Matilda on Tour — Nearly 4,000 Miles Later… Home

Monday 3 March — Bordeaux

Day 43 — Easy roads, warm sunshine, and a sunset worth stopping for.
Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France 🇫🇷

Back into France today, and the toll roads (about £25) made it a relaxed, scenic run — mountains, big views, and a string of tunnels that kept the miles ticking by. We’re parked up just north of Bordeaux on a small, simple site that filled up quickly. €15 with electric and Wi-Fi feels like a bargain, even without bathrooms.

Sunshine meant lunch outside — bratwurst on the barbecue — and a proper pause after the drive. A quick bike scout for tomorrow headed straight into the industrial side of town, so Bordeaux might be a “train in and wander” day instead.

And then the evening delivered: a gorgeous sunset that had us standing outside the van for a quiet minute, just watching the sky change. Bordeaux tomorrow. 🥐✨

Campercontact Aire de camping-car Le Grain Site Code 97678

Tuesday 4 March — Bordeaux

Day 44 — A city made for wandering, with sunshine and a lovely feel in the streets.
Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France 🇫🇷

Bordeaux was a brilliant day out. We took the train in and, once we arrived, the whole place just felt easy — sunshine, people out and about, and that relaxed city buzz.

We started with a walk along the river, then spent the rest of the day doing what Bordeaux does best: wandering. Beautiful architecture everywhere you look, grand buildings, elegant streets — the kind of place where you keep stopping for “just one more photo”.

We finished with a beer and some quality people-watching, and had a little smile at the prices after Spain — France definitely feels like a step up when you’re right in the centre. Still, Bordeaux is a gem, and we’d happily come back. 🍺✨

Bordeaux ticked all the boxes — and with that, it was time to move on again in the morning. Nantes next.

Wednesday 5 March — Nantes

Day 45 — North again, warm sunshine, and a lively park walk to stretch the legs.
Loire-Atlantique, France 🇫🇷

We woke to bright sunshine and warm temperatures — a lovely start to the day. We’ve moved further north now and we’re in Nantes for two nights, before heading to Caen on Friday for our Saturday morning ferry.

We set off early and arrived at our campsite in the early afternoon. After a couple of hours doing absolutely nothing in the sun (very underrated), we went for a walk around Petite Port Park and the Nantes Racecourse. It was full of life — runners, walkers, families, kids kicking balls about — one of those places that makes a city feel instantly friendly.

The campsite itself looks a bit tired and the barrier was broken, but that worked in our favour… we ended up staying free of charge. I’ll take “scruffy but free” any day. 😄

Thursday 6 March — Nantes

Day 46 — Sunshine, trams, and a castle that really surprised us.
Loire-Atlantique, France 🇫🇷

Nantes was a joy today. Bright sunshine, an easy hop on the tram, and that nice feeling of a city day that just flows. A couple of young locals set us straight at the stop, and suddenly the whole tram system felt effortless — once you get it, you get it. 😅

We headed for Le Château des Ducs de Bretagne and it was far more impressive than we expected — beautiful architecture, loads of atmosphere, and ramparts made for a proper wander (and plenty of photo stops). Afterwards, Richard settled happily with his book while I did my favourite kind of exploring: drifting through streets, camera in hand, no rush.

We finished in the botanical garden in the soft spring sunshine — calm, green, and a perfect way to round off the day. Bordeaux had elegance; Nantes has charm. I’m very glad we stopped here. 🌿📷

Friday 7 March — Ouistreham

Day 47 — A moving stop at Pegasus Bridge, then one last easy ride by the sea.
Normandy, France 🇫🇷

We hit the road early for the final stretch to Ouistreham, ready for tomorrow’s ferry. It stayed warm and sunny, and it was a lovely drive through the French countryside — the sort of day that makes you feel quietly grateful it’s all gone so smoothly.

We’ve parked up at a Camping Car Park that’s brilliantly placed — so close to the ferry port it feels like we’ve already done tomorrow’s job. Once we were settled, we got the bikes off and followed the cycle path down to Pegasus Bridge. It’s a powerful place, with memorials that really make you stop and think about what those soldiers did to secure this crossing.

A relaxing evening and an early start tomorrow… and then it’s home. 🚢✨

Saturday 8 March — Home

Day 48 — Ferry smooth as you like… then straight back to busy UK roads.
Wales, UK 🏡

An easy start to the day and we were on the ferry with no hitches. Before we knew it we were rolling off in Southampton— and straight into the reality of UK driving. So busy, everyone in a rush… it was a bit of a shock after all those calmer miles. Still, we made it home without any dramas and pulled in early evening.

Home sweet home. After seven weeks in the van, I’ll have to get used to all this space again — but it really is lovely to be back.

A few reflections (and thank yous)

We’ve had an amazing trip: mountains, cities, villages, countryside and coastline — and we made the most of every moment. A huge thank you to Doris and Len for the brilliant stopover suggestions that made the whole journey easier (and better). Setting off without a fixed plan felt a bit daunting at first, but it all worked out perfectly.

We were lucky with the weather too — chilly through France in January, then warming up as we headed into Spain. Only three days of daytime rain, and we left Spain just before the wet weather arrived, returning to France in gorgeous spring sunshine.

Thank you to all my readers and subscribers who’ve followed this trip — it’s meant a lot.

And lastly… thank you Richard for driving nearly 4,000 miles (and putting up with me in the passenger seat). 😅 Our first overseas trip in the van — and definitely not the last. 🚐✨

And now it’s 2026 — and Matilda’s next European adventure is just around the corner. More soon. 🚐✨