Sid’s and Gedinne

[Wapping]

Away on time:



Followed by a breakdown on the M20 contraflow and then a crash just before junction 11A for the Chunnel.



Despite all that (and some bizarre so called ‘security check’, delivered by teenagers) I was ushered onto a train that was just loading:

 

[Udders]

Safe travels young man!

 

[Wapping]

Thank you.

I have never been to one of Sid’s very generous does, so I’m looking forward to it. I have packed my Brompton, which I’ll hopefully be able to ride about on for a bit.

Gedinne’s classic motorcycle road racing (on the somewhat indirect return leg) is always good.

I’ve passed on sleeping in the van tonight, in favour of staying at the cafe B&B (plus evening meal) at Cap Gris Nez, which is an old favourite of mine. When I brought my Healey over last month, I asked if they had a spare room for one night? As they did, I booked it up. My second night will be south of Le Mans at Saumur, a nice town, which we used to stay in for the Le Mans 24-hour race. I haven’t been back there for a few years, so it’ll be interesting to see if it’s changed. There, I have prebooked the campsite. I had thought about using the free space at Arnage, but it regularly gets filled up.

 

[Udders]

Thank you.

I have never been to one of Sid’s very generous does, so I’m looking forward to it. I have packed my Brompton, which I’ll hopefully be able to ride about on for a bit.

Gedinne’s classic motorcycle road racing (on the somewhat indirect return leg) is always good.

I’ve passed on sleeping in the van tonight, in favour of staying at the cafe B&B (plus evening meal) at Cap Gris Nez, which is an old favourite of mine. When I brought my Healey over last month, I asked if they had a spare room for one night? As they did, I booked it up. My second night will be south of Le Nans at Saumur, a nice town, which we used to stay in for the Le Mans 24-hour race. I haven’t been back there for a few years, so it’ll be interesting to see if it’s changed. There, I have prebooked the campsite. I had thought about using the free space at Arnage, but it regularly gets filled up.

Yeah, especially as the frogs are on their hols just now. Most of the aires will be full.

 

[Oldrat]

Have a great trip.

 

[Wapping]

Cap Gris Nez:



I came along the coast road, in blazing sunshine, the English coastline clearly visible.

 

[rjsmith26]

Thank you.

I have never been to one of Sid’s very generous does, so I’m looking forward to it. I have packed my Brompton, which I’ll hopefully be able to ride about on for a bit.

Gedinne’s classic motorcycle road racing (on the somewhat indirect return leg) is always good.

I’ve passed on sleeping in the van tonight, in favour of staying at the cafe B&B (plus evening meal) at Cap Gris Nez, which is an old favourite of mine. When I brought my Healey over last month, I asked if they had a spare room for one night? As they did, I booked it up. My second night will be south of Le Nans at Saumur, a nice town, which we used to stay in for the Le Mans 24-hour race. I haven’t been back there for a few years, so it’ll be interesting to see if it’s changed. There, I have prebooked the campsite. I had thought about using the free space at Arnage, but it regularly gets filled up.

I guess the van maybe isn't as comfey as you had hoped?, booking into your favorite b&b early into the trip, although if campsites in France are going like they are in UK then soon it will be cheaper to B&B rather than pay to camp! Have a great trip

 

[Wapping]

Most of the aires will be full.

As is the campsite in Cap Gris Nez:

 

[Wapping]

I guess the van maybe isn't as comfey as you had hoped?

Sometimes it’s better not to guess. It suits me down to the ground; the ground is sometimes some distance away.

The free aires and the campsites along the coast are full.

I have stayed in the B&B somewhere around 100 times (probably more) and I like to support the place, if I can. The owner now is the daughter of the original owner, from when I first started coming here well over 45 years ago.

 

[Wapping]

My walk to the cliff and beach done, it’s time to assume the position:

 

[Wapping]

I got a bit ahead of myself there.

