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Travels With Tinkerbelle - 6000 Miles Around France In A Mechanical Wreck
The author and her husband devised a simple plan - to take a tent and the dog and drive around the perimeter of France. Like many simple plans it went wrong before it started and they ended up with two dogs and a campervan named Tinkerbelle. On the second day of their journey Tinkerbelle begins to self-destruct, helped by the new dog who does his best to eat her from the inside out. This is their story, as they travel from sandy beaches to snow-topped mountains exploring the diverse cultures, cuisines and countryside making up the country called France. Their journey takes them to places out of the ordinary, meeting interesting characters and witnessing ancient traditions. While the dogs rejoice in the freedom they find running on the beaches, Susie and Terry spend a lot of time holding their breath, wondering whether Tinkerbelle will manage to negotiate impossible mountain routes and get them home before she completely disintegrates.
Travels with Tinkerbelle is a revision of "A Perfect Circle," previously published by Transworld Publishers. Enhanced features of this edition include chapter by chapter map links of the journey.
Travels with Tinkerbelle is a revision of "A Perfect Circle," previously published by Transworld Publishers. Enhanced features of this edition include chapter by chapter map links of the journey.
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First published March 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 3, 2012
Okay, I read the description of this book on the Goodreads Giveaway list, signed up to win a free copy, and then promptly bought the book on my Nook. (I did withdraw from the drawing.) I was taken aback to find out this book weighs in at a hefty 668 pages! Then I started reading.....and giggling. In almost no time, I was nearly 100 pages into the book and we had barely left Bretagne! What is really nice, from my standpoint, is that the author is taking us on a tour de France by describing their road trip in just enough detail for the reader to appreciate the beauty of the country without being bogged down by too much minutiae.
Needless to say, I have discovered a book that reads quickly all the while engaging the reader. Not having read any of Ms. Kelly's previous books, I felt this was written in a style similar to that of Peter Mayle, another Brit who follows his francophilic heart. Having read this book, I am now encouraged to find other books written by Ms. Kelly to see if they are as charming as this one.
Needless to say, I have discovered a book that reads quickly all the while engaging the reader. Not having read any of Ms. Kelly's previous books, I felt this was written in a style similar to that of Peter Mayle, another Brit who follows his francophilic heart. Having read this book, I am now encouraged to find other books written by Ms. Kelly to see if they are as charming as this one.
April 19, 2018
Travels with Tinkerbelle is a truly wonderful travelogue. I have loved reading it from start to finish. It is full of fascinating local history and information; it has beautiful descriptive passages; and it has the precious bonus of two delightful dogs, Dobby and Tally. What more could I ask? Oh yes, it is about France too, which gives it double points. I fell completely in love with Dobby and laughed out loud at several passages following his systematic distruction of various items in Tinkerbelle; he reminded me so much of my own beloved pooch. I also loved Susie Kelly’s wry sense of humour and like other reviewers, think Terry was a real trooper. As for Tinkerbelle, what a special van. I was holding my breath as they negotiated the Pyrenees and Alps with barely any brakes, a broken clutch and a holey exhaust. Fabulous! A lovely book on many levels.
August 7, 2012
Travels with Tinkerbelle is, in the barest of terms, a travel diary. It carefully logs the places, the cuisine and the stories a couple and their two slightly mad dogs encounter on their tour de France.
Susie Kelly’s book is an adventure, just a more afforded, wine appreciating, dog walking type of adventure. Initially wary of the temperamental Tinkerbelle, their transport for the six weeks, and slightly nervous of their dogs, their companions for the next six weeks, you embark with them around the country. You find yourself in the campervan with them all, tasting the dishes, and more often than not tensing, as Tinkerbelle struggles and sputters up the winding Alpine roads.
Through the tour you learn, if you didn’t know already, that France is not one unified tradition of wine and cheese but a myriad of distinct regions. As you drive through the Basque country, the Alpine villages and the towns of Alsace Susie has worked hard to supplement simple descriptions of the places you visit. With every day there is an accompanying tourist information pack of the local anecdotes and myths which I won’t spoil for you.
