2004, Day Three, Gravelines

Day three 13th June

To shade the twins from the sun, I get out the large parasol we bought in Auxerre last year but realise that the base is at home, in the back garden.  The large folding wooden table we have with us has a hole in the centre, so if I can put the parasol stem through this and in to another hole in the ground it should work but the hole in the table is not big enough.  So Tim and I set about making the hole bigger, not easy without the proper tools but eventually (and I mean eventually, it took absolutely ages), we got it large enough and it worked.

Got a text message from Mick, they were at the gate, this was very early but he had turned up very early and P&O just put him on.  Got on my bike and went over to meet him and check in and he was put on a site adjacent to us.  It took them a wile to get the tent up but eventually after a couple of goes they got is right.

While this has been going on, an Italian guy has been walking up and down the road talking on his mobile and is still talking after Mick is done.  By the end of his conversation he is getting a bit agitated, then he eventually loses it and smashes the mobile onto the road, sending pieces of phone in all directions.  After a while he calms down, collects up all the bits he can find and puts them in the bin, later he comes back and rummages in the bin but it is really smashed beyond redemption and he leaves it where it is.

That afternoon we all walked in to town and then down by the river or canal or inlet or whatever.  It was a gorgeous day and we sat, just taking in the views for a wile.  There are a few bars and shops round the town square and as Nicky, Tim and the twins are heading back, the rest of us make a stop at one of the bars for a drink or two.

We got menus from the pizzeria and after serious discussions about what everyone wants, Tim and Jenifer go to get supper on the bikes.

The evening was is going well, we were winning 0 - 1 until Beckhem missed a penalty at 71 mins, then at 90 mins (90 mins), a Heskey foul gives France the equaliser and then within seconds James gives away a penalty and France win 2 - 1.  (whats really unbelievable is, that these people are still involved in the England team in 2011)

Day two or Day four

2004, Day Two, Gravelines

Day two 12th June

Up early after a cold night and off to Dover with Tim driving, we need some diesel, I only want to get a small amount, as it will be cheaper on the other side but the others make me half fill the tank, they don't trust me.  We arrive early at the port, but P&O just put us on the next boat out anyway, the twins love their first crossing.

 

On arrival in Calais we are in no hurry, as we are only booked on a site in Gravelines (close to Dunkerque) for the first three nights, to wait for Mick.  So we head to one of the booze hypermarkets to stock up for the first few days and the football (Euro 2004), they even have English beers cheaper than at home.  Nicole and Tim get Stellar and we get Leffe, we already have plenty of milk for the twins.

It is only a short drive north along the A16 to Gravelines, and we find the site no problem.

Gravelines Camping des Dunes Rue Victor Hugo - 59820 Gravelines Web Site

We get the tent up and then the girls and Tim go for a walk to find the beach while I get the satellite working (no problem this year)

Later we all go for a walk in to town, there is a pizza takeaway and we think we could probably get some to have during the football tomorrow.  We walk along the peer then back along the sea front until the path ends and we head on to the road back to the site.  Between the centre and the site there is a car park, that by now is being used by several motorhomes as an overnight stop (when we went back in 2006, part of this car park is now an official Aire), I personally would only use an Aire, if it was only for a few hours, or there was no site available nearby.

Day one, or Day three