It’s a nice stroll to the sea or along the cliffs:



The automatic lighthouse on the point:



If you have a room on the left side of the B&B, the beam sweeps in.

A first view of the sea from the village:




A local artist, selling his works:



A large American car of some sort, performing a multi-point turn:

 

[rjsmith26]

Sometimes it’s better not to guess. It suits me down to the ground; the ground is sometimes some distance away.

The free aires and the campsites along the coast are full.

I have stayed in the B&B somewhere around 100 times (probably more) and I like to support the place, if I can. The owner now is the daughter of the original owner, from when I first started coming here well over 45 years ago.

I like to guess - its kind of satisfying as it draws out "whats occurring". Happy travels and as said before Enjoy the trip

 

[Wapping]

Instead of going straight to the beach, where the tide is busy going out, I turned to walk up the hill, following the very well set out footpath:




From the top of the cliff, you get an excellent view down into the bay of Cap Gris Nez and across to the wider and sandier bay of Cap Blanc Nez, taking its name from its white cliffs:

 

[Wapping]

England was fully visible as I drove in, but an hour later the light has changed and a mist has come up. It is there though, to the left of the picture:



Napoleon and Hitler both stood near enough on this spot, but got no further.

 

[Monsieur]

Sometimes it’s better not to guess. It suits me down to the ground; the ground is sometimes some distance away.

The free aires and the campsites along the coast are full.

I have stayed in the B&B somewhere around 100 times (probably more) and I like to support the place, if I can. The owner now is the daughter of the original owner, from when I first started coming here well over 45 years ago.

What’s this one called Richard?

 

[Wapping]

At the top of the hill there is a hangover from the German ‘Atlantic Wall’ holding a commanding view over the bay and across to Cap Blanc Nez:



I wandered over to take a look:





Many people assume that every concrete structure housed a gun of some sort. Many didn’t but served a different (but vital) purpose linked to guns. Many were forward observation posts, for artillery probably situated several miles behind the beach itself. Most of the beach artillery and lighter gun emplacements were sited to fire, not out to sea, but along the beach, catching the landing troops in enfilade fire.

 

[Wapping]

What’s this one called Richard?

That’s a very good question.

I assume it’s Le Bistro. I just call it the cafe, in the same way as I call the Town of Ramsgate, ‘the pub’.

It’s very basic, with a shared bathroom etc. It took me several years to even discover that they have rooms.

As much as anything else, I like the people who run it. I chanced over the place years ago, I dislike hanging around the Chunnel / Calais, so I detoured off a bit to find a coffee or an ice cream, I really can’t remember which. The rest os history, as they say.

 

[JonnyBravo]

At the top of the hill there is a hangover’s from the German ‘Atlantic Wall’ holding a commanding view over the bay and across to Cap Blanc Nez:

View attachment 528005

I wandered over to take a look:

View attachment 528000View attachment 528001
View attachment 528003

Many people assume that every concrete structure housed a gun of some sort. Many didn’t but severed a purpose linked to guns. Many were forward observation posts, for artillery probably situated several miles behind the beach itself. Most of the beach artillery and lighter gun emplacements were sited to fire, not out to sea, but along the beach, catching the landing troops in enfilade fire.

Pluskat ! Pluskat !!

 

[Udders]

Looks tidy!



Off street parking too by the look of it.

 

[EVskiy]

That’s a very good question.

I assume it’s Le Bistro. I just call it the cafe, in the same way as I call the Town of Ramsgate, ‘the pub’.

It’s very basic, with a shared bathroom etc. It took me several years to even discover that they have rooms.

As much as anything else, I like the people who run it. I chanced over the place years ago, I dislike hanging around the Chunnel / Calais, so I detoured off a bit to find a coffee or an ice cream, I really can’t remember which. The rest os history, as they say.

I had a look around last year, when I was in my merry way to Brittany. It was a hit early in the morning for the establishment to be open.

Bon voyage Richard!