The people you meet are caricatures of the regions. Most, though not all, of the encounters are as charming as Susie’s flare for descriptive writing. There isn’t a rock or a bird that isn’t painted without a flavour of the region. My personal favourites were the roads “with more twists and turns than a plate of spaghetti” and the little birds, “sparrows like clockwork toys”.
‘Travels with Tinkerbelle’ is a lovely summer read. My advice is to take it slow. Like most holidays you will find it is over too quickly. Be sure to keep a notebook nearby as you may find yourself planning your own travels, just maybe not in Tinkerbelle.
Susie Kelly’s book is an adventure, just a more afforded, wine appreciating, dog walking type of adventure. Initially wary of the temperamental Tinkerbelle, their transport for the six weeks, and slightly nervous of their dogs, their companions for the next six weeks, you embark with them around the country. You find yourself in the campervan with them all, tasting the dishes, and more often than not tensing, as Tinkerbelle struggles and sputters up the winding Alpine roads.
Through the tour you learn, if you didn’t know already, that France is not one unified tradition of wine and cheese but a myriad of distinct regions. As you drive through the Basque country, the Alpine villages and the towns of Alsace Susie has worked hard to supplement simple descriptions of the places you visit. With every day there is an accompanying tourist information pack of the local anecdotes and myths which I won’t spoil for you.
The people you meet are caricatures of the regions. Most, though not all, of the encounters are as charming as Susie’s flare for descriptive writing. There isn’t a rock or a bird that isn’t painted without a flavour of the region. My personal favourites were the roads “with more twists and turns than a plate of spaghetti” and the little birds, “sparrows like clockwork toys”.
‘Travels with Tinkerbelle’ is a lovely summer read. My advice is to take it slow. Like most holidays you will find it is over too quickly. Be sure to keep a notebook nearby as you may find yourself planning your own travels, just maybe not in Tinkerbelle.
November 30, 2012
I absolutely loved this book! It is a travel diary, written in a very succinct style. Unlike some travel writers, Susie Kelly doesn't go on and on about things. She says what needs saying, and then moves on. There is probably no other way this book could be written - after all, it does cover 6,000 miles' worth of adventures! I loved the writing style, the premise ('circumnavigating' France in a motorhome called Tinkerbelle), the stories and adventures - and I absolutely adored the antics of Susie and Terry's dog Tally and giant puppy Dobby. Being a dog owner myself, the stories about their dogs made me laugh out loud on several occasions. So did many of the other stories. I will definitely be reading more of Susie Kelly's books in the future.
June 18, 2012
Travels With Tinkerbelle - 6,000 Miles Around France In A Mechanical Wreck
Susie Kelly is at it again: she was gripped with the itching wanderlust that had to be scratched. She and her husband, Terry, decide to buy a small motorhome and circumnavigate France. The fact that their budget is minuscule is immaterial. The fact that they also have a dog that will go with them isn’t crazy enough, they decide to get another puppy to keep the dog company. She describes the first dog as small. Several chapters later she reveals that the dog is a Vizsla! I own a small Vizsla– she weighs 50 pounds! The puppy-mutt they add to the crew grows to the size of a small pony, and chews everything in sight, nailed down or not.
The motorhome somehow makes the entire trip, although it’s unclear why. Important parts fall off or break regularly. Terry drives on, over mountains, and around hairpin curves, mostly unperturbed. We should all have such oblivious, patient partners. It may have helped that Terry doesn’t speak much French. Only once does Susie hint that they occasionally disagreed over travel arrangements.
Anyone who has taken a road trip will also identify with the problems associated with finding a place to stay each night. Motor camps range from first rate to mud pits.
Meanwhile, Susie and Terry visit small and large towns hunting for both publicized tourist attractions and those wonderful local secrets one can stumble upon when willing to talk to local folks. Her descriptions of these places will always give you a fresh look, even if you are familiar with the locale.
And it’s all told with a great sense of humor. One of my favorite passages relates how a tradeswoman tells Susie that the local snakes were dropped from a helicopter. Susie thinks she must have mis-heard. Several pages later, she hears the rest of the story. I’m always a sucker for funny stories where you have to wait for the other shoe to drop.
If you like travel stories, you’ll never regret the reasonable $2.99 to buy this book!
