Drive from France to Germany
Total distance 960 miles
A day on the road between Saint Marie aux Mines and a campsite near Nuremberg.
As normal we targeted 300 miles in one day.
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| Julian next to a tiny car on the German border... |
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| Buffalo Grill... |
Friday, 17 August 2007
Stage One - Day Six - Drive from France to Germany
Stage One - Day Six
Drive from France to Germany
Total distance 960 miles
A day on the road between Saint Marie aux Mines and a campsite near Nuremberg.
As normal we targeted 300 miles in one day.
Drive from France to Germany
Total distance 960 miles
A day on the road between Saint Marie aux Mines and a campsite near Nuremberg.
As normal we targeted 300 miles in one day.
Thursday, 16 August 2007
Stage One - Day Five - A day out in Colmar
Day Five
A day out in Colmar
Colmar was one of those great travel surprises. having flown over it many times in the way into Basle I was not expecting too much. What I found in fact was a perfectly preserved picturesque medieval french town. Given its location on, within a few miles of Switzerland, France and Germany, the place was a mixture of all three countries.
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| A much needed bath on a hot day in Colmar |
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| French medieval architecture abounds |
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| The Kids enjoying the joie de vivre... |
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| Fabulous woodwork.. |
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| Isabella found a Sorbetiere with her name on it... |
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| One of my favourite pics form the whole trip. A beautiful setting... |
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| Julian looking unusually relaxed... |
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| French Cafe life… |
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| Julian looking gormless :-) |
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| On the road again, back to the campsite... |
Wednesday, 15 August 2007
Stage One - Day Four - Drive from Paris to the French Alps
Day Four
Drive from Paris to the French Alps
Distance 350 miles - total distance - 665 miles
On our forth day the journey really got going, we left the Paris campsite and headed off east towards the French Alps for a stay in a mountain campsite near Strasbourg, in Saint Marie des Mines for a taste of a totally different side of France.
KEY FACTS:
Accomodation:
Camping Les Reflets Du Val D'Argent. Saint Marie Aux Mines
Website: http://www.les-reflets.com/val-dargent/GB/index.php
Approximate cost - EUR 50 / night
Family rating 3/5
As we climbed into the Alps, the temperature dropped and mountain weather set in. As ever driving in France was a doddle - if you don't mind paying the toll fees. The toll roads are well maintained, quiet, and have stops or 'Aires' every 10 miles of so - these are a great thing when you have children with you, as they have a habit of announcing 'I need a wee' with no notice, and just before they wet themselves…
Les Reflets campsite was pretty good. Outdoor pool (speedos only - so french), little shop, and and lovely rural site at about 2000m elevation. The tent was pitched in double quick time, as we were practiced now. Again a two night stay meant we could explore the area. A swim and a BBQ and we all fell into our sleeping bags tired and we slept well...
Drive from Paris to the French Alps
Distance 350 miles - total distance - 665 miles
On our forth day the journey really got going, we left the Paris campsite and headed off east towards the French Alps for a stay in a mountain campsite near Strasbourg, in Saint Marie des Mines for a taste of a totally different side of France.
KEY FACTS:
Accomodation:
Camping Les Reflets Du Val D'Argent. Saint Marie Aux Mines
Website: http://www.les-reflets.com/val-dargent/GB/index.php
Approximate cost - EUR 50 / night
Family rating 3/5
As we climbed into the Alps, the temperature dropped and mountain weather set in. As ever driving in France was a doddle - if you don't mind paying the toll fees. The toll roads are well maintained, quiet, and have stops or 'Aires' every 10 miles of so - these are a great thing when you have children with you, as they have a habit of announcing 'I need a wee' with no notice, and just before they wet themselves…
Les Reflets campsite was pretty good. Outdoor pool (speedos only - so french), little shop, and and lovely rural site at about 2000m elevation. The tent was pitched in double quick time, as we were practiced now. Again a two night stay meant we could explore the area. A swim and a BBQ and we all fell into our sleeping bags tired and we slept well...
