20.03.2022 - from Opalcoast to bay of the Somme (F)
20.03.2022 - from Opalcoast to bay of the Somme (F)
20.03.2022 - from Opalcoast to bay of the Somme (F)
Duitsland
Sunday 20 March 2022 - We left for our first trip of the new year. This to the Opal Coast in Northern France. A trip of 160 km. For the first time in two years, almost all corona measures have been abolished and we can travel without a mouth mask or covid pass. Since 14 March, the same measures apply in France as in Belgium.
It is 9.30 am when we leave and it is… snowing! And they are big flakes. The thermometer shows +1°C. But this bad weather cannot discourage us.
As mentioned, we drive towards the Opal Coast and as we approach our destination the weather improves noticeably.
Our first stop is “Cap Blanc Nez”. We settle at the campsite and in the afternoon we walk to the white cliffs that are located about 600 meters away. The sun is shining brightly.
It was just high tide so a walk on the beach was not immediately possible. The water began to recede from the rocks and the first pebbles of the beach became visible. It is zen and calming on the high tide line with the sound of the boulders rolling under the waves, a special, pleasant sound.
After a while we continue walking on the path that runs along the tops of the cliffs. Sitting on the remains of a bunker we still enjoy the beautiful view.

Tomorrow the tour continues along this coastline…
Sunday 20 March 2022 - We left for our first trip of the new year. This to the Opal Coast in Northern France. A trip of 160 km. For the first time in two years, almost all corona measures have been abolished and we can travel without a mouth mask or covid pass. Since 14 March, the same measures apply in France as in Belgium.
It is 9.30 am when we leave and it is… snowing! And they are big flakes. The thermometer shows +1°C. But this bad weather cannot discourage us.
As mentioned, we drive towards the Opal Coast and as we approach our destination the weather improves noticeably.
Our first stop is “Cap Blanc Nez”. We settle at the campsite and in the afternoon we walk to the white cliffs that are located about 600 meters away. The sun is shining brightly.
It was just high tide so a walk on the beach was not immediately possible. The water began to recede from the rocks and the first pebbles of the beach became visible. It is zen and calming on the high tide line with the sound of the boulders rolling under the waves, a special, pleasant sound.
After a while we continue walking on the path that runs along the tops of the cliffs. Sitting on the remains of a bunker we still enjoy the beautiful view.

Tomorrow the tour continues along this coastline…
Sunday 20 March 2022 - We left for our first trip of the new year. This to the Opal Coast in Northern France. A trip of 160 km. For the first time in two years, almost all corona measures have been abolished and we can travel without a mouth mask or covid pass. Since 14 March, the same measures apply in France as in Belgium.
It is 9.30 am when we leave and it is… snowing! And they are big flakes. The thermometer shows +1°C. But this bad weather cannot discourage us.
As mentioned, we drive towards the Opal Coast and as we approach our destination the weather improves noticeably.
Our first stop is “Cap Blanc Nez”. We settle at the campsite and in the afternoon we walk to the white cliffs that are located about 600 meters away. The sun is shining brightly.
It was just high tide so a walk on the beach was not immediately possible. The water began to recede from the rocks and the first pebbles of the beach became visible. It is zen and calming on the high tide line with the sound of the boulders rolling under the waves, a special, pleasant sound.
After a while we continue walking on the path that runs along the tops of the cliffs. Sitting on the remains of a bunker we still enjoy the beautiful view.