Susie Kelly is at it again: she was gripped with the itching wanderlust that had to be scratched. She and her husband, Terry, decide to buy a small motorhome and circumnavigate France. The fact that their budget is minuscule is immaterial. The fact that they also have a dog that will go with them isn’t crazy enough, they decide to get another puppy to keep the dog company. She describes the first dog as small. Several chapters later she reveals that the dog is a Vizsla! I own a small Vizsla– she weighs 50 pounds! The puppy-mutt they add to the crew grows to the size of a small pony, and chews everything in sight, nailed down or not.
The motorhome somehow makes the entire trip, although it’s unclear why. Important parts fall off or break regularly. Terry drives on, over mountains, and around hairpin curves, mostly unperturbed. We should all have such oblivious, patient partners. It may have helped that Terry doesn’t speak much French. Only once does Susie hint that they occasionally disagreed over travel arrangements.
Anyone who has taken a road trip will also identify with the problems associated with finding a place to stay each night. Motor camps range from first rate to mud pits.
Meanwhile, Susie and Terry visit small and large towns hunting for both publicized tourist attractions and those wonderful local secrets one can stumble upon when willing to talk to local folks. Her descriptions of these places will always give you a fresh look, even if you are familiar with the locale.
And it’s all told with a great sense of humor. One of my favorite passages relates how a tradeswoman tells Susie that the local snakes were dropped from a helicopter. Susie thinks she must have mis-heard. Several pages later, she hears the rest of the story. I’m always a sucker for funny stories where you have to wait for the other shoe to drop.
If you like travel stories, you’ll never regret the reasonable $2.99 to buy this book!
December 22, 2017
This is the second book of Susie Kelly’s that I have read and it won’t be the last. I loved reading about their adventures as she and her husband Terry journeyed 6000 miles around France in a rather decrepit old campervan with their two dogs. I particularly enjoy Susie’s sense of humour and her wonderful conversational style of writing. There’s a great deal of historical detail as well which appealed to me. It gives a marvellous insight into the different regions of this beautiful country. I laughed out loud at some points and had a little tear in my eye at others. A lovely read.
October 24, 2016
What's not to enjoy with this book. We have lots of anecdotes about the author's trip around the "edge" of France with her husband, 2 lively large dogs and a dodgy campervan (which sounded awfully like a French one we owned for a while). As a bonus, we also learn lots of interesting history and geography along the way. It inspires me to go to some (but not all!) the places visited but if I can't go, I shall feel as if I've been there and experienced it all. A book I couldn't put down.
February 7, 2018
Bit too much history.
I was looking forward to reading this book as we owned a motor caravan in the 1970's and used to drive it to, what was, Yugoslavia,. However, I found myself flipping over many pages as I wasn't interested in a history lesson. More on the food and countryside of the various regions would have been preferable.
I was looking forward to reading this book as we owned a motor caravan in the 1970's and used to drive it to, what was, Yugoslavia,. However, I found myself flipping over many pages as I wasn't interested in a history lesson. More on the food and countryside of the various regions would have been preferable.
August 27, 2023
A charming writer who's become one of my favorites.
This is the fifth or sixth book I've read by this author and I've liked them all. I think you have to read her poignant memoir "I Wish I Could Say I Was Sorry" to understand the childhood that left scars and molded her into a sensitive, eager-to-please person. Unlike many writers, she never hides behind her stories. You can't read her books without feeling that you know her and I can't imagine anyone not liking her.
In this book, she and her husband Terry take an ambitious 6-week tour encircling France. She's a full-time ex-pat in rural France and reasonably fluent in Frence. Terry speaks NO French. He's a dare-devil and a speed-lover and she's not, but they both like a good road trip. Incredibly, they deliberately didn't research their route because they wanted to be surprised. They were.
First they decided their dog Tally needed a companion, so they acquired a small puppy "of unknown origin" assuming he'd be a smallish dog. By the time they were ready to start Dobby was the size of a Shetland pony. They ditched the tent and bought an elderly, unreliable van (Tinkerbelle). With most of their budget spent, they couldn't afford an expensive overhaul, so they hit the road trusting to fate.
