Guines to St Malo

Thursday 9^th August 2007 Guines to St Malo

It was quite chilly when we set off this morning, not at all like summer. I think that this part of France is suffering from weather from the west like we have been having at home. Gray skies followed us through for most of the morning but apart from the occasional very short shower the day was dry. This was the first journey that we were relying on Google maps to guide us. It was fortunate that both of the campsites had their postcodes listed on their websites as this seems to have made Google’s job a lot easier and the trip went like a dream. We didn’t get lost once, not even in the last half mile, which is when we usual go adrift, though this is probably more because we are tired rather than my map reading skills……well that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.

The directions took us on mainly motorways rather than the N roads, which suited us as it was a long journey today. As usual, most of the toll roads were very quite and roadwork free. The only problem we saw on them was just after a peage when we saw a huge plume of black smoke on the opposite carriage. As we got closer we could see that it was a campervan on fire. The police were on the scene but the fire brigade hadn’t yet arrived. We could feel the heat from the fire on the opposite carriageway and I am sure that the petrol tanker that the police let through in the lane next to the fire was relieved that he was at least ten yards past the flaming van when the petrol tank went up………….I kid you not, they hadn’t even stopped the traffic going past the blaze at that point!! I am pleased to report that the people from the van had escaped the blaze and were sitting on the embankment but apart from the clothes they were wearing nothing but nothing was going to survive that fire. What a away to end a holiday.

I am going to start keeping my camera in the front of the van, there are so many things on the journey that are either interesting or just plain scary. Today for instance, we crossed the biggest new bridge in northern France – Le Pont du Normande – apparently, according to the oracle on all things bridge related, it was designed by an English man and it is an amazing feat of engineering. Personally, I think that any one who thinks that a road bridge should be approached on a near vertical approach is a sicko and should be locked up for a very long time.

We are staying at the campsite Domaine de la Ville Huchet, just outside StMalo. I must admit that from their website I was under the impression that the site was a) nearer to the town b) closer to the coast and c) well away from the business park on the bypass but on the positive side the staff are friendly, the site is clean and well managed and the facilities are very good with a lovely swimming pool, creperie and bar.

The site is in the grounds of an old villa which is now in a very sorry state. Earlier this evening Dave and I were having a look at it and started chatting to a Dutch (?) woman and her son. They are apparently big fans of British property show like escape to the country and A Place in the Sun, where people buy a house in Europe then spend a fortune doing them up. But how embarrassing to hear that they were amazed that we would buy property in a country where we couldn’t even speak the language, the shame of it!