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| A quick photo stop in the foothills of the Alps |
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| Climbing higher still, an Alpine pass at about 1500m |
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| A quick stop at retail park near Colmar... |
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| …for a typical on-the-road Cafe |
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| Morag and the kids in a french roadside eatery |
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| Beautiful sky on the way to the Alps |
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| Setting up camp for five children with Morag |
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
Stage One - Day Three - Sights of Paris
Stage One - Day Three
Sights of Paris
This day was spent showing the children the sights of Paris..
TOP TIP
A cruise was taken on the Seine with Bateaux de Paris, great sights like Notre Dame, Le Palace D'orsay and the Eiffel Tower were seen from the comfort of a glass-roofed boat.
The day was made complete with an excellent meal at L'Entrecote, a phenomenal restaurant near La Place de la Concorde. The special thing about this place is the fact that there is only one item on the menu - Steak and Chips! Every night the queue is around the block for the seven p.m opening time, no other local restaurant can say that. It's truly worth the wait though because the steak and chips they serve is a fabulous treat - succulent steak, chips cooked in goose fat, and a sauce that is literallt lethal, its so good. The restaurant is cramped, and the menu limited, but for 25 Eur you get a culinary experience. You always get a walnut salad to begin with, the main is fixed, order a nice red wine, and maybe have a dessert from the extensive selection, and you will waddle out of L'Entrecote feeling so satisfied...
Here is a link to their website:
Le Relais Entrecote Restaurant
Sights of Paris
This day was spent showing the children the sights of Paris..
TOP TIP
A cruise was taken on the Seine with Bateaux de Paris, great sights like Notre Dame, Le Palace D'orsay and the Eiffel Tower were seen from the comfort of a glass-roofed boat.
The day was made complete with an excellent meal at L'Entrecote, a phenomenal restaurant near La Place de la Concorde. The special thing about this place is the fact that there is only one item on the menu - Steak and Chips! Every night the queue is around the block for the seven p.m opening time, no other local restaurant can say that. It's truly worth the wait though because the steak and chips they serve is a fabulous treat - succulent steak, chips cooked in goose fat, and a sauce that is literallt lethal, its so good. The restaurant is cramped, and the menu limited, but for 25 Eur you get a culinary experience. You always get a walnut salad to begin with, the main is fixed, order a nice red wine, and maybe have a dessert from the extensive selection, and you will waddle out of L'Entrecote feeling so satisfied...
Here is a link to their website:
Le Relais Entrecote Restaurant
Monday, 13 August 2007
Stage One - Day Two - At EuroDisney Paris
Day Two - At EuroDisney Paris
The family had a phenomenal day at EuroDisney Paris.
Going to EuroDisney in Agust with three kids under ten was daunting, so we knew we had to get organised.
TOP TIP
With the help of a great book from a couple who are experts in the field, we were able to have a fantastic day at this busiest of times whilst doing and seeing everything.
The tips in the book were helpful. Eg we paid 90 EUR for a lunch, with he characters in a private restaurant. Not much more than the standard 50 EUR family lunch, and a great chance to relax when the park was at its most busy. We got the characters to ourselves, and ate all we could manage. The book also gave us tips on little known corners of the park, and how to use the Fastpass system to its full extent. The book was only printed in 2007 and 2008, but is still worth a look for all the great tips in there:
Brits-Guide-Disneyland-Resort-Paris
A brilliant day...
The family had a phenomenal day at EuroDisney Paris.
Going to EuroDisney in Agust with three kids under ten was daunting, so we knew we had to get organised.
TOP TIP
With the help of a great book from a couple who are experts in the field, we were able to have a fantastic day at this busiest of times whilst doing and seeing everything.