In addition to his size, Dobby's a chewer. My favorite story is the fire extinquisher episode. Halfway through the trip, he cut his paw badly and had to be sedated for the vet to clean it out and put in staples. When they got the bill, his owners almost had to be sedated. Dobby is an expensive travelling companion.
They started in Brittany, the westernmost part of France, then proceeded south to the border with Spain, then on to the famous coasts of Southern France. Then to the low mountains on the border with Italy, then to the HIGH (8,000' altitude) French Alps on the border with Switzerland.
Then on to the long, frequently contested borders with Germany and Luxumbourg, then to the VERY low (8' below sea level at one point) border with Belgium. Normandy (the star of the WWII Allied invasion) finished off the trip. By that time, they were ready to head home.
You should have a map handy for reference. France is a big country, enormous by European standards. Its position in the middle of Western Europe means that it's been in the middle of every war since long before the Romans invaded. Some areas in France have changed hands so many times it's no wonder the people are shell-shocked and nervous.
She's a wonderful source of information. I was surprised to learn that England, Scotland and Wales are known as "Great Britain" because early Celts from those lands fled from Anglo-Saxon persecution to the western coast of France and called it "Little Britain" which became Brittany.
She's also a great collector of French folk lore, which is heavy on tales of violent revenge by men on their unfaithful wives and the men they were unfaithful with. Apparently, there are no unfaithful husbands in France or they are so common no one notices.
France is top-heavy with war memorials from conflicts dating back centuries. The stories range from horrifying to inspirational to sickening to incredibly daffy. I'm NOT a war historian and I skipped over some of this. I loved her description of the tiny rural towns where life has changed little. Paris may be the ultimate in sophistication, but most of France is rural and much of it is isolated. The old people keep to the old ways, while the young ones leave for better jobs and an easier life.
No matter how isolated and primitive a village appears, there are modern problems. In one hamlet, the mayor gently chided his flock for spending too much time on the internet and not enough visiting with neighbors. And pity the poor scientists trying to protect endangered species in France. For the rural French, animals are to be eaten. But at a refuge which protects several rare species of vultures, they saw school children excited about saving the birds. Will they remember the lesson when they grow up or revert to the ways of their parents and grandparents?
I love that this author is honest about the inevitable conflicts between travel companions. No matter how much you love some one, after a week or so on the road, you're ready to kill each other. And roads in France are not well marked, maps are inadequate, and the French do NOT give directions. "If you don't know where you're going, stay home" should be the national motto.
It's hard to sum up such a long tour through so many varying sections of a large country. In general, people were friendlier in the south than in the north. All French food is NOT good. The German tourists they encountered were invariably friendly and helpful.
It's over 600 pages and you may have to take it in stages. If you love military history, you'll love this book. Every square inch of France is blood-stained and the French are proud of it. Me, I loved the story of the rescue of the wounded owl and its eventual return to the wild. People may have some control over their destinies. Animals have none.
Now I'm ready to start on her book "In Foreign Fields: How NOT to Move to France." I want to know more about this interesting woman and her life.
This is the fifth or sixth book I've read by this author and I've liked them all. I think you have to read her poignant memoir "I Wish I Could Say I Was Sorry" to understand the childhood that left scars and molded her into a sensitive, eager-to-please person. Unlike many writers, she never hides behind her stories. You can't read her books without feeling that you know her and I can't imagine anyone not liking her.
In this book, she and her husband Terry take an ambitious 6-week tour encircling France. She's a full-time ex-pat in rural France and reasonably fluent in Frence. Terry speaks NO French. He's a dare-devil and a speed-lover and she's not, but they both like a good road trip. Incredibly, they deliberately didn't research their route because they wanted to be surprised. They were.
First they decided their dog Tally needed a companion, so they acquired a small puppy "of unknown origin" assuming he'd be a smallish dog. By the time they were ready to start Dobby was the size of a Shetland pony. They ditched the tent and bought an elderly, unreliable van (Tinkerbelle). With most of their budget spent, they couldn't afford an expensive overhaul, so they hit the road trusting to fate.
