It’s been a funny year so far...
The season started very slowly in Brittany not just for campsites. The same could be said for gites, restaurants and hotels, people were just not arriving. Was it the weather, cheap flights to hotter places or were people struggling to spare the money?
Whatever the reason, they have made up for it in July and August. We have been very busy and for the last 6 weeks mostly full, with still a really hectic week ahead. Our clients have been gorgeous and that has led to a campsite with a great feeling. It's always very pleasing. We have only had a couple of incidents this year that have required a stern campsite host. Usually when people get silly after a holiday drink.
We have had the usual problem with Volt the dog that visits us. He is a lovely dog but can be a complete pain - raiding the bins and stealing people’s food if they leave it out. He is especially persistent if we have a lady dog on heat on the campsite. We have tried numerous ways to stop him coming, taken him back to his owner, taken him to the Mairie and the dog pound. The owner has been to see me apologising - prostrating himself on my snack shack ramp, but still Volt comes…… Some people just shouldn’t have dogs. People are even commenting about Volt on my reviews now so it does make me very cross when we work so hard and I feel it's out of my control. It's not great for the poor dog neither….
We are exhausted with wobbly legs and brain fog. It is quite exhilarating though and, to be honest, at our age I think that we are very fortunate to still be able to do it. I just heard this week that someone I went to school with lost the fight to cancer. It’s very shocking and takes you a back when you first find out about it. We should all make the most of the time we have. I know that he did.
Most days in the peak season we are fully booked before the day starts. I really do recommend that at this time of year that people book before they come. I can see no fun or pleasure in driving round each day looking for campsites that have spaces. We always try to fit walkers and cyclists on that just turn up without reserving. The Petite Forêt is ideal for squeezing little tents in. A place where after a long day in the saddle or on foot you can recharge, get a snack shack burger and have a coffee the following morning with a croissant before commencing your journey.
As always, our campers have been beautiful people. They've been really kind with their feedback this year and it's great to hear ourselves and our staff work really hard to make sure that everything is just right. We have had laughs, shared emotions and had some fun. Especially with the kids. Talking about crocodiles in the lake etc, which is naughty of me really. It bought it home to me when my 27 year old niece came to stay and said “Belinda are there still snapping turtles in the lake?”…………
