14 August – A lazy start to the day with breakfast outside and vehicle checks and laundry. After lunch we set off to Chantilly where there is a great chateau. We went to the little tourist office in the local village (in most villages) and the girl explained that there was a cycleway most of the way. Easier said than done! After some back tracking and asking locals we eventually found our way to the Chantilly and the chateau. It was a great ride (18kms return) thru villages, gardens, and a forest. The chateau was spectacular set entirely on a series of lakes. We arrived back to “Lefty” just as the skies opened and it teemed.

15 August – We left the camp where we had been for 6 nights. It had been a good place to base ourselves to visit Paris and surrounding areas. Steady rain set in which lasted off and on for most of the day. The drive was a mixture of highways and byways to the Picardy Coast and an “Aires” at Le Crotoy at the mouth of the Somme River. The village has a very tidal marina and a pleasant sea frontage. There were many families milling around the restaurants and shops trying to keep out of the chilly wind and drizzle.

16 August – (Our last full day in France) – The weather is even worse. We drove in rain to an “Aires” about 20kms from Calais. The rain stopped so we went for a long walk over Mt D’Hubert to Cape Blanc Nez. There were many German gun emplacements and observation stations set in the cliffs of this Cape as it looks straight into the English Channel. Very interesting. Unfortunately we could not see across the channel to the white cliffs of Dover.

17 August – Left the camp early for the ferry terminal in Calais. We were waved thru the checks and eventually ended up on the earlier ferry. Very easy! A nice smooth crossing. Drove off at the other end into England remembering to stay on the left side of the road. We drove about 100kms to the Epping area and found a private cheap camp at High Ongar. Rode into the village to get some cash.

18 August – A beautiful morning. We drove up the M11 to Cambridge and parked in the “Park and Ride” and caught the bus into the centre of the city. We wandered around the university town. All of the beautiful college buildings are spread around the centre of the town. We had been to Oxford but Cambridge seemed more spectacular. Back to “Lefty” and off up the A11 to Norwich where we are in a camp where we can ride into the city. We walked thru a track to the nearest village for a “Pub” meal. We had been hanging out for a roast. Great!!

19 August – Funny old day! It started great. We cycled into Norwich and walked around the city before meeting Leanne Worrall, Wayne and Sharon’s daughter, for a cup of coffee. It was great to see her again. We rode back to “Lefty” and drove off to Nottingham. On the way we decide to shop and fuel. That’s when things went wrong. I managed to put ½ a tank of petrol into “Lefty”. Not great as it is a diesel. What a fool considering I had managed to translate the various words for Diesel in every other country and slipped up in England!! Fortunately I realised and did not start the motor. The staff arranged for the local garage to come around. They towed us back to their place (just around the corner) where they drained the tank. The whole mistake cost us around 100 pounds! Back on the road much later and into heavy traffic all the way to Nottingham where we are now parked behind a country pub for the night. There is great free internet so we will publish a blog tonight.