In addition to his size, Dobby's a chewer. My favorite story is the fire extinquisher episode. Halfway through the trip, he cut his paw badly and had to be sedated for the vet to clean it out and put in staples. When they got the bill, his owners almost had to be sedated. Dobby is an expensive travelling companion.
They started in Brittany, the westernmost part of France, then proceeded south to the border with Spain, then on to the famous coasts of Southern France. Then to the low mountains on the border with Italy, then to the HIGH (8,000' altitude) French Alps on the border with Switzerland.
Then on to the long, frequently contested borders with Germany and Luxumbourg, then to the VERY low (8' below sea level at one point) border with Belgium. Normandy (the star of the WWII Allied invasion) finished off the trip. By that time, they were ready to head home.
You should have a map handy for reference. France is a big country, enormous by European standards. Its position in the middle of Western Europe means that it's been in the middle of every war since long before the Romans invaded. Some areas in France have changed hands so many times it's no wonder the people are shell-shocked and nervous.
She's a wonderful source of information. I was surprised to learn that England, Scotland and Wales are known as "Great Britain" because early Celts from those lands fled from Anglo-Saxon persecution to the western coast of France and called it "Little Britain" which became Brittany.
She's also a great collector of French folk lore, which is heavy on tales of violent revenge by men on their unfaithful wives and the men they were unfaithful with. Apparently, there are no unfaithful husbands in France or they are so common no one notices.
France is top-heavy with war memorials from conflicts dating back centuries. The stories range from horrifying to inspirational to sickening to incredibly daffy. I'm NOT a war historian and I skipped over some of this. I loved her description of the tiny rural towns where life has changed little. Paris may be the ultimate in sophistication, but most of France is rural and much of it is isolated. The old people keep to the old ways, while the young ones leave for better jobs and an easier life.
No matter how isolated and primitive a village appears, there are modern problems. In one hamlet, the mayor gently chided his flock for spending too much time on the internet and not enough visiting with neighbors. And pity the poor scientists trying to protect endangered species in France. For the rural French, animals are to be eaten. But at a refuge which protects several rare species of vultures, they saw school children excited about saving the birds. Will they remember the lesson when they grow up or revert to the ways of their parents and grandparents?
I love that this author is honest about the inevitable conflicts between travel companions. No matter how much you love some one, after a week or so on the road, you're ready to kill each other. And roads in France are not well marked, maps are inadequate, and the French do NOT give directions. "If you don't know where you're going, stay home" should be the national motto.
It's hard to sum up such a long tour through so many varying sections of a large country. In general, people were friendlier in the south than in the north. All French food is NOT good. The German tourists they encountered were invariably friendly and helpful.
It's over 600 pages and you may have to take it in stages. If you love military history, you'll love this book. Every square inch of France is blood-stained and the French are proud of it. Me, I loved the story of the rescue of the wounded owl and its eventual return to the wild. People may have some control over their destinies. Animals have none.
Now I'm ready to start on her book "In Foreign Fields: How NOT to Move to France." I want to know more about this interesting woman and her life.
October 12, 2013
Not a bad story by any means, just not wildly amusing either, more a typical "we went here and saw that" type with some amusing highlights here and there. Recommended for dog people and vegetarians, as those aspects of their travels featured regularly.
June 8, 2014
An enjoyable read about traveling through France, amusing anecdotes and historical as well as cultural tidbits about the country. I especially loved reading about Alsace since I studied there many years ago.
January 4, 2015
More than a travel book
Loved all her books this one especially. We travel full time in an RV so her memories of some campsites are hilarious. A moving travelogue of France. Great read.
Loved all her books this one especially. We travel full time in an RV so her memories of some campsites are hilarious. A moving travelogue of France. Great read.
June 3, 2015
I really enjoyed reading this book. Susie Kelly made me feel like I was there travelling with them. Very informative and easy to read. It gave a good insight into the different regions of France. I loved the dogs especially Dobby and the antics they got up too. A brilliant and humorous read.
May 10, 2016
Funny book about an English couple who travel around the coast of France with two dogs in a camper and the adventures that they have. The camper has a lot of mechanical problems, the dogs get into their own adventures. Lots of stories about history which are interesting.
