We’re staying near Morecambe so took a day trip to Blackpool. This was quite enough for me, it was packed, very packed, and noisy, very noisy. Like Skegness it seemed to be all about the fast food and less about old seaside cheeky charm. Not a ‘kiss me quick’ hat in sight. The fun had even left the Pleasure Beach as you had to pay just to walk around. A shame.

Still the beach looked nice and the donkeys are still there….

The week before we’d stayed a few nights in Ingleton on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. It was stunning if somewhat rainy. A quick visit to the Ribblehead Viaduct was cut short by torrential rain and hail so this was as close as we got (and I had already retreated to the van) It’s quite amazing.

Ingleton also had a super waterfall trail, 5 miles along 2 rivers and 6 waterfalls. Well worth the effort and a pint much needed afterwards in the cosy local pub…

Dogs on site – me, a labradoodle and a whippet who runs alongside a sweet child on a bike round the site.

The weather was shocking but I loved Skeggy! It has a funfair….

….. and donkeys…..

…… and a beach to make you giddy…

…. and seals, clubhouses and clocks…

Bracing, brash, full of tat and chip shops but brilliant.

Before we ate our body weight in fried food we drove cross country towards the Forest of Bowland, Lancashire, taking in the beauty of the Peak District along the way. Treak Cliff Cavern (and others) surprisingly allowed dogs to visit……

Not a bit scared I scampered around the cave sniffing Blue John like I was a true pit bonk (apparently what Elaine’s mining ancestors were nicknamed)

And so to Bowlands, home of great cycling, scenery and relatively dark skies….

Dogs on site – me, labs, spanners, cavaliers…. it’s a popular joint 

And that was France for now… roughly 2500 miles cross country and Spain and not a single traffic jam. A point we realised as 3 minutes on the M20 back home we were at a standstill! Thankfully not for long.

Anyway I loved France and Spain. Spanish bars are better but the French weather much more suited to us all. The French are scary fast drivers but the Spanish roads narrower (especially on sudden diversions through medieval towns) Both have equally fine cheese so 5 paw bumps for each. 

We finished our inaugural French tour in Neufchatel en Bray. A pleasant small town famous for it’s cheese and handy for a pet passport vet trip (grrrr) It’s also on the Avenue Verte, the cycle path that leads to Paris. The campsite was almost in the middle of the 40km traffic free section which pleased Elaine who covered the loop. Quiet bar the odd cyclist and cockeral. 

And so back to the UK. Le Shuttle was extremely easy and the French pet passport section very organised. Our first night home was parked behind a pub, well quelle surprise, and the next few onto Cambridge which is very lovely but very wet. So wet in fact that she couldn’t take any photos apart from this one. Tourists will have their river punt…

Dogs on site – a lunatic cockerpoo and a black shepherd who carries his collection of soft toys around. He’s called Sabre.