The Silk Route Motorcaravan Club.
Bulletin 95 (Part 1 of 2).
June 2002.
Translated by Christine O'Brien.
Edited for
publication by Bill
Peckham.
Uploaded from Kyrgizstan by Iridium phone so no photographs and in
two parts!
Stephen Stewart.
The Autumn 'Balade'.
No Wales this year! Our friend Peter Milner is unwell and unable to complete the organisation of the planned tour. We wish him a speedy recovery and we hope he'll be back on his feet in time for the new tour.
This will be in Lot, Perigord and Pays d'Albret, organised by Henri Dujardin and Christiane, starting on 17/18 September and ending with the Annual General Meeting in the same region on Sunday 20th. Members in that area can contact Henri, who will be pleased to accept any help. So, please make a note: third week in September 2002: Silk Route Motorcaravan Club ramble and AGM..
Our Little Corners Of Paradise.
This will be the theme of the photographic competition for photos to illustrate the special 1 January 2003 edition. As well as the parking place in the wilderness (lakeside, sea, mountain, desert, etc), please include part or all of your motorcaravan in the shot. And don't forget to add a caption.
Your pictures can be on paper, slide or disk and should reach me before the end of November. As landscapes change and other members must be able to find and use your chosen site, please try and ensure that your pictures don't date from before the war. The Gulf War, that is!
Free Space No 6.
Offered as a joining present by new members Jacques and Pierrette: to explore the Marne valley and visit some Champagne cellars, and the Epernay-Plivot aerodrome. Water and electricity. For details, to get the key and forewarn of your arrival ring 03 26 842 633. No summer-long space at Sillans-la-Cascade this year. But in June and July we'll be spending a lot of time at Villeneuve-en-Chevrie (Free Space no 1, Ile-de-France, Bulletin 22) and we'll be happy to welcome you (usual numbers or 01 34 761 874).
No Post Without A Reply.
As you know, this is my ideal, but I'm not infallible and you may have suffered from my lack of organisation. Please believe that it was unintentional and don't hesitate to remind me if I owe you a reply.
This introduction is to explain that when possible, as in the current bulletin, I shall draw your attention to offers and information that are sent to me either by post or email. It isn't advertising. Neither the Club nor myself receive anything from it (though it has to be said that the Chateau of Vascouil enclosed a free entry ticket with their letter). But we want to encourage any councils, tourist officers or camping sites who have the initiative to write to us.
World Harness Championships.
Conty (25 km from Amiens) will be hosting the 1st World Single-horse Harness Championship 28 August to 1 September. On this occasion the town of Conty will be offering free camping sites in the woods, 3 minutes walk from the centre of town. For booking and information contact the Mairie de Conty, 80160 CONTY.
Tel. 03 22 41 66 55, fax 03 22 41 66 56, email mairiedeconty@wanadoo.fr.
Website www.conty.org.
Camping le Chanset.
In the region of the parc des Volcans. Tel/fax 04 73 61 30 73. E-mail camping-lechanset@wanadoo.fr. Website www.ceyrat.com.
The breath of the earth, a living spectacle - Vincent Depaul, musical comedy are the two open-air sights offered, at Ailly-sur-Noye between Beauvais and Amiens. Musical comedy at 10 pm on 14, 15, 16, 17 August. On Fridays and Saturdays at 9.30 pm from 23 August to 14 September a show with 2800 people in period costume. Price per person 14.50 Euros, for groups of 20 or more 12 Euros. Free parking.
Tel 03 22 41 06 90, fax 03 22 41 13 33, Website www.terredepicardie.asso.fr.
Postcards from...
From Paul and Jeanne Gouwy, Laayoune, 15 April. With its zigzags, loops and comings and goings, Morocco will have taken us through 7500 km by the time we finish our trip. Coming down from Ceuta towards Merzouga by the north side of Rif, Meknes, Fez, the Tazerna mountains to the east and a circuit of the Azrou-Azrou mountain through Kenifra. The valleys of the south, Todra, Dades, Draa, returning to Marakech and the north-west towards Beni Mel. Due south towards Tanta, Guelmin, Cap Juby and Laayoune. We are off into the Sahara desert through Smara towards Tanta to return via the coast with a little detour to Trafraout. In the 9 years since our last visit Morocco has changed a lot. There has been much modernisation and rebuilding. But the gap between the wage-earning or active populations of the urban areas and the poor of the suburbs and the countryside is growing larger.
From Maguy Christ, Shanghai, 15 April. Lovely trip from Beijing to Shanghai. By trains, buses, planes and on foot. All that was missing was a motor-caravan!
From Josette and Jean-Pierre Courtin, Ouarzazate, 30 April. Friendly greetings to all members of the Club and to the president. Leaving for the south.
From Alain and Suzy Guillard, Ksar al Hadada*, 29 April. The south of Tunisia is still magnificent. Majestic ksours with golden beaches, the roads almost empty of motorcaravans. Unforgettable sensations, daily encounters and just enough adventure for us to believe we are on the Silk Roads.
[*Editor's note: Hadada? Doesn't that sound like an instruction to your camel? In the next bulletin there will be some impressions of their trip.]
From Georges and Yvette Turpault, Rome, May. Before carrying on towards the south and the islands, all our best wishes to the members and the worthy president.
From Jo and Brigittie Aubry. Grand Canyon, 3 May. Thanks for arranging the next AGM in Arizona! Colorado is magnificent. We will be meeting up with Robert in Houston.
Welcome.
To Lenoble, Jacques and Pierrette, 1c avenue du President Kennedy, 51100 Reims, tel/fax 03 26 842 633/06 77 843 807, email jacqueslen@wanadoo.fr - Burstner
Bateman Michael Richard and Irene Lilian, 37 Wiggins Lane, Billericay, Exssex CM12 9PS, tel 01277 655 604.
Also please note:
Email address for Paul Leclerc begins paul.leclerc4@
New address for Marie-Joseph Daban-Demenkoff, 9 rue Jules Supervielle, 40480 Vieux-Boucau, tel 06 24 333 279.
Correction to Lucien Weller's telephone number : 04 78 460 396.