Tomorrow the tour continues along this coastline…
06.08.2018 - Hochschwarzwald
05/08/2018: alles ingeladen, de watertank voor een derde gevuld… Op naar het Zwarte Woud. Meer specifiek het zuiden en dit tot in Waldshut aan de grens met Zwitserland, het “Hochschwarzwald”.  20 jaar geleden waren we er al en een tweede bezoek is het zeker waard.  De startafstand (625 km) die we normaal in één dag doen, doen we nu rustiger aan. De eerste middag brengen we door in Mehring, een mooi dorp aan de Moezel.  De camperplaats (met zijn restaurant) ligt pal aan het water.  Gelukkig, ondanks of dank zij de hitte zijn er geen muggen.
Meer moest dat niet zijn. Luieren in een stoel aan het water, even wandelen en dan rustig een glaasje drinken op het terras van het plaatselijke restaurant.
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Dag 2
We rijden richting Titisee. We hadden gereserveerd op camping Bühlhof. De bedoeling was om er een aantal dagen ter plaatse te overnachten. De camping is boven een berg gelegen en de weg er naartoe is zeer steil. Een ideale omgeving voor … berggeiten. De 170 pk van de mobilhome was meer dan welkom. De camping is oud maar zeer net, de plaatsen best ruim doch zeker niet vlak. Na de installatie verkennen we de camping en genieten nog na van een mooie avond.
Dag 3
Vandaag wandelen we naar het stadje Titisee aan het gelijknamige meer. Erheen wandelen is, ondanks de hitte, geen probleem. Terugkeren was een ander paar mouwen. Het gedeelte van de grote baan naar de camping was zoals eerder gezegd, een echte kuitenbijter en niet een baantje om meerdere keren per dag te voet af te leggen.
De Titisee is het meest toeristische meer van het Zwarte Woud. Een prachtig natuurlijk meer op een hoogte van zowat 840 meter. In het plaatsje zelf vind je talrijke winkels, restaurants. Het is er heerlijk vertoeven. In de hoofdstraat zijn veel souvenir winkels gelegen, waar je veel producten uit het zwarte woud zoals hammen en kersenmarmelade vindt, en heel veel koekoeksklokken. We konen niet weerstaan aan de streekproducten en kochten zwarte woudham en ‘wald’honing! Geoefende wandelaars kunnen rond het meer wandelen. Het pas is ongeveer 7 km lang. Op het meer kan je leuke boottochten maken. Met een excursieboot, roeibootje, pedalo, of een electrisch bootje. Het is ook een luchtkuuroord. Het is niet het grootste meer, dat is de Schluchsee. 
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Dag 4
Het is een weertje om luilekker te genieten op de camping. Ondanks de hoge temperaturen besluit ik, Dirk, om in de namiddag een wandeling te maken. Eén die start op de camping. Het pad naar de rand van het bos was al zeer steil. Toen ik boven aan de rand van het bos kwam, was ik blij dat ik even kon verpozen op een bankje. Een prachtig panoramisch zicht en wandelen tussen de koeien. Dat is het zwarte woud ten top.  ’s Nachts zorgt een stevig onweer ervoor dat alles opgefrist wordt.
Dag 5
Freiburg de belangrijkste stad van het Zwarte Woud. Het is nog steeds zeer warm.  Net aan de rand van de stad parkeren we op een grote camperplaats. Na een stevige wandeling (terugkeren doen we wijselijk met de tram) nemen we een kijkje in de talrijke historische straten en wandelen langs stadspoorten, de vele stadhuizen, marktpleinen, door winkelstraten en ... langs de beken! Ja, wel opletten als je in de straten van het centrum kuiert. In vele straten liggen nog kleine open beken (Bächle).
De Münsterkerk neemt prominent haar plaats in. In de Kaiser Joseph Strasse zijn vele grote warenhuizen gelegen.

Terwijl we op een terras genoten van een lekkere maaltijd werden we verrast door zowaar een windhoos. Deze trok over gans Freiburg. De zware parasols waaiden allen om, kleinere kozen het luchtruim. Servieten, tafellakens, stoelkussens, en zelfs stoelen gingen vliegen. We moesten in allerijl onze borden nemen en in het restaurant vluchten. Na twee minuten was alles voorbij en scheen de zon weer. Nu nog wat winkelen (eindelijk) en dan de tram op. Dit gratis! Dankzij onze KONUS gastenkaart.
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Wanneer op je vakantie bent in het Zwarte Woud krijg je op campings of in je hotel of gastenverblijf een Konus gastenkaart.

De uitdrukking “KONUS” komt van de vroegere universele sleutel die trein conducteurs ooit gebruikten om bussen en treinstellen te openen. Deze uitdrukking staat voor gratis gebruik van openbaar vervoer voor bezoekers aan het gehele Zware Woud. Er zijn enige uitzonderingen.
Na aankomst op je vakantiebestemming kun je je voertuig laten staan en brengt het openbaar vervoer (bus, tram, trein, om het even) je naar elke plaats die je wenst, zonder je zorgen te hoeven maken over een parkeerplaats.

Meer info over deze kaart vind je op: zwartewoud.info

Overnachten doen we voor de laatste maal op camping Bühlhof in Titisee.
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Dag 6
Triberg bezoeken bleek niet mogelijk door een totaal gebrek aan parkeerplaatsen, de massa toeristen en overal achtergelaten fietsen.  De bedoeling was om er een bezoek te brengen, niet alleen aan het “Schwarzwaldmuseum” maar ook aan de grootste winkel met koekoeksklokken. We rijden dan maar door naar Schonach voor een bezoekje aan de tot voor kort, grootste koekoeksklok ter wereld en vervolgens verder naar de Schluchsee.  In Schluchsee vinden we nog net een plaats op de camperplaats. Deze is net aan het gelijknamige stuwmeer gelegen. Het meer is drie maal groter dan de Titisee maar niet zo toeristisch uitgebaa(ui)t. Dit is onze overnachtingsplaats voor de komende 2 nachten.
Dag 7
Na een bezoek aan en een wandeling rond het leuke stadje gaan we ’s middags varen op het meer met de rondvaartboot. Een boot die drie haltes rond het meer aandoet. Vanaf die haltes kan je mooie wandelingen aan en rond het meer maken. Zoals gewoonlijk is er geen Nederlandstalige info (wel Chinees) aan boord, maar als je goed luistert kan je wel iets meepikken van de Duitstalige rondleiding.  Tenzij je natuurlijk geniet van een stuk taart, een ijsje of iets vloeibaars op de boot…
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Dag 8
Onze reis gaat verder naar Waldshut, een klein oud stadje aan de Rijn en tegen de grens met Zwitserland. De mooie (luxe) camperplaats ligt naast de camping (waarvan de douches en toiletten ook voor de campers zijn) en heeft alle faciliteiten.  Via een korte wandeling langs de Rijn kom je in het stadje vol fraaie oude vakwerkhuizen, mooie winkels en terrasjes in de verkeersvrije Kaiserstrasse, die aan beide zijden omsloten wordt door een markante stadspoorttoren. In het midden van de straat stroomt door een stenen goot water. Ook zijn er drie moderne fonteinen.
Op het terras van een patisserie genoten we van dé taart van de streek: zwarte woudtaart; heerlijk!
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Dag 9
We wippen even de Zwitserse grens over en bezoeken de Rijnwatervallen in Schaffhausen.  Er is een parking (P4) voorzien voor campers maar zoals gewoonlijk staan er ook vele personenauto’s tussen. Vroeg toekomen is de boodschap!  Je mag overnachten op de parking, maar het is er zeer duur. Waarschijnlijk komt dit door de dure Zwitserse frank!

