Friday 29th July – Saturday 6th August

Yes, I know I’ve only been back from France for 13 days but I am off on another great adventure with Em, Teddy & Stanley. How lucky am I?! We are going to a different part of Normandy, about an hour’s drive from Calais and we are mega-excited!

Friday 29th July

Last year, on our trip to the Isle of Wight, we did struggle a little for space. We also hired a pushchair while we were there, which we can’t do this time. So I investigated hiring a roof box. Revelation, there’s a place nearby, Welwyn Roof Box Hire https://www.welwyn-roofbox.co.uk, they are amazingly efficient (four young women doing the fitting) and the whole thing was very easy. You do need an ‘Em’ to stand on a little stool to reach the box though!!

The previous Saturday, the Port of Dover had declared a ‘critical incident’. Dover and its surrounds were gridlocked, The French border police were blamed initially but the Brexit requirements, the P&O ferries’ sacking event and maybe other stuff were also to blame. Holidaymakers were stuck in their cars for 6 hours or more; lorries were held on the M20, it was utter, utter chaos.

So we set off a day earlier than planned. The roofbox was fitted at 10.30am and I arrived at Em’s, with a Costa, ready for the big pack. Suitcases weren’t going to work so we had bought some cheap/massive zip holdalls. Each person had a holdall and then others were used for beach items, towels, toys etc. Five bags fitted very neatly along one side of the roof box and we filled the other side with the windbreak, sun umbrella, beach equipment etc. This meant the overnight stuff, Stanley’s bedding and buggy would all fit inside the car for easy access. Job done.

We were ready for the off!! FYI, putting the indicator on when the bike rack is attached to the tow bar causes the car to make a beeping noise. As we set off and the indicator came into play for the first time, Stanley started shouting “BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP” with the car. This could be a long journey!!

We had to make an emergency loo stop for Teddy just after the Dartford crossing – a good stopping place for another time to avoid the dreaded Dartford Services. It’s a family pub a short distance from the M25/A2 junction which offers coffees, carvery, clean facilities, outside seating and a play area – The Spring River https://www.thespringriverpubebbsfleet.co.uk. Excellent.

We had booked a Family Room in a Travelodge between Canterbury and Whitstable https://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/21/Canterbury-Whitstable-hotel within easy striking distance of Dover. It was great, cot in place, help with hot water for Stanley’s bottle, lovely staff – very good. We did a quick bag drop and went straight out for dinner at The Long Reach Beefeater https://www.beefeater.co.uk/en-gb/locations/kent/long-reach?cid=GLBC_40014605 just down the road; a lovely waitress looked after us. A good start.

Saturday 30th July

So, up early, no breakfast, just leapt in the car and drove into Dover to find …….. no queues at all and, after a quick sweep to see if we were carrying drugs(!), we could get on an earlier ferry! The queues may have built-up later, but it wasn’t anything like the week before, thank goodness.

We did get delayed somewhat at the other end. The ferry couldn’t dock because of another company’s late running ferry being in the way. No problem, we were soon disembarking and en route.

I had created 3 quizzes for Teddy – two for the journey – International Registration Plate Spotting & French Road Sign Spotting and one for our arrival – 16 words to try and say in French to a French person during the holiday! He had a set of stamps to mark which ones he had seen/done.

We were always going to be too early to get into our accommodation so we visited Le Crotoy – the other side of the Baie of the Somme to where we were staying, where there was a pirate event taking place lots of ooh aaahing in French! We found a takeaway place and enjoyed a picnic on the front.

Em had previously only driven a few miles in France but – very confidently – took over the driving from here. After that we took turns, which was great.

Just before the site we stopped at our local Intermarché to shop for fresh basics which we had been unable to bring with us because of the overnight stop, oh and available space.

Our site was Camping Domaine de Drancourt – https://www.yellohvillage.co.uk/camping/domaine_de_drancourt at Estrébœuf near Saint-Valery-sur-Somme. The arrival at the site was a little confusing, poor signposting for reception and then a queue only to find our accommodation wasn’t quite ready on time. However, about 20 minutes later we got the key and we were extremely pleased with our new home.

https://www.yellohvillage.co.uk/camping/domaine_de_drancourt/our_rental_accommodation/65564#content

We unloaded our stuff and Em and I set to and turned the double bed around so the cot could fit in the same room – phew! What we didn’t notice straightaway was that there was only a hob; there was no oven – this is going to make our planned menu tricky – ooops!!

