15. Apr, 2016

15. Apr, 2016

15. Apr, 2016

SATURDAY 13-6-15

After returning from the shower block and having our breakfast, and having had her shower, again cutting right across our pitch, we had to listen to 'Hyacinth Bucket' and her husband on their mobile phone talking to somebody about a forthcoming property sale/ purchase. Firstly, these kind of people are the kind that annoy me the very most. Arrogant, loud, full of their own importance, and who seem to think that we all need to listen to what it is they have to say. They're the sort that when you're having some kind of conversation with them all they keep saying is yes..yes..yes, only they keep saying it when you're mid sentence. What they are really saying is "I'm not the slightest bit interested in what you're saying you little oik, I just want you to stop because I've got even more important and interesting things to say". Secondly, why is it that the smaller they make mobile phones, it seems the bigger the mouth needed to operate them? This pair sat indoors with their door open and the phone on 'speaker' so that they could both join in. I was very tempted to call out a reply myself just to make the point but we're off this morning so I don't care, but I'm sure if we had both been staying longer I would have had a polite word with them regarding campsite etiquette.

Engine warmed up I rolled forward off the two wooden boards the rear wheels had rested on just in case it rained heavily and the wheels sunk in a bit. We were heading for Arras which was right on the front line during The Great War. I wanted to take a few pictures in the British Cemetery where a distant relative's death is commemorated.

I had allowed a generous two days to get there and yet we managed to do it comfortably in one. We have done this journey before, though from the Loire Valley rather than Chartres and it had taken longer. I think on this occasion we came a slightly different way, especially around Rouen, which made a big difference.

I knew we had been to this particular Aire before (GPS: N50.294341º E2.787994º) but despite clues from Rosina I just couldn't place it. I was thinking of an Aire we'd been to somewhere in northern France, located on a corner plot between two roads, that wasn't very special at all - well on arrival, it turns out to be this one. Never mind it's somewhere to park up and rest our heads in a very convenient location, and better still it's free.

We had a walk in to town and picked up a few leaflets from Arras Town Hall and then realised we had actually driven past the British Cemetery on the way in to town.

We've spent much of the evening sat outside in our lightweight £5 folding chairs, on a very small patch of grass close by us, and very nice it was too. The road running past here is a dead end so it's nice and quiet. We enjoyed a salad with fresh crusty bread and some of the cheese The Chef bought off the farmer where we bought the wine.

We were later joined by a New Zealand couple who found the Aire by accident; they'd never used one before. They own a motorhome and leave it in the UK with friends, then fly over each year and take it for a spin. Right now it's the middle of their winter back home so it seems like a good thing to do.

15. Apr, 2016

FRIDAY 12-6-15

We were up quite early this morning as we were making our way across country to Chartres as Rosina wanted to visit the cathedral there. This will be our third attempt as previously we've passed through but failed to find somewhere to park. This time thanks to Google Maps we've found a Municipal campsite on the edge of town. Originally the Satnav choked a bit on the address, but accepted it eventually. The journey began with a short trip on the nearby toll road in order to get around Tours. I bet we weren't on it more than 20-25 minutes - €6.40, about a fiver. The cross country drive was very pleasant, a 'B' road again, though better than many 'A''s with a number of new bypasses, so the Satnav thought we were back to driving in fields again.

The campground (GPS:N48.434183º E1.499265º) isn't too special, we're parked on grass, but I made a point of choosing a pitch where I could get the front wheels close to the tarmac road, and backed the rear wheels on to strips of painted three-ply hardwood I keep for such events. Hopefully this will prevent us from sinking in to wet ground as there was a lot of rain here last night with more forecast.

Once settled, we walked the 3km in to town along the narrow river bank. Fortunately it was warm with cloud which made the walk more comfortable.

Our first stop was the cathedral; I thought it was best to get it over with. Most of the time this sort of thing is wasted on me and today was no exception. I set the video camera on 'record' walked the camera up the steps and in to the building. It was then that I thought I'd walked in to somebody's coal shed, a big one I grant you, but a coal shed. It was so dark and dingy in there. To be fair they had made a start at sandblasting the interior, and where they had done so it looked fine. But fancy letting the stone interior of such a building get so disgustingly dirty, it was black. After a few video shots, I was done, and told The Chef she should feel free to carry on wandering whilst I took a seat and waited. Sitting there I also noticed just how filthy the stained glass windows were. You can't tell me they can't get a little man with a big ladder round to clean them, even if it's only once a year.

After the visit we had a wander around town a bit then found ourselves at the back of the cathedral. There I could clearly see the neglect of the outside stonework as well as weeds and plants growing out of it in places. Then I saw a sign saying they were receiving UNESCO funding to put right their neglect. I have to say the building looks much nicer from a distance, like on the previous occasions. Perhaps we should request UNESCO funding for the proposed major revamp of the Houses of Parliament back home, rather than stinging the poor old taxpayer the astronomical cost of the work (I think it's measured in billions, which would be about right for a taxpayer-funded government contract).

We managed to walk back 'home' just before a rain shower, so that was good timing. Later this afternoon we were joined next door by 'Hyacinth Bucket' and her husband. They've parked the wrong way round thus we look out of our open door looking at them sat under their rolled out porch drinking tea from a real teapot. Still at least they haven't bought a yapping dog with them. We're only here for the night so I'm not too worried.

15. Apr, 2016