De “Rheinfall” zijn de grootste watervallen van Europa. Je voelt het gebulder van het water door je hele lichaam. Je kan er met een boot naar de kastelen, in het bekken van de Rijnwaterval en zelfs naar het terras op de rots in het midden.
Je wordt er getrakteerd op een gratis, ijskoude douche door het opspattende water.  Het is een indrukwekkend schouwspel.
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’s Namiddags keren we terug naar Waldshut en de camperplaats voor de nacht.  In het stadje krijgen we een stevige regenbui. Lang leve de ijssalons als schuilplaats. Ook de porties ijs zijn van Duits formaat, gewoon reusachtig.
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Dag 10
Een panoramaroute liep langs de schilderachtige valleien en heuvels van het Zwarte Woud. Langs plaatsjes zoals Hochenschwand, Todnau, Bernau, Feldberg,  en via Titisee (waar we toch maar een koekoeksklok kopen) rijden we verder naar Altglashütten.  De camperplaats ligt net buiten het dorp naast de spoorweg (gelukkig net buiten gebruik wegens herstellingswerken – normaal twee treinen per dag).  Het dorp is de dag van vandaag bekend als skioord, doch heeft zijn ontstaan te danken aan de bouw van een glasfabriek in 1609. Vele glasblazers vestigden zich er. Het heeft een mooie kerk en één van de weinige resterende glasblazerijen. De man zit gewoon in zijn winkel te werken.  Er zijn prachtige dingen te koop van kleine juweeltjes (ringen, oorbellen, diertjes) tot glazen, vazen enz.  En de prijzen zijn zeer schappelijk. De omgeving nodigt uit tot het maken van lange wandelingen.
Dag 11
De laatste dag van ons bezoek aan het Zwarte Woud  rijden we terug huiswaarts. Niet rechtstreeks. Opnieuw nemen we een tussenstop aan de Moezel. Dit keer trekken we naar Minheim (het zonne-eiland), een klein maar romantische wijndorpje verscholen aan een bocht in het schitterende Moezel landschap. Het dorp telt 452 inwoners en maar liefst 13 wijnhuizen.
De camperplaats (90 plaatsen), ligt vlak aan de rivier. Mooi, rustig, ruime plaatsen met alle voorzieningen (water, elektriciteit en loospunt). ’s Morgens brengt de bakker het daags voordien bestelde brood en koeken.  Tussen de wijngaarden en wijnhuizen tref je er enkele restaurants en één winkel (van diezelfde bakker, tevens een minisupermarkt met een relatief ruim assortiment aan taart, charcuterie, groenten, fruit, kranten, boekjes en zelfs postzegels!). Tijdens ons bezoek heerste er een gezellige sfeer en drukte. Het was feest in het dorp met orkestjes die speelden op de pleinen, en drank- en wijnstandjes alom.
Dag 12
Na het optrekken van de ochtendmist die in slierten over het water hing, scheen het zonnetje opnieuw heerlijk. We besloten om toch terug naar huis te rijden.

We waren blij dat we deze streek na al de jaren, toch nog eens bezocht hebben. Terugkeren naar het Zwarte Woud is altijd leuk en aangenaam om te verblijven.
Overzicht overnachtingen
Camperplaats Wohnmobilstellplatz del Mosel – Mehring: bij boerderij/wijnboer - 72 plaatsen – 10€ - men komt ter plaatse ontvangen tussen 17 en 18u. Servicevoorzieningen water: 1€ - stroom: 2€. Mooie, rustige ligging. Ideaal aan het water. Restaurant met groot terras aan de camperplaats.

Camping Bühlhof - Hinterzarten (Titisee): 27,75€/nacht (toeristenbelastingen stroom inbegrepen). Oudere camping maar wel zeer netjes en goed onderhouden. Geen specifieke plaatsen voor motorhomes. Wel alle voorzieningen. Zeer ruime plaatsen van 120 m². Op het ogenblik dat wij er waren was het er niet zo rustig. Veel kleine tentjes en groepen. Maakten nogal wat lawaai. De weg naar de camping is zeer steil.

