Tuesday 8th April 2025
With the scaffolding erected around the house, Jason and his helper stripping off the old roof, it was time to leave. We certainly didn’t fancy being around whilst all this work was going on and besides, we had been trying to get away ever since we returned from Antigua, though I must say this was perfect weather to replace our roof!!!
Our ferry from Newhaven leaves fairly early tomorrow and we didn’t fancy the stress of the M25 during the rush hour so we left early afternoon and headed to an overnight stop near Newhaven.
We booked “The Bull on the Green” in Newick, a 17th century stopping place for Pilgrims travelling from Winchester to Canterbury but today with its extensions, it is a very nice oldy-worldly pub with rooms and an excellent menu. It is also a reasonably stop-off for the Dieppe ferry leaving in the morning, let’s hope it lives up-to- it’s “hype”.
Our journey was a little fraught with traffic but especially the M25; were glad we didn’t risk travelling in the morning!!!
Wednesday 9th April 2025
After enjoying an excellent evening meal and followed by a comfortable night, we went to breakfast before heading to the ferry-port.
This crossing, Newhaven to Dieppe is a truckers ferry so there are no “bells and whistles”, but they do have a reasonably adequate cafe and being a French ship, the food was good; there is also a duty free shop and with a few games of crib, the 4-hour crossing soon passed. The real bonus is the cost, the cheapest return day crossings available.
Arriving in Dieppe on time, we were also one of the earliest vehicles off the ferry and quickly got through the formalities and headed to the Peage; the next two nights we are stopping with Christine’s Nephew and his family just outside Orleans, about four hours away.
When we got to the the first Peage we were really thrown as the ticket booths had all gone; wow no charges!!! Well we held that thought for about 20-kms then we saw it, a big banner stretched along a bridge crossing the road stating in French, soon to be followed by another banner, this time in English in very big letters; you car registration has been recorded and we had 72-hours to pay the toll on line!!! Oh dear, modern technology.
Apart from a couple of stops for the dogs, we had good run down arriving in time to allow for a lot of catching-up before heading to bed.
Thursday 10th April 2025
A day of leisure today, well apart from walking the dogs and meeting Catriona during her lunch hour, and Tobyn who is on School holiday, at their local restaurant.
After a few chores we we headed to the park about a mile away. We’ve been there before and the dogs seem to love it as it has a mixture of laid out grassed areas with flower beds, children’s play areas, and “rustic” areas where the dogs can run “wild”. The paths are also laid out for runners with exercise posts and other bits of gym kit for the energetic!!
Unlike Spain, lunch in France generally starts around 12-midday and as planned we all arrived at the restaurant around that time. Fortunately the restaurant is across from the park so we had no excuse to be late!! It was good to be back here as they do a really good “Plat de Jour”; it must be good as the place was heaving!!!
After lunch, Catriona head back to work and Tobyn joined us for another tour around the park: we have to wear the dogs out as tomorrow they will have to endure another long day in the back of the car.
After a very pleasant evening we headed to bed, we need to be away early in the morning as it is a long way to Chateau Neuf de Pape