Sunday 23rd April 2017
Another brilliant day, blue sky, 24C.
The original "plan" was to leave here today, but, it is so pleasant here, we have decided to stay for an extra day.
This does pose a slight problem, today is scheduled to be Kathleen's "hair-care day".
Normally, it has been decreed, on a "hair-care" day, we MUST be a full facility site (ie EHU, copious amounts of hot water, correctly sized and position wash basins, suitable mirrors), but, we are on an Aire, the hair-care process is going to have to be done, using the facilities within the van.
The good news is, it all goes without a hitch, Kathleen even declares it a positive success.
Of course, it was not Kathleen who had to carry 100 litres of water, from the tap, and fill the onboard tank, nor was it Kathleen who had to carry 100 litres of waste water to the disposal point.
It is possible to drive the van to the service point and fill/empty water, but, that would have meant driving the van with Kathleen in the middle of the hair washing routine, something told me, suggesting this, was not wise.
Maybe, I should have been born an Aquarius, instead of a Libra?
Showing posts with label Moissac. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Moissac. Show all posts
Monday 24 April 2017
Saturday 22 April 2017
Moissac, Cycling
Friday 21st April 2017
Sunny, blue sky, 20C.
Today is spent cycling along the Canal Lateral de Garonne, in the direction of Castelsarrasin, about 5 miles away, then another 5 miles beyond that, to make a twenty mile round trip, through beautiful countryside.
Saturday, 22nd April 2017.
Blue sky, 25C.
We are enjoying it here so much, we decide to stay another day.
This decision disrupts the Church plan, so, we head off on the scooter to find the Convent Misercordia, where there is a mass on Saturday evening. We find the place no problem, and, the nun on Reception duties is amazingly helpful, even giving us a mini tour of the building! So, that is Kathleen sorted.
We spend the rest of the day cycling along the Canal (22 miles), in the opposite direction to yesterday.
We go as far as Valence en Agen, where there is this amazing fountain, outside of the bar, where we were forced to stop for a cooling beer.
I spend the evening in Bar Compestelle. I make use of my French a la Michel Thomas, to ask for "encore biere, s'il vous plait", only for the bar man to say "un autre biere", which according to Michel, is incorrect!
Either way, I received another beer.
Kathleen does the Church bit.
Sunny, blue sky, 20C.
Saturday, 22nd April 2017.
Blue sky, 25C.
This decision disrupts the Church plan, so, we head off on the scooter to find the Convent Misercordia, where there is a mass on Saturday evening. We find the place no problem, and, the nun on Reception duties is amazingly helpful, even giving us a mini tour of the building! So, that is Kathleen sorted.
We spend the rest of the day cycling along the Canal (22 miles), in the opposite direction to yesterday.
I spend the evening in Bar Compestelle. I make use of my French a la Michel Thomas, to ask for "encore biere, s'il vous plait", only for the bar man to say "un autre biere", which according to Michel, is incorrect!
Either way, I received another beer.
Kathleen does the Church bit.
Friday 21 April 2017
Exploring Moissac
Thursday, 20th April 2017
Just to remind us, we are not in Spain, but, in the Tarn Region of France, and, it is only mid-April, the morning starts sunny, but, decidedly cool at only 12C, but, by late morning, the temperature is improving, and we have a pleasant 20C day.
The campsite, Le Moulin du Bidounet, is, I would suspect, an ex-municipal site, I say that, because, it is "functional", ie, every thing is clean, and works, but, it is not "comfortable".
Yesterday, in the evening, we chanced upon a Motorhome Aire, (N44 5' 55" E1 5' 36") just across the river from the Campsite, and nearer to the town of Moissac.
It has a good level surface, EHU, and usual services, for 7Euro per day, we decide to move there.
It is all automated, with a Debit/Credit card check-in system, operating an entry/exit barrier, with instructions in French and English.
Once "settled in", we set off on foot, to
explore the town of Moissac.
Moissac turns out to be a rather pretty place. It is on both the River Tarn, and, the Canal Lateral de Garonne.
The long distance cycle track, Les Deux Mers (the two seas), passes through here, not that I think we will have time to do very much of that, on this trip.
Moissac is also on one of the many Pilgrim Routes, running through France, to Santiago de Compestela, in Spain.
There is a very impressive Abbey, which, according to the information boards was founded in the year 600, although the existing building is more recent, dating from the 1100's (recent!).