The tips in the book were helpful. Eg we paid 90 EUR for a lunch, with he characters in a private restaurant. Not much more than the standard 50 EUR family lunch, and a great chance to relax when the park was at its most busy. We got the characters to ourselves, and ate all we could manage. The book also gave us tips on little known corners of the park, and how to use the Fastpass system to its full extent. The book was only printed in 2007 and 2008, but is still worth a look for all the great tips in there:
Brits-Guide-Disneyland-Resort-Paris
A brilliant day...
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| Izzy and Captain Hook |
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| Imogen on the Teacup Ride |
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| The Runaway Train Ride |
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| The kids meet Luigi from cars |
Th
Sunday, 12 August 2007
Stage One - Day One - Haslemere, England to EuroDisney Paris, France
Day One - Total miles 315 - Haslemere, England to EuroDisney Paris, France
Leaving Haslemere
The Price family VW Touran was loaded up to the roof with five people and enough equipment to camp our way across Western Europe for three weeks.
The expedition party consisted of three children:
Imogen 5 years old, Max 10 years old and Izzy, 8 years old :
Adults: Morag and Julian Price - approximately 40 years old!
A lot of preparation had gone into the journey, all equipment was tested, the car serviced - and even emergency gold coins were hidden in the car!
Max, as oldest child was told where they were hidden and given instructions to use them. Basically he was told to use them only in an absolute emergency! Perhaps in the event that money might be needed and Mum and Dad aren't around! This was unlikely, but possible!
They were more for our use, in the event of some sort of troublesome situation, but I felt I ought to make Max aware of them, as the oldest child!
I picked up this tip from the SAS, in the book, Bravo Two Zero, I read that the SAS troops carried gold coins in their belts to use as currency / bribery / bartering tools!
TOP TIP
Equipment list:
Car VW Touran 2.0 TDi - Powerful, economical and room for seven.
Tent - Outwell Sun Valley Six - High quality tent, and sleeps six
Catering - Electric coolbox and Calor Gas Stove
On the morning of 13th August, the car was loaded and the...
Engine wouldn't start!
Lots of testing of things like the in car video system, electric tyre inflators and the like had depleted the battery. Not a great start!
A quick jump start and we were on our way.
A ferry was caught from Dover to Calais, the excitement of the Children was noticeable, as we set off on the journey of our lives. Dad was more thoughtful, wondering what he had got his family into…
Leaving Haslemere
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| The Family Touran, fully loaded, ready to go! |
The Price family VW Touran was loaded up to the roof with five people and enough equipment to camp our way across Western Europe for three weeks.
The expedition party consisted of three children:
Imogen 5 years old, Max 10 years old and Izzy, 8 years old :
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| The Price Children |
Adults: Morag and Julian Price - approximately 40 years old!
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| The Price Parents (and Children) |
A lot of preparation had gone into the journey, all equipment was tested, the car serviced - and even emergency gold coins were hidden in the car!
Max, as oldest child was told where they were hidden and given instructions to use them. Basically he was told to use them only in an absolute emergency! Perhaps in the event that money might be needed and Mum and Dad aren't around! This was unlikely, but possible!
They were more for our use, in the event of some sort of troublesome situation, but I felt I ought to make Max aware of them, as the oldest child!
I picked up this tip from the SAS, in the book, Bravo Two Zero, I read that the SAS troops carried gold coins in their belts to use as currency / bribery / bartering tools!
TOP TIP
Equipment list:
Car VW Touran 2.0 TDi - Powerful, economical and room for seven.
Tent - Outwell Sun Valley Six - High quality tent, and sleeps six
Catering - Electric coolbox and Calor Gas Stove
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| Emergency Gold coins hidden in car... |
On the morning of 13th August, the car was loaded and the...
Engine wouldn't start!
Lots of testing of things like the in car video system, electric tyre inflators and the like had depleted the battery. Not a great start!
A quick jump start and we were on our way.
A ferry was caught from Dover to Calais, the excitement of the Children was noticeable, as we set off on the journey of our lives. Dad was more thoughtful, wondering what he had got his family into…
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| Excited Children as we leave behind the White Cliffs of Dover |
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| Julian - What have I got my family into? |
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