Flight cancelled, now bumped onto something four hours later going to LHR instead of LCY 
Going to see if we can buy our way in front of the curtain on an earlier service.
1 Like
We both have awful memories of that crossing from our Brighton dwelling days. I’d hope they flogged the terrible smelly old ferries they used to run and acquired something more humane. For us, Portsmouth or probably Poole makes more sense. Even Plymouth-Roscoff is going to result in many miles on the French side unless the plan is to explore Brittany or down the West coast.
Used that crossing many times when riding down to the 24 Heures du Mans. Strangely, don’t have any particular negative memories of the ferry, parhaps in anticipation of the excitment of the upcoming weekend’s racing!
1 Like
After a lovely night in the company of Paul (Sodders) and Sam I sobered up in the car with Jan driving and headed for Norfolk.
We’ve got a lovely cottage to spend the week and chill out.
Tomorrow walk to Coltishall with the dogs and some lunch.
And Sunday a visit to Jim and his horns.
8 Likes
So on Tuesday we crossed the river Touques to look at the resort of Trouville.
It is older & untidier than Deauville but initially grew popular after the large casino was opened there.
Fishing boats pull in at the edge of the river & offload their catches to the fish market. On the land side the various catches are displayed on ice and can either be bought there or eaten at the adjacent restaurant tables.
There’s a nice sandy beach, the usual vast half timbered mansions, a board walk, many antique shops, high end chocolatiers etc.
Large tethered cat enjoying the rays in an art shop.
Beachfront Trouville
We visited the Musee de la Villa Montebello which had impressionist & other art from the area but also some great posters in an exhibition about the history of sea bathing as an attraction there.
Back at the river & these two guys were larking about with a water jet hoverboard.
I’ve seen this on tv but never in reality. A hefty pump in the jet ski feeds the ‘board’ via a large umbilical pipe such that the rider can fly or dive in & fly out again.
Chocolates made to look like sea food.
Waterfront Brasserie
Later in the afternoon we went along the coast to another resort called Villers sur Mer, perhaps equivalent to Lyme Regis. It’s a place where the adjacent Roche Noires are continually producing new fossil finds so the town maximises its Dino appeal. But it’s a nice little town regardless.
Still to come on the Wednesday, visits to Honfleur, Etretat and back to Les Planches on Deauville beach.
Also for @Ruprecht the mystery of Japanman lost, out of time, in 1928
13 Likes
The ancient Japanese art of ‘stink eye’ on display here can mean only one thing - The photographer was also his barber.
6 Likes
That sea front has more than a whiff of Lytham St.Annes about it!
1 Like
Ha, I’ve never been to Lytham. I was trying to make comparisons with some of the South Coast resorts & wondering how/why many of them have fallen into relative decrepitude. Cheap flights to warmer places mostly I guess.
1 Like
Thanks to @Jim and Ann for a fantastic afternoon. We were both amazed by your system.
Thanks to Ann for the lovely lunch and for entertaining the dogs while we were listening to music.
And sorry to Monty for the trauma he went through…….
2 Likes
Was good to see you Mick and to meet Jan. 
Basil and Bandit were lovely - the best behaved doggos on the planet!
2 Likes
The final full day of our French trip took us up & along the coast above Trouville. The river Seine emerges (probably a mile or more wide) with the port of Le Havre on its North shore. But on the South side there’s a stretch of sandy beach then the small fishing port of Honfleur.
The beach on a hazy morning was a curiously atmospheric place. Small wonder Monet, Seurat & others would go there to paint it.
We passed large farm houses (now hotels) where these artists used to stay.
Then on into Honfleur where a large square dock was surrounded by tall sometimes slate hung houses.
Erik Satie’s birthplace.
Serious cheese
Honfleur has one of the oldest & largest all wooden churches in France (Sainte Catherine) which had a separate bell tower as the wooden structure wouldn’t take the weight of the bells they wanted to use.
Bell tower
Honfleur was a lively place with plenty to see.
We then moved on, across the Seine & up onto the coast at Etretat. The area is known as the Alabaster coast with its bright white cliffs. At Etretat, several dramatic arches been formed & from the beach in either direction you can go along the coast path up onto the cliffs & take a closer look at them.
the next arch
another bay, another small arch.
very dramatic cliffs
I had planned to fly the drone up there but the wind was just too strong.
German WW2 coastal defence similar to those along the coast at the Normandy landing sites.
It was a lively sea there with some tall waves but I had a nice swim that afternoon. Did get out to the diving platform.
That evening we went back down into the centre of Deauville and to the boardwalk.
Very stylish railway station
Deauville’s Mairie
The Hotel Normandy’s transport. Some very high end retail in the centre.
Back to the beach & Les Planches.
Season over so the small pools have been emptied.
There was a display showing some of the interesting artists & actors who’d visited Les Planches since the boardwalk was laid down in the early 20’s.
Really enjoyed this area. Some great places.
19 Likes
Some nice drone footage of the coast at Etretat because I didn’t take any. 
1 Like
Back from our holiday in Norfolk. We had a really great time - highly recommended.
First a night with Paul and Sam. Liver damage as a result. Dogs got on great as expected.
Then to our pad in Bird Barn, Scottow , the accommodation was perfect,
Thanks again to Jim and Ann for the lunch and the chance to listen to those horns. Loved them.
Trips to Cromer for crab for dinner and lunch at fish and chips at No.1 Fish and Chips. Then Wells coast run and a few beers. Norfolk Broads boat trip was the highlight of the week (they take dogs up to Labrador size) and loads of walks in the local NT estates and countryside.
Great break, knackered now.
12 Likes
Any interesting museums, galleries, exhibitions in Bristol I can while away a few hours in on Wednesday ?
Cottage on Lake Windermere in a week.
New area for me. I think we are on the east side.
If anyone has any great walks or tips on places to visit or eat? We tend to like a moderate circular for the dogs.
1 Like
Not a museum but quite entertaining
2 Likes
Great place to visit
Wake The Tiger are being sued…
Priced up Eurostar to Brussels in late January a couple of days ago.
£44 per head per journey.
Haha! These are the tickets! It doesn’t get cheaper than this! (because only a pair of idiots want to be in Brussels in late January).
Actually went to buy them today and it’s £39 per head per journey.
Nice problem to have I guess.
5 Likes