Baguette's Travels

After much encouragement I've finally started a blog.
As time goes by I'll fill in the past 12 years and over 110,000km of motorhome touring as best I can. Mrs has a stack of notes we've kept over the years.

Edit: Start here.

And again, finally.
This time BF Cork - Roscoff on the Connemara at 08.30 Sunday, June 2nd. 2019.

Normandy Beaches, Le Mans 24 Hour, Argelès-sur-Mer (Camping Le Soleil) then somewhere who knows where
No return booked yet.
Same MH but there's a Craic sticker in the windscreen now

After over a years absence the link in the above no longer works so keep tuned in here for updates on my 2019 trip.

Currently we're in the queue for the BF ferry Connemara which is running nearly two hours late. It was due in at 06.00 but is now just passing Cobh so the 08.30 departure is unlikely. The 22.00 arrival in Roscoff will probably be more like 24.00 so it will definitely be straight to the local Aire for what's left of the night.

Arrived in Arromanche today. Got one of the last spots in the new Site up next to the 360° theatre. Loads of WWII vehicles of all types.

€6.00 per 24 hours

"don't worry if you get bogged down Sir, we'll soon have you out" The new Aire for Arromanche overlooking the landing beaches

A few photos from today

A few more photos

A few photos of this morning at 06.30 as the sun came up

It's D-DAY+3 now and we're in Ouistraham (Sword Beach) where my father was on a landing craft which put commandos ashore on D-DAY. We also visited Pegasus Bridge where Mrs B's uncle parachuted into on the night 5th/6th June. Massive commerations all week including Battle of Britain Spitfire flypast plus hundreds of WWII vehicles from jeeps to tanks and everything in between. A few pics

That's the Aire at Ouistraham, €10 per 24h (credit card operated barrier) including services, it's next to the ferry port. There is a cycle path which passes next to the Aire which goes in one direction along the 'Beaches' and the other way along the bank of the canal to Caen via Pegasus Bridge

After Ouistraham we overnighted in the really excellent municipal campsite in Argentan, it is one of the best kept municipals in all of France.
Now at out pitch in Camping area Beauséjour in Le Mans which is filling up nicely. Wednesday afternoon practice session in just been suspended due to rain but will restart shortly when the shower passes.
Ally, 'twould be a great venue for a rally

That's the one, it's still like his own personal garden , so clean and tidy not to mention the toilet seat disinfectant covers

Now at Le Mans for the 24Hour. Totally manic, every type of humanity here, but great fun. It's definitely an event that anyone with even the smallest drop of petrol in their blood should experience at least once
Had a bit of bother with the fridge, the burner finally went past its use by date and a lot of food ended up in the skip, not to mention that the beer got a bit on the warm side .
Between practice sessions SAS Maine Loisirs on the Mulsanne Strait fitting a replacement unit for €152 without any appointment . I would recommend then to anyone in trouble in the region.
Now a few photos.

It's 10 days since my last update, how time flies when having fun. Forgot to mention, before the fridge packed in at Le Man's the arm fell off one of the Aguti seats at Ouistraham (I now know how they're attached ) a very nice Citroen dealer in Argentan extracted the broken bolt and provided a new one free of charge .
From Le Mans we continued in the Orleans direction where we stayed in the Aire at Meung Sur Loire. On the way I noticed that the Aircon had only two settings, off and icy hurricane. It turned out the resistor thing which provides speeds 1,2&3 had expired. Aftet visiting half a dozen FIAT other dealers (Peugeot & Citroen) a FIAT dealer in Orleans provided the replacement which I fitting myself. While in the area we visited Chateau de Chombord a definite must see when there.
After that it was onward south staying at St. Amand Montrond where we enjoyed midsummer celebrations at a local bar/restaurant.
Saturday 22nd. It was the spa town of Neris-les-Bains where we stayed on the Aire outside the campsite for €8 including ehu, shower and toilet.
Last night we stayed on the free Aire at Egletons, tonight we are at Rodez.
The route is providing some spectacular views and ancient towns and villages as we are choosing toll free D roads. Being in the Massif Central there is a lot of use being made of 3rd. gear both going up and down hill average speed being a leisurely 50 kph when taking into account the 30kph limit in most villages and towns.
One of the highlights was a portion of today's drive along the D1120 from Tulle to Aurillac and onwards on the D920 towards Rodez. The route included some terrific high points and the spectacular Gorges du Lot. A drive not for the fainthearted or anyone pulling a trailer or toad.

Bye for now