We left Abbey Wood in plenty of time to catch the 12:05 P&O ferry from Dover to Calais. The sat nav said it was a 1hr 20mins journey and with the caravan on the back it took just a little longer. Once we were through check in and waiting to board the kids were very excited.

We were soon on board and found seats near the children’s play area. After a play and then eating our packed lunch, the kids and I visited the shop onboard. They had money to spend in their purses so it just had to be spent!! That was easy 😂😂 They also got a little bobball each, a soft round bean bag type toy, Archie got a little black cat (lightning) and Aiva a ladybird (Leyla). The crossing was soon over and we were on our way to Le Crotoy and Camping Les Aubépines.

We had pre booked our pitch so we knew where we were going and soon got the caravan on site. I took Archie & Aiva to look around the whole site so Andy could get set up as much as he could in peace. They were so excited 😃 It didn’t take long and we were all settled. After lunch we headed to the swimming pool. There was an indoor and outdoor pool plus an indoor water play area too. Archie was set with his goggles on and Aiva was off once she had her armbands on, grandad had to be in the pool too to join in the fun. It was a great start to our adventure with them and the sun was shining too.

We spent the next few days enjoying caravan life. Playing outdoors, swimming, bike riding, feeding the donkeys, ponies and chickens and just having fun. Learning the French language was fun for the kids and they loved trying it out. We sat in the sun at the site restaurant after a bike ride and it was ice creams for the kids and beers for Nanna & Grandad 😃 Everyone was happy 😊

 

 

 

 

 

Then it rained 😲😲 Archie was quite excited as we were going to do some arts and crafts. We had sticker books and colouring tins to start with and Grandad made some friendship bracelets for them. We played a new card game called “nose” and that was hilarious 😂😂 good old snakes and ladders and shut the box. We really had lots of fun building the lego sets they had bought in London. There was also the indoor swimming pool to go and enjoy.

 

 

The weather was lovely once more and so we decided to go on a bike ride into Le Crotoy. This needed us to first ride along the road outside the caravan site and then onto a cycle path that took you right into town. It was about 2 miles. Off we went in single file, Grandad first, then Archie, Aiva and Nanna. Archie stuck behind Andy like glue but Aiva wasn’t interested in speed so we just made our way along and got there in the end. There was a lovely play area so the kids were happy. They did very well for their first ride, 4 miles all together and their little legs going 19 to the dozen 😂😍

We went swimming later and Aiva was doing so well and managing to swim a bit with NO armbands 👍😃 The kids made face pizzas for their tea and enjoyed them.

 

 

 

 

 

We went down to the beach the next day and the kids were happy to walk out to the water with grandad and collect shells. Then Archie did some kite flying while Aiva was happy making sandcastles. We played with the frisbee too and then headed back to the caravan site. We had a BBQ for tea and it was lovely especially dessert 😋😋 Melted chocolate, both white & milk with marshmallows to dip in 😋😋

 

 

 

The next few days passed by with more bike rides, kite flying, ice cream eating, feeding donkeys and many other activities too. We swam every day and Aiva was doing so well without her armbands. She was swimming further and further each day.

 

 

Archie took grandad with him to play with his remote control car on the playing field and Aiva stayed with Nanna and had a little pamper and nail polish session. Both of them loved a bit of one to one 😍

 

 

Mark arrived on Wednesday 15th August. He was staying with us for 3 nights before taking the kids back home to the UK.
Aiva couldn’t wait to show him her swimming, she was so proud of herself and Mark was amazed. The next day we hired a bike from the site for Mark so we could all go for a bike ride into town. The kids had done so well once again. Fun on the beach and chips for lunch enjoyed by everyone. More kite flying and a play in the play area before cycling back to the site for ice creams.

 

 

It was soon all over and Mark and the kids were leaving in the morning at 7am to go to Calais for the ferry home.
It was a smooth departure in the morning with the kids being lifted in to the car still half asleep. All packed up and away they went.

We will miss them so much but we must admit, the peaceful breakfast that morning was wonderful 😍😍

 

On a journey of discovery with your grandchild, take every moment to enjoy the ride.

Carol & Andy