Normandy 2001
Debbie & Mark Harding
As it was our first tour we were asked to write a little 'summat'
for the magazine, so here goes!
7am on Friday 21st September 2001 we drove our Citroën Traction Avant
on to the sea Kat and arrived in Cherbourg at 9.30a.m. We drove straight
to the picnic site at 'Maison de la Baie' near Avranches. What a sight to
see 14 tractions already lined up and looking beautiful in the sun.
(Late as usual: Mark). It was even better when we parked ours there!
So proud! We had not met anyone before and found everyone very welcoming.
They even shared their lunch with us, as we had not stopped to buy some.
We all got in our cars and drove off in convoy with horns blaring and French
people smiling and waving. This to us was the most wonderful experience
and made us even more proud of our car! We drove in beautiful sunshine to
Mont St Michael. It was a lovely drive and a superb place to visit.
Mont St Michael is an island that looks like a princess's castle in the
distance.
In fact it is an Abbey on the top and you walk through a labyrinth of
streets,
alleyways and many many steps to get to it. We were walking back to our
car and everyone was gathered round it. We were so proud! As we got
nearer we saw they were all looking at puddle under our car - not so proud!
We thought it was either too much excitement for the old girl or a holy
bleed.
Anyway we topped her up (with water!) and set off to our campsite. Neither
of us had camped for far too many years but we thought of it as romantic.
We had after all come away without our four children, two dogs, three horses
and a cat. The site was very good; we set up, showered and found our way
to Peter and Sue's home. Another sight we shall never forget is all those
tractions parked in the garden! They all looked lovely and happy to be
together
just like their owners. We received the same welcome again except for Lin
who did not recognise Debbie! (She did look a bit more dressed up then than
during the day!) We received lovely food and good company including
dignitaries
from the locality. We left relatively early as it had been a long and
exciting first
day!
We woke for day two. Debbie was freezing all night - I am not taking
my
clothes off in a tent again! Even if Mark did bring a lovely sprig of
mistletoe and
put it on the front of the tent. This is a small two-man tent job! We met
10am
at St Michael de Montjoie (close to Sue and Peter's home) good planning! We
walked to the local granite museum. A neighbour of Peter and Sue translated
for us. We spent a little too long here - it was so interesting, so the day
had to
be re-arranged. Thank God for mobile phones! On to the next stop - the
Museum
of Apples and Pears. We then had a picnic - we had bought our own along but
there was still lots of sharing - black pudding, salad, bread and meat left
over
from the barbecue. Such is the generous nature of the people that drive
tractions
in our opinion.
After lunch we had a tour of the museum. Still the sun
shone!
How did they organise such fantastic weather especially as we were camping?
On to an interesting water mill that in it's past made paper and cutlery!
The drive
there was through superb French countryside in glorious sunshine and plenty
of
hooting, waving and smiles. We went back to our lovely tent and shared a few
beers and played cards. The meal at the Mill that night was excellent and
was
shared in such company - we sat with the chairman of the Citroen club!
Impressed aren't you? (we didn't know!).
The next day being Sunday and
the
organisers such lovely people (with hangovers) meant we did not meet till
11am
We had a lady from the press who called for a photo shoot. Fromage! We set
off in convoy again - it was great! The countryside was fantastic and still
bathed
in sunshine! We went to the home of a Frenchman that had carved in granite.
He was an acquaintance of Vicki and Martin. His work was amazing and the
reception fantastic. He thanked us for being there! We did have to reverse
up a
narrow hilly road to get to him!
We then drove in convoy, hooters etc (you
get
the picture, who is that with the Dixie air horns?) to have a galette lunch
at a
restaurant set on the side of a mountain! The organisers of this tour could
not
have done a better job - believe us! We then drove in our normal fashion
except
we were about to run out of fuel! Pete came with us and ended up paying (our
card would not work). We did pay him back! Such is the caring, considerate
side of this club! (I'm going to throw up in a minute!) Next stop Christian
Dior's
home in Granville. Very good. Especially when Debbie walked into the modern
toilets only to discover Bernie already there! We heard later that it wasn't
as bad
as the trip to Paris Classic car show and the incident with the hand dryer -
but we
won't go into that now!
The sun shone and we walked along the promenade into
the town - so it was a romantic weekend! We walked up to the opposite cliff
and
looked down on the town. We saw a herd of ridden horses going through the
town
but they did not get the response just 3 traction's going through the town
received!
Everyone loves tractions especially in France! We drove back to the campsite
with just enough time to change, phone home and get to the next meal in time!
Another superb meal although we got even closer that night - there wasn't
much
room - 'mind the mirror' was the phrase of the night! A few presentations
were
made - it was Bernie's birthday! The funniest prize went to the boys - Paul,
Terrence and John - too rude to publish their answers! The two new, first
time,
couples received a set of classic car stamps for which we are very grateful
and
amazed to receive. A small present was made to Dennis who had been round
everyone's car looking for a matching wheeltrim he had lost. Guess what!
It was a wheel trim (it had been taken of one of his other wheels!) Another
amazing situation was that when Jan and Allan arrived, at this our last meal
together, they had a problem. All the men were straight under the bonnet.
It was the dynamo, but next morning it was fixed. We discovered the true
spirit of this club on this tour - all sharing the love of an exceptional
car.
Any member that has ever thought of coming on a tour should come -
you'll regret it if you don't!
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