Our first motorhome trip to France Collevile-Montgomery to the UK
Our first motorhome trip to France Collevile-Montgomery to the UK
Up at 5.30am here on the aire de camping cars at Colleville-Montgomery, anxious to reach Ouistreham for our 7 am checkin. Breakfast, cleared everything up and away by 6.30am. Called for a fill up of diesel and then a short drive to the ferry port at Ouistreham, arriving at around 7.0am (check-in closes at 7.30am).
Douane (French Customs) had sniffer dogs and searched all trucks and most caravans and campers, cars seemed to be chosen at random. Once on the ferry, we were away by 08.35 for the 5.75 hour crossing, arriving at Portsmouth at 13.15 local time (one hour behind).
We were almost first off, through customs in no time and off on our way north on the M3/A34 (via Newbury) to Ashdown House, Lambourne, a National Trust property near Swindon, only to find it was closed today. Change of plan… an Indian meal at Swindon at a place called Diwali on Farrindon Road, it was excellent, but we nearly took the gutters off someone’s extension as we came out of a very narrow car park at the back.
It was our good fortune that the lady of the house was very accommodating and said not to worry! Through the busy traffic of Swindon to Minety village near Malmesbury and the Certified Location at Dog Trap Lane again. We stayed here in May on our way to Chippenham, very convenient and not too far to travel. We were exhausted after such a long day settled down for the night.
Next day: We returned home via a visit to Tewkesbury the home of Gill’s mother and both of her parents (the Garbutt and page families). We visited the abbey where Gill’s grandparents were married and both families attended as their local church for most of the lives. We found 20 Chance Street (the home of Harold and Florence Page for many years and 74 High Street where my mother was born. Number 74 was about the only property on High Street that was not a major shop of a business. How it had changed since my mother had visited in 1980, 36 years ago.
Our first motorhome tour of France : Collevile-Montgomery returning to the UK
Final route to home