Officiële camperplaats Parking Aqua Fun – Schluchsee: 22 plaatsen, doch er staan ook veel campers op de rest van de parking – 10€ betaalautomaat. Normaal moet je je toeristenbelasting betaling in het toerismebureau van Schluchsee. Wij gingen er op zondag informeren. Gezien ze geen formulieren meer hadden dienden we niet te betalen. Men was verwonderd dat we wilden betalen. Nooit komt iemand van de camperplaats toeristenbelasting betalen!
Servicevoorzieningen water: 1€ - stroom: 1€/8u. ’s Avonds zeer rustig.

Camperpark Wohmobil-Park - Waldshut-Tiengen: 44 plaatsen – 12€ betaalautomaat. Servicevoorzieningen: water 1€/100l – stroom: 1€/kwh. De camperplaats is luxueus afgewerkt! De camperplaatsen zijn voorzien voor verschillende lengtes. Zo staan bvb alle vans samen. Aan de overzijde van de straat is de camping gelegen. Je mag er alle sanitaire voorzieningen gebruiken. Er is ook een groot restaurant.

Officiële camperplaats – Altglashütten (Feldberg): 16 plaatsen – 8€ aan betaalautomaat. Servicevoorzieningen: water 1€/100l – stroom: 1€/8u. Zeer rustige camperplaats. Ideaal als je op doorreis bent. Aan het begin van de parking is een café-restaurant gelegen. Dit is ook het station waar je een trein kan nemen.

Camperpark Reisemobilpark Sonneninsel – Minheim: 90 plaatsen – 7,20€, men komt ter plaatse ontvangen rond 18u. Servicevoorzieningen: water 1€/100l – stroom: 1€/2 kwh. Er is ’s morgens een broodjesservice, verzorgd door de lokale bakker.
E-mail: info@dmcamperreizen.be

Copyright © DMCamperreizen 2018.
All right reserved.
Day 2
We have arrived in Wissant, centrally located on the opal coast. A quiet coastal village with a long dike along the beach. At low tide you will discover an immense sandy beach, which you can deduce from the name of the village. The name Wissant has a Flemish origin and means “white sand”.

From the municipal campsite we walk to the small cosy centre and from there a street leads to the dike.
It is 2 o'clock in the afternoon and the tide is high. The water thumps against the rocks that demarcate the dike. We walk down the dike and return to the campsite where we take advantage of the first spring sun for the rest of the afternoon.
Day 2
We have arrived in Wissant, centrally located on the opal coast. A quiet coastal village with a long dike along the beach. At low tide you will discover an immense sandy beach, which you can deduce from the name of the village. The name Wissant has a Flemish origin and means “white sand”.

From the municipal campsite we walk to the small cosy centre and from there a street leads to the dike.
It is 2 o'clock in the afternoon and the tide is high. The water thumps against the rocks that demarcate the dike. We walk down the dike and return to the campsite where we take advantage of the first spring sun for the rest of the afternoon.
Day 3
In the morning we return to the beach. Low tide has just passed and it is wonderful to walk on this very large beach. The few hikers are almost invisible on this plain.
The weather is beautiful and the sun is shining. A light mist hangs over the sea. A pity, because in open weather you can see the British coast from this beach.

After our morning walk we got hungry and in a restaurant in the centre we enjoyed a delicious fish dish.

We spent the afternoon lazing again in the sun.
Day 4
In the morning we make a stop at the “Cap Gris Nez”. A protruding cape with equally impressive chalk cliffs. It is also the closest point to Great Britain. Despite the weather being very good again, a mist remains over the sea and we cannot see the white cliffs of the English coast again. Yet it is an impressive image when we view the area from the edge of the cliffs.
In the afternoon we reach Wimereux. It is one of the largest seaside resorts along the Opal Coast. It is sometimes called the “Blankenberge” of the Opal Coast (in Belgium obviously). We first walk along a few inner streets. Here we spot beautiful colored belle epoque houses. Houses that many people don't even notice because they only come for the dike and the beach.

The dike is definitely a must. And just like most, we walk along this beautiful sea boulevard. At the end of our walk we enjoy a drink on a terrace while the waves crash against and over the dike edge. A few onlookers who followed the spectacle from too close obviously got a cold shower.
Day 5
We leave the motorhome at the municipal campsite l'Olympic and take the bus around the corner to Boulogne-sur-Mer. This for only 1€ per person.

There are not many attractions in the lower town. However, street art can be seen everywhere in the city. Murals on all kinds of facades.
Via the main shopping street we visit the historic upper town. That upper town is still enclosed by high fortress walls. We stroll along the many historic buildings. We're a bit unlucky, it's Thursday and the day that the Notre-Dame basilica is closed. We can visit the majestic crypt of 1400 m². Many clerical works of art are exhibited in the labyrinth. The castle currently houses a museum. We do not visit this. We couldn't visit the belfry either. It is only open in July and August. We then entered the town hall. A staff member gave us permission to visit the beautiful first floor. Normally they don't allow tourists there.
Day 6
It's Friday and our next destination is Le Touquet-Paris-Plage. We arrive at the campsite and notice that it is fully booked. What we didn't know is that 110 years of Le Touquet will be celebrated this weekend. A spare place at the campsite was too small. The owners could not offer us any other alternative. Just as we were about to leave, a woman came up and announced that we could take their place. They had to leave earlier than planned. So with a lot of luck we were able to settle in at the campsite (l'Hôtellerie de Plein Air Stoneham).
In the afternoon we walk along a beautiful avenue to the stately town hall. From there it goes to the gigantic covered market and a little further we reach the enormous dike. Nothing but superlatives for the oldest seaside resort in Northern France. Many old mansions are still located along the coast. Witnesses to a rich past, but here too they are gradually being replaced by high apartment buildings.

