Tonight we are camped at partly full campground east of Troyes in central France. Just a few other "camping-cars", forest on two sides, fields on one side and a lake on the other - pretty good for a transit stop. About $25, with dump point, water all included. Bring your own loo roll though.

Versus last night, our first night in France . We got off the ferry from Dover, at Calais. We had spotted from the ship a great congregation of motorhomes just behind the beach next to the harbour. After travelling along some streets twice, we finally located the spot. Free camping, but every motorhome parked in line next to its neighbours. Well, just on dark we decided to make it do by parking right at the end next to the ferry terminal. So there we spent our first night in France, serenaded by massive RORO ferries every half hour around the clock. The camp is run very economically, they even shut the loos between 7pm and midday the next day!

So great to finally be on the road again, after the enforced delay in England waiting for the Boomer. It will take a few days to get into the camping routine gain. At least the sun is shining and we have shed the thermal underwear!

Today we started out with our policy of not travelling on motorways unless necessary. We exited Calais via a route never taken before, including a loop through the very narrow old city streets, but we found our way onto an old Roman road which led off across the country side, through various villages, across fields and canals, and into some of the WW I battle areas .

We stopped at the Cabaret Rouge cemetery near Arras where over 7000 soldiers are interred, including a lot of Canadians. Almost overwhelming to walk along the great rows of headstones, about half of which have no name, but only "KNOWN TO GOD".

To get to Frejus by Wednesday we had to pick up the pace, so opted for the motorway. As many toll points as toilets. The rest of the day cost the best part of $60 in tolls but at least we were able to maintain about 95 kph, rather than the 40 kph of the morning. The speed limit on the motorway is 130 in the dry, and 110 in the wet.

We came across the Champagne-Ardennes area too quickly - we will have to call in there at the end of July. There are wind farms there in every direction, hundreds of turbines.

Fuel here is around $2.35, in UK about $2.70