Through France and Spain in 2016

peedee
peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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edited August 2016 in Your stories #1

 

Summary This year I had promised to visit my brother in Spain but having been to Spain many times before I didn't want to cover too much old ground, So for 2016 I worked out a rough schedule, covering some new ground, for a circular trip down through France to the Costa Blanca. This included a stop off on the Ile de Re. We had visited La Rochelle before but not the Ile de Re. On the return trip we thought a few days on the Costa Brava a good idea other than that we had no specific return plans and we would decide these during the trip. I did do some research on the Ile de Re but the only other preparation we made was to buy a Channel Tunnel ticket using Tescos vouchers, add Eurpean breakdown cover to my C&CC "Arrival" policy and buy an FICC Camping Card International and an ACSI discount card. Armed with these, some maps, a sat nav and camping guides we set off on the 13th June somewhat later than we normally like to do. Even though we knew our tour would run into the peak season, we still didn't book any sites but decided where we would stop and for how long as we went along.

The return journey from Coquelles totaled nearly 2,900 miles and used 665 litres of fuel at an average price of 1.14 Euros per litre. This gave an average consumption of 19.8 miles per gallon. We used 14 campsites and 3 aires/stellplatz at an average cost of 22.40 Euros (£18.66) per night. The trip was notable for the very hot dusty weather encountered for much of the time.

Our favourite place of the trip - Camping El Delfin Verde.
Best value night stop - The Municiple site Camping Moulin a Tan at Chateaudon.
Best value campsite - Camping Marjal Cost Blanca with the ACSI discount
Worst moment – Discovery of a fuel leak on our return journey
Best saving this trip – The Municiple Campsites.

Contents
If you do not wish to read all of our blog >here<</a> and only have an interest in a particular area you can go direct to individual sections by clicking on the appropriate days below:

Days 1 to 9 - outward through France and the Ile de Re

Days 10 to 30 - Into Spain and stop overs on the Costa Blanca and Brava

Days 31 to 37 - East through France to the Pont Du Gard and the southern Central Massif from the Costa Brava

Days 38 to 43 - Homeward north through the Central Massif and France

Comments

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #2

    Thanks Peedee, I'll enjoy reading about your trip.

  • JimE
    JimE Club Member Posts: 353 ✭
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    edited August 2016 #3

    Hi Peedee.  Thanks for all the tips from your blog, I enjoyed reading it, apart from the "hairy" moment crossing the bridge to access the site by the Gard !

    Which vets did you use in Chateauroux ?

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #4

    I don't remember the name but it is on the D943 Route Chartre on the right at the junction with Rue Georges Courteline which is traffic light controled. It does have parking at the rear but it is a small area and you have to pass under low trees to get into it. Better to pass the vets and hope there is on street parking further down Route Chartre. Better still use the vet at Contre, easier parking and not so much traffic to worry about.

    peedee

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #5

    correct to the links above the list of Contents is correct but due to an error I have had to change the links so if you only want to read some sections the links are as follows:

    Days 1 to 9 - outward through France and the Ile de Re

    Days 10 to 29 - Into Spain and stop overs on the Costa Blanca and Brava

    Days 30 to 36 - East through France to the Pont Du Gard and the southern Central Massif from the Costa Brava

    Days 37 to 42
    - Homeward north through the Central Massif and France

    peedee

  • JimE
    JimE Club Member Posts: 353 ✭
    100 Comments Photogenic
    edited August 2016 #6

    Thanks for the vets info Peedee - we stay at Camping Le Rochat Belle-isle in Chateauxroux quite regularly, either at the campsite when it is open or at the MH Aire just outside which is open all year.  It's a handy stopping place on day 2 of our trips to
    Spain.

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