We explored our surroundings. Stanley is fascinated by the site’s large washing machines! Em and Teddy took a dip in the pool. We followed this with a takeaway pizza and a game or two of dominoes.

Sunday 31st July

First thing, a trip to the site shop with Teddy so he knows where it is, what to buy and how to ask for it by himself tomorrow!

Today is market day in Saint-Valery-sur-Somme. We set off knowing it would be difficult to park. The town was 2 miles from the site, we drove 7 miles before we found a parking space! Also it is raining but we dressed accordingly and walked down the steep, flower laden hill to the port.

It’s a big market, attracting lots of people, which is good but it was tricky to find space for elevenses/lunch, so we purchased a picnic and sat along the river’s edge to eat it. Our view was of where we ate lunch the previous day on the other side of the bay.

We bought lots of fruit and vegetables from the market – no meat though.

After exploring as far as the heritage train station we returned to the car via a, different, very steep hill. Em was struggling to push the buggy up the incline; I sympathised about the steepness. When we reached the top we discovered she had been pushing Stanley, the fruit & veg shopping and my heavy rucksack …. ooops!

Today is Sunday. Very few French supermarkets open on a Sunday – ours had been open until 12.00pm; it is now later than that and we have no meat for dinner! No worries, we’ll get something at the site shop.

Back at the site, we all went swimming – Teddy down the water flume into the freezing outdoor pool a zillion times. Stanley paddling in the warm water of the kiddies’ pool.

We checked out the site shop on the way back from the pool – also closed on a Sunday and actually had a very minimal selection of any food at all even when it was open!

So, eggy bread for the kids and, later, after a little pink Prosecco, eggy bread and beans for us eaten outside on the decking. Perfect.

Em had purchased a large box of Milk Tray – we counted the number of chocolates and the number of nights we had to eat them …. definitely a mis-calculation! Chocolate overload!

Earlier Stanley had had a danger nap – a nap at the wrong time – so he defo was not happy at bedtime!

Monday 1st August

Teddy went to the site shop on his own for the first time – a big grown-up step. He came back beaming with the baguette and croissants – very successful!

He and I toured the site on our bikes, exploring every corner.

We then agreed on two routes which he could ride round on his bike on his own. The ‘Tent Route’ and the ‘Chateau Route’. Teddy later re-named the Chateau Route the Chateau Cock (shuttle cock). Each time he did a circuit he had to check-in / ring his bell / wave so we knew where he was.

Time for a hot chocolate and a latte at the snack bar.

Next some mini-golf. We picked up the golf clubs and balls from reception and began our game. It was a little fractious – Teddy talking and talking and rushing on to the next hole; Stanley trying to pick up all the balls; me attempting to keep a note of the scores; two golf holes which didn’t actually have holes – phew!

Putting the golf clubs in my bike pannier, Teddy and I cycled back to reception to return them, only to find on arrival that they had fallen out on the way! We hurriedly cycled back over our route and found them scattered all over the road / verge. Putting them back in we set off only to find them jumping out again – doh!

Following a late lunch we had a nice, long pool session.

We still don’t have any proper food, so we went to McDonald’s just down the road. It looks the same as a UK one but the menu is somewhat different. Em was valiantly struggling with the ordering screen; Teddy was asking a million questions about his milkshake; I was with Stanley who was crying as he was very hungry; and it was very, very hot in there! Success in the end, well except for Teddy’s milkshake!

The ‘best bit’ of today was an early evening drive to Cayeux-sur-Mer. Beach huts, a boardwalk, a live band in a pretty beachside bar, an ice cream …. oh and a sunset. Gorgeous!

Tuesday 2nd August

This morning we have a rope course session booked at Parc Salomon https://www.parcaventure-baiedesomme.com. After a training session and a low-level starter course, Teddy & Em took to the trees.

Em got stung by a wasp part-way round and had to dismount – ouch!

Back to the site and lunch on the decking, followed by hiring a bicycle for four. That was much harder work than it looks!

Another trip to the swimming pool and a go on the bouncy castle for Em, Teddy and Stanley.

Back to the ‘cottage’ for a photo shoot. What a gorgeous picture – I particularly love it as it shows the parafernalia of our holiday – wet towels, swimming gear, bag, shoes etc.

