Monday 28 March

The storm died down during the night but it remained gusty when we got up, a little later than planned due to lack of sleep the last two nights. Venturing outside we recovered the door step from across the car-park and discovered a smashed roof tile on the ground between us and the van next door. Was that the clang? If so we were lucky it didn't land on the van roof; nevertheless we'll try to get up and have a look at an early opportunity.

But eventually we got going, utilising the service point – it's amazing how even tiny villages make provision even when they are unlikely to benefit very much – then went looking for fuel at a Carrefour near Caen. Our route is more or less a straight line to our destination using “N” and “D” roads, basically the same as last year. It being Easter Monday there was no commercial traffic so it was a fast and pleasant drive, just having to put up with the occasional rain or hail shower.

A late lunch in a picnic area and then an hour to Le Crotoy, a small fishing town on the Baie de la Somme that has become a bit of a holiday home village. A large area has been put aside across the harbour for motorhome parking and it is quite popular although on this visit it is only half full; probably all the Easter weekenders have now gone home and the weather doesn't help.

Le Pet't Train de la Somme

Once parked up, the skies cleared although stormy looking clouds could be seen on the horizon. We did notice that there were no satellite dishes up, must have been quite bad earlier! There were a few Brits here but no-one we knew, although as I write in early evening, there is a slow steady stream of vans coming in.