We left Donny at about 3.30 am for the drive to Dover to catch the 12 o'clock ferry to Dunkerque. The journey went pretty well even though we hit the M25 at about 7 am which was very busy through the roadworks prior to the bridge at Dartford but even so we made good time and managed a breakfast stop at Maidstone services on the M20. We arrived at Dover in thick fog but managed to negotiate our way to the ferry port getting there at about 9 am and were told we could catch the 10 o'clock ferry, an offer we eagerly took up.
We had booked the whole thing through camping cheque, which enables you to buy nights at a flat rate of £13.95 whether its a 1* or a 5* site http://www.campingcheque.co.uk/ they also had a deal on at the time of booking where the ferry was at a reduced rate so the whole 10 nights only cost £330 including the car and caravan on the ferry.
the ferry co. was DFDS who had taken over norfolkline. The ferry was pretty basic as cross channel ferries go but there were a couple of cafes and bars on board and seating areas, though I would imagine at peak times you might struggle to get a seat, but as it was nowhere near half full there was plenty of room.The crossing was pretty smooth even though the fog had cleared and it was quite windy. Martine was OK even though she hates going on anything resembling a boat, but she had bought some gadgets which she strapped to her wrists and they seemed to work for her, though i think it was more psychological than scientific !!
In a couple of hours we had arrived at Dunkerque and were soon on the motorway on our way to De Haan on the Belgium coast. It was only about 45 miles so less than an hour later we were off the motorway and negotiating our way on the A roads.
First problem was just around the corner .....literally. *note to author bright red orange signs in Belgium mean road works.........I had seen the signs but couldn't read them not being fluent in Flemish.
We were soon confronted with earth movers and JCB's totally blocking the road which was only a small country lane ....now what .
Luckily there was quite a large house, with a large paved off area at the front........so it was time for Martine try her reverse directing skills.We were getting some funny looks from the work men and indeed the owners of the house but we managed to do a three point turn and were soon on our way with the sat nav telling us to make a U turn when possible....I don't think so !!!!
A few minutes later were going through the centre of the small town of De Haan then the mile or so to the camp site Ter Duinen www.campingterduinen. and were soon shown to our pitch.Luckily there was no one on either side of us or we would have struggled to get in as the vans were all end to end as against side ways on like in England and there was very little room between one to bar and the rear of the next van.In no time at all we were set up including the awning. Well I say set up but the electric didn't seen to be working.We had bought a adaptor for the mains the same way as you do when going abroad and taking the plugs so that our elec appliances work. I had tried it in every combination possible in the electric box but it still wouldn't work ......oh well sort it later we need to get to the shops before they close.
Stocked up with provisions an cheap beer we return and still have no elec, and as its getting we late we give it up as a bad job and decamp to the bar on the site, where i begin to work my way thro' the beer menu (Stella on draught and the rest bottled), Stella & Jupilar €1.30. There's about 15 beers on the menu up to a price of €2.80 for Duvel.
The next morning I put on the gas only to be confronted with a loud hissing noise of escaping gas, I try tightening the connection but it still leaks, on removing the hose I find there's no seal on the joint. I enquire at the camp office to see if they have any spares to be told they don't but he does give me a map with directions to a shop in town that sells them......We eventually find the shop and the seals and successfully fit one in the joint so at least we can now cook something.
I later go and ask the chap in the office about the elec.......he comes with his meter to check it out.on seeing the connection he says its the wrong type......I bought the adapter specially for here I say....he pulls out the plug, uncouples the adapter and plus in our normal lead that we use at home......D'oh
At least we are fully up and running but I cant resist phoning the caravan dealer and telling him how incompetent he is because when we swapped the van he told us to leave the gas bottle and battery on the old van and they would put them on the new one so its clearly their fault as it was working perfectly on the other van.
Still amazingly we have no mains elec so I ask the chap in the office again for help .....he tests the box, the cable, and the fuse box in the van. Everything is fine up to the fuse box, elec into it but none out so he rings an electrician who promptly arrives in about half an hour. He takes things to bits in and around the fuse box and meanwhile I ring the dealer to tell him the latest good news between him and the electrician the problem is found to be the battery charger in the van, he tells me to sort it and will be reimbursed when we arrive home.The electrician does some phoning but cant get hold of the part for at least two weeks........so we are left with the prospect of having to take the battery to a garage every 3 or 4 days to have it charged up......but at least we are now up and running in a fashion.