It is wonderful to walk in the sun and what could be better than sniffing the pure sea air? Not much I guess. We end the afternoon on a terrace with a delicious pancake.
Day 7
We leave the opal coast and drive briefly inland. We end up in Montreuil-sur-Mer. Strange, the city is located fifteen minutes from the coast and is still called “sur-mer”! It has never been by the sea, but there used to be a flourishing trade along a sea canal. However, the Canche Canal has silted up and is now nothing more than an unnavigable river.
Montreuil was an important trading centre and was completely walled. You can still walk this completely. We start our walk on the ramparts and this until the citadel. We could not visit this one. This current museum only opens in May. We continue our tour in the old town, passing the chapel of the hôtel-Dieu, the Saint-Saulve abbey church and the town hall.
A little further back at the fortifications we arrive at the Rue du Clape-en-Bas: The white, small houses in combination with the rough cobblestone road give a beautiful picture. This architectural style (18th century) is not just there, it was typical for the region. In the past these were the houses of potters, today many artists and craftsmen live here.
We end where we started our walk: at the Place du Général de Gaulle, the market place with its theater and equestrian statue, which is not of General de Gaulle after whom the square was named, but that of Marshal Haig. He held out here with his British troops during the First World War.
Dag 8
We reach the end of our first trip of 2022: the Bay of the Somme.
It is Sunday and around noon we drive to the motorhome stopover in Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme. I already expected to see many free places but this was not the case. Apparently it had been a great weekend and the 180 places were insufficient. Every free space, even outside the official places, was taken. I immediately saw that the first seat had just become available at the entrance. I looked no further and installed the motorhome there. We even had electricity.

After our lunch we went to the quay on the Somme. Due to the excellent weather, many people showed up. And they all walked over the quay and along the water. It was low tide and at certain times you can walk through the mudflats to Le Crotoy, only with a guide.

There is a train carriage at the end of the quay. The place where you can take the tourist train that leads to Le Crotoy. However, this is only possible from April.

We enjoy the sun until late afternoon and end our walk on a terrace with a view of the bay.
Day 9
Normally the intention was to visit Le Crotoy today, but we decide to stay another day in Saint-Valéry. However, extending our trip by one day is not possible because we have doctor's appointments on Wednesday.
It's Monday and it's much quieter downtown. The crowd is no longer visible. We decide to go in the other direction and visit the old part of town. The small fishermen's houses are hidden behind the high houses overlooking the Somme, which used to be on the sea. These poor neighborhoods were not allowed to be visible from the sea. Higher up is the fishing chapel Saint Pierre. From this place the fishermen's wives looked out to sea to watch their men enter.
Another interesting building is the “porte de Nevers”, a gateway from the 14th century. In the end it served as a prison and it is said that Joan of Arc was imprisoned after her arrest in Le Crotoy.
In the evening we enjoy the last rays of the sun.

Tomorrow we will drive home.
Summary overnight stays
Camping Côte d'Opale Le Blanc Nez - Rue de la Mer 18, 62179 Escalles - 21.5€/night - all amenities - beautiful places - 800m from the campsite to the beach

Camping Municipal de la Source - Rue de la Source 3 - 62179 Wissant - all amenities – 18.30€/night electricity included - 150m from the sea

Camping Municipal L'olympic - Rue de la Libération 49, 62930 Wimereux – all amenities – 23.5€/night (TB included) – beautiful places – by bus to Boulogne sur mer: 4€

Camping l'Hôtellerie de Plein Air Stoneham - Avenue François Godin 625, 62520 Le Touquet-Paris-Plage – 27.60€/night (TB included) – all amenities - GPS : N 50.51092 ; O 1.58875 – 1km from center

Official motorhome parking - Avenue des Garennes  62170 Montreuil-sur-Mer  GPS: n50.45944 o1.75939 – 8pl/free – only take and discharge water, no more power connections – quiet to spend the night – 500m from the center

Official motorhome parking - Rue de la Croix l'Abbé, Saint-Valery-sur-Somme - GPS: n50.18220 o1.62881 – 180pl/12€ - electricity 40x -

We didn't stay overnight at every place we visited. Below you will find the car parks where we could go with the motorhome:

Cap Gris Nez - Parking Lot Cap Gris-Nez - D191, 62179 Audinghen. From the car park you will be guided to clearly marked paths to the lookout points

E-mail: info@dmcamperreizen.be

Copyright © DMCamperreizen 2018.
All right reserved.
Day 3
In the morning we return to the beach. Low tide has just passed and it is wonderful to walk on this very large beach. The few hikers are almost invisible on this plain.
The weather is beautiful and the sun is shining. A light mist hangs over the sea. A pity, because in open weather you can see the British coast from this beach.

