30s Site Review – Campsite Municipal Le Pelly, Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, Rhone Alps, France.

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Our view from the campsite up the valley!

Spectacular Scenery; Walks, Waterfalls, Wildlife – & Those who Dare – Swim!

Campsite Highlights

Campsite Municipal le Pelly is at the head of the Giffre valley, just past Sixt-Fer-a-Cheval. Sixt is a small village, probably more correctly a defined as a group of hamlets. It is located in a remote part of the French Alps to the east of the Haute-Savoie department. Sixt is probably better known as a ski resort; part of the Grand Massif ski area, which is the 4th largest in France. Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval is reached from Cluses via a good, reasonably wide mountain road with friendly, not-too-tight hairpins that did not pose any problem with our 40ft van-caravan combo! With the campsite at 1000m of altitude, remember to release pressure in the caravan toilet SLOWLY!Continue reading “30s Site Review – Campsite Municipal Le Pelly, Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, Rhone Alps, France.”

Thames Barge Racing – The Whitstable Barge Match

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Majestic Thames Sailing Barges – cargo workhorses of the River Tham

‘Barging In’: Win 1st Prize TWICE by coming 2nd, Alice’s Sea Bass – & Meet the Real Captain Birdseye!

Huge, majestic craft with distinctive red-ochre sails, Thames sailing barges used to be the cargo workhorses of the River Thames and the Essex coast. Once a common sight; over 2000 barges plied these waters. Sadly, now only a handful of these historic ships remain.

Their romance had long held me in thrall, so imagine how excited I was to discover that it is possible not only to sail a Thames Barge, but also to stay on board AND race one! We took part in one of the Barge Matches, a series of races held to every year to pit the pride of barge crews against each other!Continue reading “Thames Barge Racing – The Whitstable Barge Match”

En Route Again – Challes les Eaux

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Scarfell Pike – Renamed by the New York Times!

Vulcanicity, the Debut Ding, Avoiding the Pains of Aix – plus Perceptions of Proper Peaks!

“12-Across. What is the highest point in England (8,4)?” Our last morning in Digoin, we chatted to an American chap over a coffee as he wrestled with his crossword.

“Scafell Pike (7,4)” we replied. So it appears that both we and the Ordnance Survey have got the spelling wrong.  According to the informed source of the New York Times, we have missed out the ‘R’ in ‘Scarfell.’ What IDIOTS we are!

Continue reading “En Route Again – Challes les Eaux”

30s Site Review – Campsite Municipal Le Savoy, Challes les Eaux, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, S.E. France

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A Spectacular Site – Campsite Municipal Le Savoy.

Mountains, Lakes, Thermal Springs, WINE; Puppy Pulling Power – and Passing up Petrol Power!

Campsite Highlights

Campsite Municipal Le Savoy – nestled between the beautiful Savoie lakes and the two Natural Regional Parks of the Bausges and Chartreuse mountain ranges is the thermal resort of Challes les Eaux. It has a rich architectural heritage and is surrounded by unspoilt countryside.

Continue reading “30s Site Review – Campsite Municipal Le Savoy, Challes les Eaux, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, S.E. France”