As regards problems with the van the rest of the holiday passes unevently ...........
So let the holiday begin..........
Our first excursion is to Ostend which proves to be quite a busy former ferry port but quite uninspiring so we don't stay very long, but the sun is out so its not too bad, we drop on a little village nearby and have lunch in a small bar. We both have the dish of the day which turns out to be millions of shrimps with salad and chips (it turns out this is a speciality of the area.
Then its back to the van for a lazy afternoon in the sun then a barbie at tea time.
Our nearest neighbours are an elderly German couple who I don't think are best pleased when whilst getting the barbie going their awning promptly fills up with smoke ....oops, But they are OK about it, well they don't say owt anyway.
We venture to the bar about 8.30 to carry on the prospect of working through the beer menu, only to be told when entering that they are closed .....but there are people inside ....mmmm seems a bit clicky.
We decide to walk to the beach instead which is about 500 y away through some woods.
On returning I suggest to Martine that if they are still in the bar then they can sod off for the rest of the holiday, but the place is in darkness with the shutters down.
The next evening we have a trip to Brugge, what a wonderful city. There is the May fair going on with some quite scary looking rides but the belgians must be well off as most of the rides are €6 a pop, even the hook a duck is €5 !!!!
After wandering around the little streets and squares, where we see a group playing in one of them we return to the site to see if we can get a pint, as its Friday the are open !!!! and i work my way a little further thro' the beer menu.Then its back to sit in the awning and as the telly doesn't pick up any stations we watch episodes of Kieth Lemon's travels on Martines' iPhone....this becomes quite a habit throughout the hol.Its a good job martine had the forethought to download it before we came.
Whilst at junior school I went on a trip to Knokke Heist and as its quite close we have trip there one day ,but things have changed so much in the last 40 years that I hardly recognise the place.
That evening we decide to have a night out in Blankenberg and opt to catch the tram which runs the whole length of the Belgium coast. It takes about 20 minutes and we are soon sampling the beers in the seafront cafes and pubs.
Whist getting on the tram for the return journey martine appears to be pushing me all over the place but when on board she informs me that she discovered some bloke trying to get his hand into her bag !!!!!! though I was oblivious to it all just wondering what she was doing pushing me all over.
The weather while we have been here has been good ........we even got on the beach a few times, but it did get quite windy at times and we were forced to improvise with some washing line to make extra guy ropes for the awning.
One day we went to the WW1 battle grounds around Ypres. We were looking for a recently discovered trench, in fact it was called the Yorkshire trench and dugout. We had done quite a bit of driving round and round trying to find it and were in need of fuel. We were in a small town and the sat nav was saying there was a garage on the outskirts of town, we found it and promptly filled up, about €55 worth, on going to pay I presented my debit card only to be told "non",i went back to Martine but we only about €20 between us, so I says come with me, we re enter the kiosk where I say I will leave my wife as a deposit while I go and find a cash machine, they both agree to this albeit bewilderment on Martines' part. I soon find an we are on our way again.
We do find a museum where the Yorkshire trench is mentioned, after our look round I ask the lady on reception if she knows where it is, and she gives us the directions. I don't think we would have found it other wise as it was in the middle of an industrial estate and i only just spotted it while driving past.
There was a man and a woman there who seemed to be looking after the place. This fella explained all about finding the trench whilst the estate was being built, he actually found loads of bodies there, and amunition including gas shells. He also had pics of the site when found, and he had a pocket full of bullets of which he gave me one.
Quite a poignant day.
On another day we went into Holland, the first place was a little village called Sluis.....a very picturesque village that was also fully of sex shops !!!!
Another trip into Holland and we went to the market town of Middleburg which the last time I went about 30 years previous you had to catch a ferry but now they had built a tunnel much to Martines relief. This was busy little town with a bustling market and Martine managed to find some charity shops to rummage through.
When we got back from this trip it was really windy so we decided to take down the awning.
What a job that turned out to be. A usual time of about half an hour turned into a hour and a half with the awning thrashing about in every direction possible, I was trying to get the pegs out while Martine was doing her best to keep it on the ground.