After our morning walk we got hungry and in a restaurant in the centre we enjoyed a delicious fish dish.

We spent the afternoon lazing again in the sun.
Day 4
In the morning we make a stop at the “Cap Gris Nez”. A protruding cape with equally impressive chalk cliffs. It is also the closest point to Great Britain. Despite the weather being very good again, a mist remains over the sea and we cannot see the white cliffs of the English coast again. Yet it is an impressive image when we view the area from the edge of the cliffs.
In the afternoon we reach Wimereux. It is one of the largest seaside resorts along the Opal Coast. It is sometimes called the “Blankenberge” of the Opal Coast (in Belgium obviously). We first walk along a few inner streets. Here we spot beautiful colored belle epoque houses. Houses that many people don't even notice because they only come for the dike and the beach.

The dike is definitely a must. And just like most, we walk along this beautiful sea boulevard. At the end of our walk we enjoy a drink on a terrace while the waves crash against and over the dike edge. A few onlookers who followed the spectacle from too close obviously got a cold shower.
Day 5
We leave the motorhome at the municipal campsite l'Olympic and take the bus around the corner to Boulogne-sur-Mer. This for only 1€ per person.

There are not many attractions in the lower town. However, street art can be seen everywhere in the city. Murals on all kinds of facades.
Via the main shopping street we visit the historic upper town. That upper town is still enclosed by high fortress walls. We stroll along the many historic buildings. We're a bit unlucky, it's Thursday and the day that the Notre-Dame basilica is closed. We can visit the majestic crypt of 1400 m². Many clerical works of art are exhibited in the labyrinth. The castle currently houses a museum. We do not visit this. We couldn't visit the belfry either. It is only open in July and August. We then entered the town hall. A staff member gave us permission to visit the beautiful first floor. Normally they don't allow tourists there.
Day 6
It's Friday and our next destination is Le Touquet-Paris-Plage. We arrive at the campsite and notice that it is fully booked. What we didn't know is that 110 years of Le Touquet will be celebrated this weekend. A spare place at the campsite was too small. The owners could not offer us any other alternative. Just as we were about to leave, a woman came up and announced that we could take their place. They had to leave earlier than planned. So with a lot of luck we were able to settle in at the campsite (l'Hôtellerie de Plein Air Stoneham).
In the afternoon we walk along a beautiful avenue to the stately town hall. From there it goes to the gigantic covered market and a little further we reach the enormous dike. Nothing but superlatives for the oldest seaside resort in Northern France. Many old mansions are still located along the coast. Witnesses to a rich past, but here too they are gradually being replaced by high apartment buildings.

It is wonderful to walk in the sun and what could be better than sniffing the pure sea air? Not much I guess. We end the afternoon on a terrace with a delicious pancake.
Day 7
We leave the opal coast and drive briefly inland. We end up in Montreuil-sur-Mer. Strange, the city is located fifteen minutes from the coast and is still called “sur-mer”! It has never been by the sea, but there used to be a flourishing trade along a sea canal. However, the Canche Canal has silted up and is now nothing more than an unnavigable river.
Montreuil was an important trading centre and was completely walled. You can still walk this completely. We start our walk on the ramparts and this until the citadel. We could not visit this one. This current museum only opens in May. We continue our tour in the old town, passing the chapel of the hôtel-Dieu, the Saint-Saulve abbey church and the town hall.
A little further back at the fortifications we arrive at the Rue du Clape-en-Bas: The white, small houses in combination with the rough cobblestone road give a beautiful picture. This architectural style (18th century) is not just there, it was typical for the region. In the past these were the houses of potters, today many artists and craftsmen live here.
We end where we started our walk: at the Place du Général de Gaulle, the market place with its theater and equestrian statue, which is not of General de Gaulle after whom the square was named, but that of Marshal Haig. He held out here with his British troops during the First World War.
Dag 8
We reach the end of our first trip of 2022: the Bay of the Somme.
It is Sunday and around noon we drive to the motorhome stopover in Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme. I already expected to see many free places but this was not the case. Apparently it had been a great weekend and the 180 places were insufficient. Every free space, even outside the official places, was taken. I immediately saw that the first seat had just become available at the entrance. I looked no further and installed the motorhome there. We even had electricity.

After our lunch we went to the quay on the Somme. Due to the excellent weather, many people showed up. And they all walked over the quay and along the water. It was low tide and at certain times you can walk through the mudflats to Le Crotoy, only with a guide.

There is a train carriage at the end of the quay. The place where you can take the tourist train that leads to Le Crotoy. However, this is only possible from April.

