Posted: 26.08.2013  ·  #95
No Bryan managed them the very best!
I was Satnav or reading!
We have a good idea about the whole set up now, can't wait to do it again next summer!! Watch this space!
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Re: Hunters European adventure

 ·  Posted: 26.08.2013  ·  #96
I like that kind of adventurous attitude. I have it but unfortunately the good Lord didn't give it to my wife. Go for it.
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Re: Hunters European adventure

 ·  Posted: 24.09.2013  ·  #97
Just had mussels & chips for our tea tonight (at home!), not in France!!
Wish it was the summer & we were eating mussels there!
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Re: Hunters European adventure

 ·  Posted: 24.09.2013  ·  #98
Spooky !! We were on the same wave length we just had mussels in white wine & garlic sauce for starters then curried king prawn korma with coconut & fresh pineapple , mmmmmm! 🇧🇭 :up: . John washed his down with a nice glass of whIte while I had to do with water due to this ever lasting headache
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Re: Hunters European adventure

 ·  Posted: 24.09.2013  ·  #99
Wishing you all the very best on your adventure, have a wonderful time and enjoy the experience. Looking forward to the reports. Keep safe.
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Re: Hunters European adventure

 ·  Posted: 25.09.2013  ·  #100
You're reading this the wrong way round! We've been & are back to reality!!! Read from the start & you will see how we got on!
Sitting at my desk talking with my colleague & she just asked me 'What holiday are we aiming towards?!?'
(We're teachers & are 5 weeks into this term) My answer - 'Next June!!!!'
5 weeks of school down, only 35 to go until next summer in the MH in ... Italy (possibly!)
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Re: Hunters European adventure

 ·  Posted: 25.09.2013  ·  #101
you could fit a short one in at the end of Oct then Christmas, etc after all you teachers get loads of holidays :lol:
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Re: Hunters European adventure

 ·  Posted: 02.10.2013  ·  #102
Hi Jill, all went well then. Found this topic after you told Elaine about it. Just read through all of it. I though I'd mentioned Superglue, cable ties and duct tape is another essential. We just MOT'd van today for first time. Sailed through so all grand. Think we're heading away for Saturday night somewhere. Not sure yet. I'll get a chat with you at some stage about our time away. There were no big dramas, just good craic. Think it'll be different next year. Still France with a bit of English south coast thrown in. Might do smaller sites. Dan loves the big 500 plus pitch sites with all the bells and whistles but I like the smaller quieter one's. Next year we'll please both, not just the kids! :happy:
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Re: Hunters European adventure

 ·  Posted: 02.10.2013  ·  #103
Evening Dougie!!
Good news re MOT
You will be v impressed with our France photos, I have them in 2 photobooks!! Organised or what?!
See you at end of October for school photos & sure if you are Markethill direction this weekend call with us! Free parking in the drive, we'd even give you EHU!!
Jill, Bryan, Ella, Polly & Pip!!
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