We eventually managed it without any parts flying very far,and everything was safely stowed away.
This was on the Thursday evening and we were coming home on the Saturday so we weren't too inconvenienced .
On Saturday morning we were ready and waiting by the office for it to open at 9 so we could catch the 12 o'clock ferry back home from Dunkerque. We promptly checked out and made good time to arrive at Dunkerque about 10.30.
It was blowing a gale on the bleak quayside and I feared the worst for Martine and her fear of ships.
We were on board at 11.30 ready for embarking when the captain made the announcement that it would get very choppy in mid channel and I feared the worst again. But everything was fine and it was quite a smooth crossing.
In spite of the very windy conditions on our side of the channel we made it home about 6 pm and despite of everything it had been a very enjoyable time
the ferry co. was DFDS who had taken over norfolkline. The ferry was pretty basic as cross channel ferries go but there were a couple of cafes and bars on board and seating areas, though I would imagine at peak times you might struggle to get a seat, but as it was nowhere near half full there was plenty of room.The crossing was pretty smooth even though the fog had cleared and it was quite windy. Martine was OK even though she hates going on anything resembling a boat, but she had bought some gadgets which she strapped to her wrists and they seemed to work for her, though i think it was more psychological than scientific !!
In a couple of hours we had arrived at Dunkerque and were soon on the motorway on our way to De Haan on the Belgium coast. It was only about 45 miles so less than an hour later we were off the motorway and negotiating our way on the A roads.
First problem was just around the corner .....literally. *note to author bright red orange signs in Belgium mean road works.........I had seen the signs but couldn't read them not being fluent in Flemish.
We were soon confronted with earth movers and JCB's totally blocking the road which was only a small country lane ....now what .
Luckily there was quite a large house, with a large paved off area at the front........so it was time for Martine try her reverse directing skills.We were getting some funny looks from the work men and indeed the owners of the house but we managed to do a three point turn and were soon on our way with the sat nav telling us to make a U turn when possible....I don't think so !!!!
Stocked up with provisions an cheap beer we return and still have no elec, and as its getting we late we give it up as a bad job and decamp to the bar on the site, where i begin to work my way thro' the beer menu (Stella on draught and the rest bottled), Stella & Jupilar €1.30. There's about 15 beers on the menu up to a price of €2.80 for Duvel.The next morning I put on the gas only to be confronted with a loud hissing noise of escaping gas, I try tightening the connection but it still leaks, on removing the hose I find there's no seal on the joint. I enquire at the camp office to see if they have any spares to be told they don't but he does give me a map with directions to a shop in town that sells them......We eventually find the shop and the seals and successfully fit one in the joint so at least we can now cook something.
I later go and ask the chap in the office about the elec.......he comes with his meter to check it out.on seeing the connection he says its the wrong type......I bought the adapter specially for here I say....he pulls out the plug, uncouples the adapter and plus in our normal lead that we use at home......D'oh
At least we are fully up and running but I cant resist phoning the caravan dealer and telling him how incompetent he is because when we swapped the van he told us to leave the gas bottle and battery on the old van and they would put them on the new one so its clearly their fault as it was working perfectly on the other van.
Still amazingly we have no mains elec so I ask the chap in the office again for help .....he tests the box, the cable, and the fuse box in the van. Everything is fine up to the fuse box, elec into it but none out so he rings an electrician who promptly arrives in about half an hour. He takes things to bits in and around the fuse box and meanwhile I ring the dealer to tell him the latest good news between him and the electrician the problem is found to be the battery charger in the van, he tells me to sort it and will be reimbursed when we arrive home.The electrician does some phoning but cant get hold of the part for at least two weeks........so we are left with the prospect of having to take the battery to a garage every 3 or 4 days to have it charged up......but at least we are now up and running in a fashion.
As regards problems with the van the rest of the holiday passes unevently ...........
So let the holiday begin..........
Our first excursion is to Ostend which proves to be quite a busy former ferry port but quite uninspiring so we don't stay very long, but the sun is out so its not too bad, we drop on a little village nearby and have lunch in a small bar. We both have the dish of the day which turns out to be millions of shrimps with salad and chips (it turns out this is a speciality of the area.
Then its back to the van for a lazy afternoon in the sun then a barbie at tea time.