We enjoy the sun until late afternoon and end our walk on a terrace with a view of the bay.
Day 9
Normally the intention was to visit Le Crotoy today, but we decide to stay another day in Saint-Valéry. However, extending our trip by one day is not possible because we have doctor's appointments on Wednesday.
It's Monday and it's much quieter downtown. The crowd is no longer visible. We decide to go in the other direction and visit the old part of town. The small fishermen's houses are hidden behind the high houses overlooking the Somme, which used to be on the sea. These poor neighborhoods were not allowed to be visible from the sea. Higher up is the fishing chapel Saint Pierre. From this place the fishermen's wives looked out to sea to watch their men enter.
Another interesting building is the “porte de Nevers”, a gateway from the 14th century. In the end it served as a prison and it is said that Joan of Arc was imprisoned after her arrest in Le Crotoy.
In the evening we enjoy the last rays of the sun.

Tomorrow we will drive home.
Summary overnight stays
Camping Côte d'Opale Le Blanc Nez - Rue de la Mer 18, 62179 Escalles - 21.5€/night - all amenities - beautiful places - 800m from the campsite to the beach

Camping Municipal de la Source - Rue de la Source 3 - 62179 Wissant - all amenities – 18.30€/night electricity included - 150m from the sea

Camping Municipal L'olympic - Rue de la Libération 49, 62930 Wimereux – all amenities – 23.5€/night (TB included) – beautiful places – by bus to Boulogne sur mer: 4€

Camping l'Hôtellerie de Plein Air Stoneham - Avenue François Godin 625, 62520 Le Touquet-Paris-Plage – 27.60€/night (TB included) – all amenities - GPS : N 50.51092 ; O 1.58875 – 1km from center

Official motorhome parking - Avenue des Garennes  62170 Montreuil-sur-Mer  GPS: n50.45944 o1.75939 – 8pl/free – only take and discharge water, no more power connections – quiet to spend the night – 500m from the center

Official motorhome parking - Rue de la Croix l'Abbé, Saint-Valery-sur-Somme - GPS: n50.18220 o1.62881 – 180pl/12€ - electricity 40x -

We didn't stay overnight at every place we visited. Below you will find the car parks where we could go with the motorhome:

Cap Gris Nez - Parking Lot Cap Gris-Nez - D191, 62179 Audinghen. From the car park you will be guided to clearly marked paths to the lookout points

E-mail: info@dmcamperreizen.be

Copyright © DMCamperreizen 2018.
All right reserved.
Day 2
We have arrived in Wissant, centrally located on the opal coast. A quiet coastal village with a long dike along the beach. At low tide you will discover an immense sandy beach, which you can deduce from the name of the village. The name Wissant has a Flemish origin and means “white sand”.

From the municipal campsite we walk to the small cosy centre and from there a street leads to the dike.
It is 2 o'clock in the afternoon and the tide is high. The water thumps against the rocks that demarcate the dike. We walk down the dike and return to the campsite where we take advantage of the first spring sun for the rest of the afternoon.
Day 3
In the morning we return to the beach. Low tide has just passed and it is wonderful to walk on this very large beach. The few hikers are almost invisible on this plain.
The weather is beautiful and the sun is shining. A light mist hangs over the sea. A pity, because in open weather you can see the British coast from this beach.

After our morning walk we got hungry and in a restaurant in the centre we enjoyed a delicious fish dish.

We spent the afternoon lazing again in the sun.
Dag 4
In de voormiddag maken we een stop aan de “Cap Gris Nez”. Een vooruitstekende kaap met eveneens indrukwekkende krijtrotsen. Het is tevens het dichtste punt bij Groot-Brittannië. Ondanks we opnieuw zeer goed weer hebben, blijft er een nevel over de zee hangen en kunnen we de witte kliffen van de Engelse kust weer niet zien. Toch is het een indrukwekkend beeld wanneer we van op de rand van de kliffen de omgeving overschouwen.
In the afternoon we reach Wimereux. It is one of the largest seaside resorts along the Opal Coast. It is sometimes called the “Blankenberge” of the Opal Coast (in Belgium obviously). We first walk along a few inner streets. Here we spot beautiful colored belle epoque houses. Houses that many people don't even notice because they only come for the dike and the beach.

The dike is definitely a must. And just like most, we walk along this beautiful sea boulevard. At the end of our walk we enjoy a drink on a terrace while the waves crash against and over the dike edge. A few onlookers who followed the spectacle from too close obviously got a cold shower.
Day 5
We leave the motorhome at the municipal campsite l'Olympic and take the bus around the corner to Boulogne-sur-Mer. This for only 1€ per person.

There are not many attractions in the lower town. However, street art can be seen everywhere in the city. Murals on all kinds of facades.
Via the main shopping street we visit the historic upper town. That upper town is still enclosed by high fortress walls. We stroll along the many historic buildings. We're a bit unlucky, it's Thursday and the day that the Notre-Dame basilica is closed. We can visit the majestic crypt of 1400 m². Many clerical works of art are exhibited in the labyrinth. The castle currently houses a museum. We do not visit this. We couldn't visit the belfry either. It is only open in July and August. We then entered the town hall. A staff member gave us permission to visit the beautiful first floor. Normally they don't allow tourists there.
Day 6
It's Friday and our next destination is Le Touquet-Paris-Plage. We arrive at the campsite and notice that it is fully booked. What we didn't know is that 110 years of Le Touquet will be celebrated this weekend. A spare place at the campsite was too small. The owners could not offer us any other alternative. Just as we were about to leave, a woman came up and announced that we could take their place. They had to leave earlier than planned. So with a lot of luck we were able to settle in at the campsite (l'Hôtellerie de Plein Air Stoneham).
In the afternoon we walk along a beautiful avenue to the stately town hall. From there it goes to the gigantic covered market and a little further we reach the enormous dike. Nothing but superlatives for the oldest seaside resort in Northern France. Many old mansions are still located along the coast. Witnesses to a rich past, but here too they are gradually being replaced by high apartment buildings.