June 18, 2014
This is my third Susie Kelley so I need not say more. But I will! If you like France, dogs, camping, traveling, food, history and funny/grumpy/clever/emotional women, you will enjoy this book.
October 21, 2016
Furry travels
Loved the book . Makes me want to see more of France. Enjoyed the combination of history, myths and humor. The dogs added to the story.
Loved the book . Makes me want to see more of France. Enjoyed the combination of history, myths and humor. The dogs added to the story.
September 22, 2025
A married couple, Susie and her husband Terry desire to travel over 6,000 miles in a camper van with two dogs, one of which Susie says is the size of a small pony. That dog, a young 8 month old, is in the chewing phase of dog hood. Susie and Terry originally planned to travel in a tent, but finding a tent large enough for two adults, one medium sized dog and the larger pony size proved impossible so a search was made for a camper van. One elderly van was located and the trip began. Thus begins a circular travel around France with various adventures of beaches, van breakdowns, dog injured bleeding paw vet bills, large mountains involving heavy breathing by van, and deluge of rains. They had planned for this adventure to take 6 weeks and the plan was to just drive and enjoy the trip. Susie writes in a very humorous manner and I laughed though a lot of this book. I have travelled with dogs so I could understand the issues. Susie speaks French, Terry however, being English, is limited to understanding French. Both are vegetarians and seeking appropriate foods without meat is part of the fun of the trip. Highly recommend this book.
June 4, 2023
Susie Kelly and her husband, Terry are British expats that live in France. They decide to take 7 weeks off to drive around the perimeter of France in a van called Tinkerbelle with their two dogs. She writes along the way giving the history of many towns as they stop at campsites throughout their journey. Many towns still show the scars of former wars and the mix of cultural influences from surrounding countries such as Spain, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium.
They encounter many interesting people, events and festivities as they pause to take local tours and learn much more about French history. Thanks to a wonderful house sitter, they were able to make this happen with the notable Normandy areas being close to their last stop before returning home. Susie Kelly added a glorious picture album to add depth and color to this shared experience!
They encounter many interesting people, events and festivities as they pause to take local tours and learn much more about French history. Thanks to a wonderful house sitter, they were able to make this happen with the notable Normandy areas being close to their last stop before returning home. Susie Kelly added a glorious picture album to add depth and color to this shared experience!
August 18, 2022
Enjoyable Read
Susie and her husband, Terry, decided to travel with their two dogs and managed to travel 6,000 miles around France in their old and rather worn-out camper van. We are treated to this beautiful country with all its different regions all depicted in Susie's wonderful style of writing. It had me laughing out loud in some places and in others with tears in my eye.
A truly wonderful read, thank you, Susie, I loved your adventures and learning the history of the places visited.
Susie and her husband, Terry, decided to travel with their two dogs and managed to travel 6,000 miles around France in their old and rather worn-out camper van. We are treated to this beautiful country with all its different regions all depicted in Susie's wonderful style of writing. It had me laughing out loud in some places and in others with tears in my eye.
A truly wonderful read, thank you, Susie, I loved your adventures and learning the history of the places visited.
January 22, 2021
Love her writing and this is the second of her books I've read. The only thing I didn't like was that there was a bit too much history of the places they visited. Otherwise a fun and brilliant read!
May 19, 2019
Didn't enjoy it as much as how not to move to france, but as I'm traveling France in my campervan I could relate to a lot of it & found some good spots to visit & interesting facts.
January 10, 2022
This is one of the first books I read when I got my new kindle, it attracted me because I love to travel. It's a really good read about a journey around the very edge of France by a couple in their aged camper van - which keptt breaking down but they always managed to repair by the seat of their pants - with their two dogs. It's original (to me) in that the authoress, as well as description of every place they visited and how they perceived it, gave a synopsis of the history of each place, which made it a very enjoyable read. The account of the two dogs made me wince a bit, I didn't think it was a good idea to take a young untrained dog on such a journey as he seemed to demolish everything that wasn't strapped down - but that's just personal opinion, he obviously enjoyed it!
October 9, 2022
Enjoyed this Memoir by Susie Kelly - loved the antics and the journey.
September 4, 2012
I enjoyed the author's other books more.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews