Boudicca proved her mettle – smooth, sexy, dependable. Ethel (our Garmin) was just as reliable apart from 2 instructions to turn left instead of right!as well as
Rick, Leelee and Kara were out walking the hills when we arrived – Loren and his mates were celebrating their outstanding A-level results with a big cook up. Well done Loren on attaining 3 A’s! Good to be in their home again – I am convinced that people who fill their homes with family, friends, laughter and good food have found the recipe for life.
Our first night of “camp” together in Rick and Leelee’s fairy garden on the edge of various farms. Looked on in awe as Martin mechanically “aired-up” his super-deluxe-double thick mattress, whilst my self-inflating mattress measured 2” once inflated. Tents up, we trotted off down the now familiar hill to the Kings Head (circa 1670) for an ale and a chat to the locals, Siva in tow.
Customary cooking around the fire with delish red wine and fabulous people ... the evening was set to be great. Thank you for the richness of your friendship and hospitality Rick and Leelee.
SO GOOD – seeing Rick, Leelee and family
SO BAD – well nothing really but its flipping warm in the Lightweight passenger seat above the exhaust... “if you had’ of cracked an egg you could have fried it on the seat box”. OMH I can only begin to imagine how its going to be in the Saharan heat!!! The Boys suggest lining the floor and seat box with foil – and Mike says “get it sorted before Africa” where its gonna be HOT!
Saturday 21 August – Green Hill Lane to Dover
09h00 departure from Green Hill in drizzle to Dover and the majestic white cliffs and pebbled beaches. Lots of swimming people... brrrr.
12h15 Uneventful ferry ride to Calais (1.5 hours) onto France. Graceful windmills! Parlatones welcome - perfect... feeling of living, and freedom, and happiness. Never seen so many vineyards ever! And it’s all for champagne! Moet and Dom and Mercier to mention but 3 of 900 producers in the Epernay region. And it’s hot. In the whole region there are something like 3000 champagne producers.First night camping in France at D ‘Epernay, Champagne region of France – La and Kash, here’s to you girl friends xxxx
Caravan on the river – bottle of wine – interesting people. Whooo ha!! Champagne festival on the Avenue de Champagne – heaven for some! The sun is still high at 20h45 and hot!
Sunday 22 August – D’ Epernay
Early morning run from our camp through Epernay old town all the way to the Rue de Champagne. So French in design and architecture.
Fun time at lunch at a typical French village square in Hautvilliers quaffing champagne before heading out for some tastings.... Martin: “The champagne tastes peaceful!”
Mike, would love to get you a bottle of Cuvee de Reserve from the Tribault Champagne Cellar, mais Martin says Africa’s heat will pop the cork!
Took a fascinating afternoon cave tour at the very avant- garde Mercier Champagne cellar in Avenue de Champagne. Branson would relate to the ambitions and creativity of the master mind that started this cellar at the age of 20 in 1858. The tour took us 30 metres below ground where we travelled by a lazer-guided train to view a network of tunnels where the champagne is made and matured in the coolest underground temperatures. It took Mercier 6 years to excavate 47 tunnels covering 18km underground. No mean feat in 1871. His objective – to bring high quality champagne to the masses.But what a night! The camp seemed to be located on the highway – trucks, trucks, trucks all night! Not to mention heavy rain in the night! Little sleep was had.
Martin says I’m getting good at pitching my tent and de-camping.
SO Good: Just being here, being alive, being free to do this!
SO Bad: Martin complaining about my camera case, Les’ stuff, tent, Landy cage, Bronnie. All in good spirit Mart.
Monday 23rd August – south toward Mont Pellier
Bron driving Boudicca for the first time. County roads, serene French villages, undulating countryside – so peaceful. No vineyards now. Agricultural land – harvesting ahead of the UK. Martin noticed sugar cane crops in France for the first time. It is hot.
We pass fields of sunflowers, “their heads bowed at the end of their time, as they await the reaper”.