It is wonderful to walk in the sun and what could be better than sniffing the pure sea air? Not much I guess. We end the afternoon on a terrace with a delicious pancake.
Day 7
We leave the opal coast and drive briefly inland. We end up in Montreuil-sur-Mer. Strange, the city is located fifteen minutes from the coast and is still called “sur-mer”! It has never been by the sea, but there used to be a flourishing trade along a sea canal. However, the Canche Canal has silted up and is now nothing more than an unnavigable river.
Montreuil was an important trading centre and was completely walled. You can still walk this completely. We start our walk on the ramparts and this until the citadel. We could not visit this one. This current museum only opens in May. We continue our tour in the old town, passing the chapel of the hôtel-Dieu, the Saint-Saulve abbey church and the town hall.
A little further back at the fortifications we arrive at the Rue du Clape-en-Bas: The white, small houses in combination with the rough cobblestone road give a beautiful picture. This architectural style (18th century) is not just there, it was typical for the region. In the past these were the houses of potters, today many artists and craftsmen live here.
We end where we started our walk: at the Place du Général de Gaulle, the market place with its theater and equestrian statue, which is not of General de Gaulle after whom the square was named, but that of Marshal Haig. He held out here with his British troops during the First World War.
Dag 8
We reach the end of our first trip of 2022: the Bay of the Somme.
It is Sunday and around noon we drive to the motorhome stopover in Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme. I already expected to see many free places but this was not the case. Apparently it had been a great weekend and the 180 places were insufficient. Every free space, even outside the official places, was taken. I immediately saw that the first seat had just become available at the entrance. I looked no further and installed the motorhome there. We even had electricity.

After our lunch we went to the quay on the Somme. Due to the excellent weather, many people showed up. And they all walked over the quay and along the water. It was low tide and at certain times you can walk through the mudflats to Le Crotoy, only with a guide.

There is a train carriage at the end of the quay. The place where you can take the tourist train that leads to Le Crotoy. However, this is only possible from April.

We enjoy the sun until late afternoon and end our walk on a terrace with a view of the bay.
Day 9
Normally the intention was to visit Le Crotoy today, but we decide to stay another day in Saint-Valéry. However, extending our trip by one day is not possible because we have doctor's appointments on Wednesday.
It's Monday and it's much quieter downtown. The crowd is no longer visible. We decide to go in the other direction and visit the old part of town. The small fishermen's houses are hidden behind the high houses overlooking the Somme, which used to be on the sea. These poor neighborhoods were not allowed to be visible from the sea. Higher up is the fishing chapel Saint Pierre. From this place the fishermen's wives looked out to sea to watch their men enter.
Another interesting building is the “porte de Nevers”, a gateway from the 14th century. In the end it served as a prison and it is said that Joan of Arc was imprisoned after her arrest in Le Crotoy.
In the evening we enjoy the last rays of the sun.

Tomorrow we will drive home.
Summary overnight stays
Camping Côte d'Opale Le Blanc Nez - Rue de la Mer 18, 62179 Escalles - 21.5€/night - all amenities - beautiful places - 800m from the campsite to the beach

Camping Municipal de la Source - Rue de la Source 3 - 62179 Wissant - all amenities – 18.30€/night electricity included - 150m from the sea

Camping Municipal L'olympic - Rue de la Libération 49, 62930 Wimereux – all amenities – 23.5€/night (TB included) – beautiful places – by bus to Boulogne sur mer: 4€

Camping l'Hôtellerie de Plein Air Stoneham - Avenue François Godin 625, 62520 Le Touquet-Paris-Plage – 27.60€/night (TB included) – all amenities - GPS : N 50.51092 ; O 1.58875 – 1km from center

Official motorhome parking - Avenue des Garennes  62170 Montreuil-sur-Mer  GPS: n50.45944 o1.75939 – 8pl/free – only take and discharge water, no more power connections – quiet to spend the night – 500m from the center

Official motorhome parking - Rue de la Croix l'Abbé, Saint-Valery-sur-Somme - GPS: n50.18220 o1.62881 – 180pl/12€ - electricity 40x -

We didn't stay overnight at every place we visited. Below you will find the car parks where we could go with the motorhome:

Cap Gris Nez - Parking Lot Cap Gris-Nez - D191, 62179 Audinghen. From the car park you will be guided to clearly marked paths to the lookout points
E-mail: info@dmcamperreizen.be

Copyright © DMCamperreizen 2018.
All right reserved.