Not being at all Religious, it is the sheer scale of these old churches which impresses me, and the number of manhours which must have gone into building them and decorating them. This one is no exception, one of the things I notice, is the walls are covered in what looks like wallpaper, to modern eyes, but, it is in fact a repetitive pattern hand painted onto the plastered surface. Given the size of the building, it must have taken hundreds if not thousands of manhours to complete.
Having satisfied our culture requirements for the day (or year even), we head off in search of lunch, which we find in a very pleasant cafe on the square at the from of the Abbey.
Whilst in the Abbey, Kathleen has acquired a list of mass times for the coming weekend.
There is a slight problem, in that the mass at the Abbey, is not until 11:00 on Sunday, the day we will be leaving Moissac. There are two other places (in Moissac) listed as having Mass at more suitable times, but, try as we might, we cannot find either of them.
The problem is solved when we go exploring, in the evening, on the scooter, and find an alternative Church at a small village called Sainte Livrade, which has both a suitable parking area for the van plus trailer, and, a mass at 9:30 Sunday.
We also find a Lidl, selling Kathleen's favourite Rose Wine (White Zindanfel), I am not sure which she is most pleased about.
Just to remind us, we are not in Spain, but, in the Tarn Region of France, and, it is only mid-April, the morning starts sunny, but, decidedly cool at only 12C, but, by late morning, the temperature is improving, and we have a pleasant 20C day.
The campsite, Le Moulin du Bidounet, is, I would suspect, an ex-municipal site, I say that, because, it is "functional", ie, every thing is clean, and works, but, it is not "comfortable".
It has a good level surface, EHU, and usual services, for 7Euro per day, we decide to move there.
It is all automated, with a Debit/Credit card check-in system, operating an entry/exit barrier, with instructions in French and English.
Once "settled in", we set off on foot, to
Moissac turns out to be a rather pretty place. It is on both the River Tarn, and, the Canal Lateral de Garonne.
The long distance cycle track, Les Deux Mers (the two seas), passes through here, not that I think we will have time to do very much of that, on this trip.
Moissac is also on one of the many Pilgrim Routes, running through France, to Santiago de Compestela, in Spain.
Not being at all Religious, it is the sheer scale of these old churches which impresses me, and the number of manhours which must have gone into building them and decorating them. This one is no exception, one of the things I notice, is the walls are covered in what looks like wallpaper, to modern eyes, but, it is in fact a repetitive pattern hand painted onto the plastered surface. Given the size of the building, it must have taken hundreds if not thousands of manhours to complete.
Having satisfied our culture requirements for the day (or year even), we head off in search of lunch, which we find in a very pleasant cafe on the square at the from of the Abbey.
Whilst in the Abbey, Kathleen has acquired a list of mass times for the coming weekend.
There is a slight problem, in that the mass at the Abbey, is not until 11:00 on Sunday, the day we will be leaving Moissac. There are two other places (in Moissac) listed as having Mass at more suitable times, but, try as we might, we cannot find either of them.
The problem is solved when we go exploring, in the evening, on the scooter, and find an alternative Church at a small village called Sainte Livrade, which has both a suitable parking area for the van plus trailer, and, a mass at 9:30 Sunday.
We also find a Lidl, selling Kathleen's favourite Rose Wine (White Zindanfel), I am not sure which she is most pleased about.
Wednesday 19 April 2017
To Moissac,
Wednesday, 19th April 2017
A cool 10C start to the day, we are not used to this!
We are soon on our way, just as the sun begins to shine over the hills and bring a bit of warmth to the day.
An easy 110 miles today, to Moissac, on the River Tarn.
We have left the mountains behind now, a mixture of flat plateau and rolling hills with roads that must have been built by the Romans, arrow straight!
Our destination, Moissac, Le Moulin du Bidounet (N44 5'47" E1 5'21"), an ASCI Campsite, on an island in the River Tarn, just outside the town of Moissac.
In true French style, reception is closed, for lunch (ie 12:30 - 15:30), so, we have to wait to get in.
The French know how to relax!
We have a three mile stroll in the evening, after two days of sitting on our rear ends, we need a little exercise.
A cool 10C start to the day, we are not used to this!
An easy 110 miles today, to Moissac, on the River Tarn.
We have left the mountains behind now, a mixture of flat plateau and rolling hills with roads that must have been built by the Romans, arrow straight!
Our destination, Moissac, Le Moulin du Bidounet (N44 5'47" E1 5'21"), an ASCI Campsite, on an island in the River Tarn, just outside the town of Moissac.
In true French style, reception is closed, for lunch (ie 12:30 - 15:30), so, we have to wait to get in.
The French know how to relax!
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