Ok…. I gave in. As much as I think PolarSteps is a great application it lacks in ability to add detail and also, for me, usability as I started to get crossed eyed using my mobile to add everything. – just showing my age obviously!

So… just in case you missed it, we left the UK with a hop skip and a jump back into the Netherlands, where we stayed in Middleburg again for four nights to explore the area a bit further – a beautiful place that we will now keep going back to, and hopefully also explore further afield.

We then stopped off in Ghent for a few nights before spending a week back in Rotselaar with Jurgen sorting out a few bits on the motorhome before heading over to CamperPlaatz Lido (18 euro p/n) which was just outside Leopoldsburg and the Bosland National Park.

The area around Leopoldsburg is stunning, enhanced by the autumnal colours which just kept on giving. So although I had already added photos on facebook previously, I couldn’t help myself by adding a couple again for those who hadn’t seen them.

After four fantastic days of a huge amount of cycling, it was time to move on. With France suffering from torrential rain and flooding, especially in the East and Southern areas, we decided to change our plan and head West to a couple of previous haunts…. St Valery Sur Somme and Bagnoles de L’Orne.

We have been to St-Valery-sur-Somme many times – although the last time we were here was pre-Covid – so it was nice to be back as it is such a stunning location…. I think they call it an artists paradise. The photos don’t do it justice as I don’t carry my phone when I am out for a run first thing in the morning as the sun is rising. But each and every day brings a different spectrum of colours and textures, it is truly breathtaking first thing in the morning – whether it is a pink sky or the mist rising from the estuary….made even better by the lack of people!

We had decided to stay four nights this time, enabling us to explore the area a little more, as although we have been into Abbeville along the river on the bikes from St Valery sur Somme previously, we hadn’t ever been further afield.

This time, as the weather was kind, we set off on the bikes back into Abbeville and then on a lovely circular 60km+ bike ride, stopping on the promenade in Mers-le-Bain for a picnic lunch and to do some people watching, before finding a lovely little cafe to warm up and try some home made delicacies!

It was soon time to move on though, and another hop, skip and a jump (or two) and we arrived back in Bagnoles de L’Orne, where we decided to stay at Camping de la Vee (13.50 euro p/n). As mum and dad had had two different houses in Bagnoles de L’Orne, and as we previously lived here for 4 months back in 2014, it is somewhere we know well and have a soft spot for, although the last time we were here was when we signed the paperwork to sell 6 years ago.

It is fair to say that it hasn’t changed at all – well apart from finally almost completing the development of the area behind the station which was something they had been planning to do for at least 15 years – and it looks good! Just confused us when we couldn’t find the market on Saturday morning… but all was resolved quite quickly when we got closer! Still a lovely little Spa town with a very ‘French’ feel… it was lovely to catch up with some old friends and neighbours and see that it is still a beautifully tranquil spot….. and we even fell upon the monthly classic car meet.

Moving on to new places though this week, and although we were in a dilemma about which direction to go, we finally opted to head south to La Fleche, where we found a Aire (Camping Car Park 13.16 euro p/n inc. elec.)

The Aire is by a lake and nature reserve, 800m from a Le Clerc supermarket and 2.5km walk/cycle from La Fleche along the river. A lovely town with a fantastic market on a Wednesday morning and some great restaurants.

Although a little grey and drizzly, we made the most of the market, explored the town and its lovely boutique shops and patisseries, cycling further afield and naturally…. the local gastronomy.

With several options to choose from, we decided to try ‘Le Menu Gourmet’ from La Table de Laurene – which was exceptionally good…. the show piece being the baked alaska!

We have also been cooking alot of new recipes recently – a few of which that we would highly recommend for ease and flavour are as follows:-
– Diversity Dhal
– One Pot Dhal
– Homemade Chocolate Nut Spread ‘nutella’
– Chickpea Pancakes
– Smokey Lentils Aubergine, Cauliflower
– Curried Barley Porridge
– Almond, Pecan and Chocolate Chip Cookies

And of course the map… just so you can see roughly where we have been!