SUNDAY 17th DECEMBER
With the car packed up, we set off from Tarn on our first leg to Orléans.
We had decided to split the journey to give the car a break….
We set off in lovely sunshine but within minutes, we were engulfed by fog! Our little hamlet on a hill really does have it’s own climate. We don’t seem to get the rain and fog!
Our plan was to use the National roads rather than the toll roads. It’s lovely to pass through the villages and works out a lot cheaper.
Our route took us through the lovely towns and villages of Lisle Sur Tarn, Caussade (where we stopped at our favourite bread shop again) Ventaillac, Cahors, Payrac, Brive la Gaillarde, Limoges, Châteauroux, Salbris and lots of other pretty places decked out with Christmas lights and trees, the obligatory boulangerie pâtisserie, pharmacy and dog groomers!
We finally arrived in Orleans and checked in to our hotel, Comfort Hotel Orleans Sud.
The hotel was very convenient. We just arrived without any change of direction from the National route we were following. To be honest, first impressions were not good. The building is tatty, the CCTV camera on the carpark out of action (the wires were cut) and as usual, it’s on an industrial/out-of-town shopping zone.
On entering the building it was ok. The receptionist was very friendly and helpful.
We went to our room…..it was small. Quite possibly the smallest room we’ve ever stayed in. The shower room was also ‘compact’.
Parts of the rooms have been recently refurbished. However, we weren’t so keen on the artwork on our walls! There was a ‘collage’ of splats on one wall next to the bed, and abstract ‘swishes and patches’ on another wall! Not to our current style!
Overall, the room was clean and the beds comfortable. I think there are probably better hotels in the area but for what we paid, it was adequate and has secure gated parking albeit with dodgy CCTV……
Orleans is an interesting city on the banks of the River Loire and capital of the Centre region. On past stopovers we have stayed in the centre and enjoyed a walk along the riverside.
Its a city rich in culture with museums, parks, monuments and palaces to discover.
Monday 18 December
Orléans to Coquelles/Euro Tunnel.
We set off in good time to continue our drive on the toll free National roads.
Today we passed through Chartres, Dreux and Rouen, which we have renamed Ruin as for quite some time the tunnel was out of action and we were diverted through the city centre hence ruining our trip! Upon arriving home, we discovered that we’d gone through a red light (allegedly) and had a fine awaiting us! We wouldn’t have been going fast as on that particular trip, we were towing our caravan!
Despite us renaming it, Rouen is an interesting city, in fact the capital of Normandy and a port city located on the River Seine.
It has a beautiful centre, museums and lots of churches.
On this occasion, we passed through ‘ruin’ quickly and easily and made good progress towards Coquelles. We passed Berck sur Mer where we once had the best ever pizza in ‘Pinocchio Pizzeria’. If you’re passing and they’re open, definitely worth stopping. Onwards past Boulogne sur Mer, we finally arrived in Coquelles and our usual stopover hotel L’Haut’Aile, The Originals City Hotel.
We’ve stayed here several times on our trips backwards and forwards. It’s always been ok. The beds were comfortable, and our room looked like it had been recently renovated.
There are electric car charging points. We always laugh at the Tesla’s and their passengers sitting waiting to charge whilst we go out, eat dinner, fill up with diesel and come back to find them still sitting there! The Carrefour service station at Cite d Europe is unmanned and we don’t find it to be the cheapest anymore. The shopping centre is great for a wander around if you’ve time to spare and there is a food court with the usual choices.
There is also a McDonald’s, Lidl, cinema and there are various hotels close to the tunnel. As we were feeling lazy and the car was packed to the rafters (as usual), we took a McDonald’s back to the hotel (yep, the Tesla people still charging). Not a lot to say about dinner really. It was pretty cold, a bit dry and the usual flavour!
An early night followed, no choice really as not a lot to do, ready for our trip tomorrow through the tunnel at 09.50.
