We booked a ferry crossing from Dieppe France to Newhaven UK for 5am on the morning of Christmas eve to be back in Corfe Mullen for Christmas.
We set off North from Estartit on the morning of the 21 Dec for our drive to Dieppe to catch the ferry. This would give us a couple of days to cover 1100k or so, we also would like to detour via Versailles to see the palace there. This time we headed inland using the freeways for a faster trip.
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| Driving through Central Massif region |
This route took us though varied landscapes of vineyards, lakes and snow covered fields and villages as we gained altitude.
We did not have a lot of time to stop on this drive however one high light was spending some time at the Aires de Garabit information museum and viewing platform of the Garabit Eiffel Viaduct. spanning the Truyère river near Ruynes-en-Margeride (Fr), Cantal, France, in the mountainous Massif Central region. The bridge was constructed between 1880 and 1884 by Gustave Eiffel. The same as the Eiffel tower Eiffel.
We spent the first night in Cournon –d -Auvergne and set off after dark for our evening walk around town.
Departed the Aires 7am and again took the toll motor ways to cover the distance.
Arrived in Versailles in the afternoon and were fortunate to park our motor home about 100m or so from the gates of Chateau de Versailles (palace). The Palace is said to be France’s grandest and most famous Royal residence and was built in the 17th century by Louis X1V known as the sun king to project the power of French monarchy.
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| Versailles |
We enjoyed our time touring the palace and listening to the audio commentary history of the rooms and palace history.
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| Aubette caravan park near Rouen |
Departed Versailles with the city traffic after dark and arrived at the Camping de Aubette caravan park near Rouen at 7pm. Again after settling in we headed off in the cold night air for our walk around the area all the shops and pubs were closed so back to the hymermobile for an early night.
The next morning we found a large shopping centre just North of Rouen and did some Christmas shopping and again at another shopping area on the way to Dieppe.
Arrived at Dieppe which has two Airs and decided on the beach side rather than at the ferry terminal.
Had an early night ready for the 3:30am get up to catch the ferry to Newhaven
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| Transmanche Ferry |
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| Transmanche Ferry |
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| Very quiet on the Transmanche Ferry |
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| Very quiet on the Transmanche Ferry |
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| Newhaven and back in the UK |
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| Trish and Police Vesailles |
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| Versailles |
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| Versailles |
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| Kings Bedroom Versailles |
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| Queens bedroom Versailles |
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| Versailles |
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| Driving off the ferry |
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