First time in France - done it!

[feeblecat]

First of all I need to thank everyone who helped to make our trip successful - the advice given here was invaluable!

The journey - A total of 3389 MILES round trip. From Ayrshire to Dover (overnight). Calais to Orleans, overnight. Orleans to Riviere Sur Tarn, Tarn Gorge (9 nights). Drove to Carcassone and then onto the coast for an overnight near in Adge.
On way back Tarn Gorge to Dordogne (3 nights - near Rocamadour). Dordogne to Normandy (2 nights, should have been 6). Normandy to Calais (overnight) and then home! Unfortunately, our 3 week holiday was cut short due to bereavement. We were supposed to sail from Cherbourg but because we had to return in a hurry and coulndt get earlier sailing from Cherbourg we had to sprint to Calais.

The areas visited - Tarn Gorge area was fantastic - not commercialised or touristy, very beautiful area, lots to see and some great campsites. Would definitely return: The Dordogne, another beautiful area I will return to - 3 nights was not nearly long enough: Normandy, some lovely areas/villages though didn't get to see much of it. Didn't appeal just as much as the other 2 areas so would probably only return if on my route for a couple of days. Adge - the overnight stay was enough for me and wouldn't go back- all the things I hate - touristy, commercialised, very busy. Must appeal to a lot of people though as it was thronging with folk - mostly Brits from what I could see.

Highlights - every day in the Tarn Gorge - was so chilled out there. Was a pleasure to drive through or just sit and enjoy!
Rocamadour - lovely place
Millau Bridge - what a structure

Letdowns - Carcassone - lovely place but just didn't do it for me! Worth visiting if in the area but wouldn't do the drive (3 hours) just to see it again.

The roads - easy peasy, lemon squeezy! Hubby's first time driving in France and found it to be a dawdle. Great roads, great facilities everywhere en-route.

The dog - despite unseasonally hot weather (mid 30's for most of the time) he was great. Made sure he had plenty of shade, water and places to swim and everything was good. Note for next time - to make sure we are always camped near a river/stream for him to swim in as it made all the difference. Was allowed access everywhere so was actually easier camping in France than back home. Travelled great - just slept in the back of the Bongo with the occasional peep out the window.

What I couldnt have done without: The trailer, the tarp (oh how glad we were for the tarp for shelter from the sun) and the Cadac easy chef (great for bbq's, and making french toast/breakfasts when we got fed up with croissants).

Finally - the BONGO. Not a peep or a whimper out of it. Fuel consumption was great and OH found it a pleasure to drive the distance.

ps - The campsites we stayed on were mostly very good - anyone wanting to know more just ask.

[dvisor]

Sounds like you had a great time, and put a lot more miles behind you than we did. We did our first camping trip to France this year too, and now hooked. We're already thinking of our next trip, and now that we know what to expect the other side of the channel, plan to travel around a lot moreand further South than we did (we only got as far as Saumur).

[mikexgough]

nice to hear you enjoyed your trip......were off to Holland in December.... .......but we will be back over to France next year, I go to Le Mans each June and will be back in July for the Classic, SWMBO wants to do France again next year....now what about a Bongo meet in France, that would be something...

[brorabongo]

Hats off to you. Any photos to share?

[missfixit70]

Good to hear you had a good time, quite an expedition by anyone's standards, let alone for your first time Did you use any of the Aires? All the bongos internal "arrangements" work out ok?
Now get those piccies up

[mikeonb4c]

Well done - sounds like an excellent trip. I'm so sad I skipped through the travelogue as quickly as I could just to hear how you found the Bongo. Perfectly put - so far mine has never whined or whimpered over 25k or so miles.

Welcome back

[feeblecat]

I'll try with some piccies - here goes!

[missfixit70]

Amazing pics

[dandywarhol]

Great trip, great pics, thanks for sharing ..the Millau shot is stunning!

Rocamadour from a different angle - We'd the Bongo and bike here in July...............

[feeblecat]

another lovely pic of Rocamadour - it was one of our favourite days out ..........................that and every day in the Tarn!

[Nuggets!]

welcome home great to hear you had a brill time! beautiful views and hats off to you for doing it!

Nuggets!

[Nick65]

Rocomadour area brings back such good memories for me. Millau is just something else.

The picture of the small bridge over the river, is that Tarn area by any chance? It looks like a place we stayed at many moons ago.

I just love the whole Languedoc region personally as it is just so diverse - You can go from Montpellier to the Gorges du Tarn and anywhere in between and it's all so wonderful.

Did you know that the Languedoc region is the most photographed place in the world? Yup, a stimulating fact for all, but you can see why?

[feeblecat]

Yep, the picture with the small bridge was somewhere on the Tarn river not far from Riviere-Sur-Tarn. We will definitely go back to that area sometime- it ticked all our boxes. Next year however we are looking at the Pyrenees - Camping Pyrenees Natura in Estaing to be exact because the site looks wonderful and in a lovely area. Any comments on that area/site would be welcomed.