After the kids’ tea and night-time routine, we had a grown-up evening – Prosecco and dips followed by ‘Gourmet Pasta Bolognaise’ – yup, microwavable packets which we ate from too (to save washing up). Nope, we still haven’t got any real food! It was very tasty though.

Wednesday 3rd August

Beach day! Teddy kindly keeping Stanley amused whilst we made up a packed lunch and loaded the car.

We are returning to Cayeux-sur-Mer just a few miles down the road. The beach is stony, but the tide was out this time so there was quite a lot of sand. After finding a spot near a ramp where we could set-up, we Face-Timed Nanny & Grandad at home – chaotic but very jolly.

Teddy and I set off across the exposed sand towards the waves. We’d only been there a few minutes when we met a lifeguard asking people to move back to the stones as the tide was coming in and would come behind us. I asked how long and he said about 5 minutes – he wasn’t joking! We would have very quickly been on an island of sand!

We ate our picnic lunch on the beach – interuppted only by having to chase the sun umbrella blown by the wind down the beach!

We found an outdoor pool along the prom. The lady in charge didn’t speak any English; I’m not even sure she was speaking French! We didn’t understand any of her instructions – all a bit confusing but, eventually, Em, Teddy & Stanley were able to take a dip.

Crêpes and ice creams in a beach-side cafe – Le Petit Baigneur https://lepetitbaigneuracayeux.fr. Lovely, helpful staff. Then to some of the beach stalls where Teddy bought some bracelets with his pocket money.

Back at the site we did a laundry run and while that was ‘doing’ we had a few games of boule. We ordered burger and frites from the site takeaway – no we still haven’t got any real food!

Thursday 4th August

Up and out by 10.15am – we are off to Abbeville – our nearest large town – as it’s market day. We got parked on a housing estate and strolled into the town. The market was smaller than we had hoped but we had some nice elevenses on the square at Bar du Commerce.

After a further mooch we had a pizza lunch at a restaurant on the same square – Le Cristal. On the way back to the car we stepped inside a large, gothic church – Collegiate Church of Saint-Vulfran – and lit a candle for GG. Passing back through the market, now packing up, Teddy found some cool sunglasses for himself.

Em’s desire was to visit a massive French hyper-market so we’d researched and picked out Hyper-U as being the most likely. Like the street market, Hyper-U was rather smaller than we had hoped! Teddy was happy though as he got himself some Lego with his holiday money.

Back to the site – Em and Teddy to the pool and Stanley and I chilling. I’ve written in my notes ‘Stanley walking with the ball’ – I have no idea what that means but it was obviously worthy of note so I have included it in case I remember later.

After the swim, Teddy and I cycled round the site again, finding a few areas we hadn’t seen before. We also talked in detail about international number plates and managed to spot some rarer ones around the site, including Switzerland and Wales which he could tick-off on his list.

Friday 5th August

Our last day so we are spending it on site making sure we do everything from our list that we haven’t yet done.

In the table tennis area they have a table with sloping edges so children can reach. Em and Teddy had a go on that and then Stanley tried out the normal table!

Elevenses at the bar then a Go Kart for Teddy/Em. Lunch. A bike ride for Teddy and I outside the site – there was a bit of a hill – I sailed up on my electric bike …. Teddy had to take a break! Back on the bouncy castle and one last swim.

As always, we like to eat out on the last night. We thought it’d be simplest to eat at the site restaurant – oh no it wasn’t!! Even though they use the same kitchen as the takeaway section, you can’t order a pizza in the restaurant and Teddy wanted a pizza! So, having jiggled chairs to get the buggy in to reach our table, and been the centre of the other diners’ attention – we had to reverse the exercise to get back out without ordering anything!

Too late to go into town so we had takeaway instead but ate it in the bar – doh! Not quite what we’d planned but we did have a cocktail each.

Once the kids were in bed we re-packed the roof box ready for departure the next day.

Saturday 6th August

We have to be packed, the ‘cottage’ cleanish and out by 10.00am. A bit of a scramble but all done and we are ready for our journey home. Farewell ‘cottage’ you’ve been great – except for not having an oven of course!

We came over by ferry and we are going back by Le Shuttle – Em is driving on to the train – we only had to go along a few car lengths so not as exciting as we thought!

A lovely, lovely holiday – just the best time. Where next?!