Our nearest neighbours are an elderly German couple who I don't think are best pleased when whilst getting the barbie going their awning promptly fills up with smoke ....oops, But they are OK about it, well they don't say owt anyway.
We venture to the bar about 8.30 to carry on the prospect of working through the beer menu, only to be told when entering that they are closed .....but there are people inside ....mmmm seems a bit clicky.
We decide to walk to the beach instead which is about 500 y away through some woods.
On returning I suggest to Martine that if they are still in the bar then they can sod off for the rest of the holiday, but the place is in darkness with the shutters down.
The next evening we have a trip to Brugge, what a wonderful city. There is the May fair going on with some quite scary looking rides but the belgians must be well off as most of the rides are €6 a pop, even the hook a duck is €5 !!!!
After wandering around the little streets and squares, where we see a group playing in one of them we return to the site to see if we can get a pint, as its Friday the are open !!!! and i work my way a little further thro' the beer menu.Then its back to sit in the awning and as the telly doesn't pick up any stations we watch episodes of Kieth Lemon's travels on Martines' iPhone....this becomes quite a habit throughout the hol.Its a good job martine had the forethought to download it before we came.
Whilst at junior school I went on a trip to Knokke Heist and as its quite close we have trip there one day ,but things have changed so much in the last 40 years that I hardly recognise the place.
That evening we decide to have a night out in Blankenberg and opt to catch the tram which runs the whole length of the Belgium coast. It takes about 20 minutes and we are soon sampling the beers in the seafront cafes and pubs.
Whist getting on the tram for the return journey martine appears to be pushing me all over the place but when on board she informs me that she discovered some bloke trying to get his hand into her bag !!!!!! though I was oblivious to it all just wondering what she was doing pushing me all over.
The weather while we have been here has been good ........we even got on the beach a few times, but it did get quite windy at times and we were forced to improvise with some washing line to make extra guy ropes for the awning.
One day we went to the WW1 battle grounds around Ypres. We were looking for a recently discovered trench, in fact it was called the Yorkshire trench and dugout. We had done quite a bit of driving round and round trying to find it and were in need of fuel. We were in a small town and the sat nav was saying there was a garage on the outskirts of town, we found it and promptly filled up, about €55 worth, on going to pay I presented my debit card only to be told "non",i went back to Martine but we only about €20 between us, so I says come with me, we re enter the kiosk where I say I will leave my wife as a deposit while I go and find a cash machine, they both agree to this albeit bewilderment on Martines' part. I soon find an we are on our way again.We do find a museum where the Yorkshire trench is mentioned, after our look round I ask the lady on reception if she knows where it is, and she gives us the directions. I don't think we would have found it other wise as it was in the middle of an industrial estate and i only just spotted it while driving past.
There was a man and a woman there who seemed to be looking after the place. This fella explained all about finding the trench whilst the estate was being built, he actually found loads of bodies there, and amunition including gas shells. He also had pics of the site when found, and he had a pocket full of bullets of which he gave me one.
Quite a poignant day.
Another trip into Holland and we went to the market town of Middleburg which the last time I went about 30 years previous you had to catch a ferry but now they had built a tunnel much to Martines relief. This was busy little town with a bustling market and Martine managed to find some charity shops to rummage through.
When we got back from this trip it was really windy so we decided to take down the awning.
What a job that turned out to be. A usual time of about half an hour turned into a hour and a half with the awning thrashing about in every direction possible, I was trying to get the pegs out while Martine was doing her best to keep it on the ground.
We eventually managed it without any parts flying very far,and everything was safely stowed away.
This was on the Thursday evening and we were coming home on the Saturday so we weren't too inconvenienced .
On Saturday morning we were ready and waiting by the office for it to open at 9 so we could catch the 12 o'clock ferry back home from Dunkerque. We promptly checked out and made good time to arrive at Dunkerque about 10.30.
It was blowing a gale on the bleak quayside and I feared the worst for Martine and her fear of ships.
We were on board at 11.30 ready for embarking when the captain made the announcement that it would get very choppy in mid channel and I feared the worst again. But everything was fine and it was quite a smooth crossing.
In spite of the very windy conditions on our side of the channel we made it home about 6 pm and despite of everything it had been a very enjoyable time
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