A light hearted and (I hope) amusing record of some of our Campervan Trips.
It is mainly intended to inform friends and family where we are, plus, to keep our children updated on what is happening to their inheritance.
I do try to include details of Camp Sites and Aires, we visit. Checkout the "labels" listed in the right margin,
Please comment if you feel inclined, at least then I know I am not talking to myself (again).
Friday 25th September 2015 Light cloud, but, mild and bright. The sun actually breaks through the clouds periodically through he day.
Our English neighbours and lunch companions, of yesterday, Jerry and Norma, leave this morning, heading for the ferry at Caen.
Despite yesterday's mammoth cycle ride, Kathleen expresses a willingness, indeed, an enthusiasm for going cycling again today.
Accordingly we set off, along the Canal, in the opposite direction to yesterday, towards Diou, which is 25km (15 miles) away.
Unlike yesterday, we see very few people cycling along, but, we do see quite a number of boats cruising along.
We make it just to Pierrefit-sur-Loire, (10 miles) before Kathleen expresses a desire to call a halt (ie, declares she is not going any further). I manage to coax another 3 miles out her, before a final halt is called.
At Pierrefit-sur-Loire, as well as some amusing canalside artworks, there was a signpost for a bar/cafe, so, we return there for lunch.
The bar/cafe is certainly quaint, as we arrive two British motorcyclists are just leaving. The bar is attached to a "grocery" shop, which appears to sell just about everything. I do think the impression given, of live music, in the sign, is slightly miss-leading, the whole Bar is smaller than our Lounge at home!
We are served our beers in English style pint pot glasses.
Whilst we are having our drink, another cyclist arrives. We are not sure what nationality he was, but, given the torturous exchange to order a sandwich and a drink, he was, presumably, not French.
The barman disappeared to make a sandwich for the new arrival. When he reappeared he had the largest sandwich I have ever seen. It consisted of half of a very large baguette, filled with ham, cheese, lettuce and tomato.
The cyclist only managed to eat half of it, before, admitting defeat and requesting a bag to take the rest away with him.
We returned via the Supermarket in Digoin, where I purchased among other things some "Digoinaise sausage", which I cooked for our dinner. Kathleen did actually try some, but, said she did not like it, so, I have the rest of the pack to eat, at some later date!
I also purchased some cheese, local to the area around Annecy, called Reblouchon, I suspect I will have to eat all of that too. Our little detour, via the LeClerc supermarket, means, we have completed 28.5 miles, today.
On our return to the campsite, we find it has filled up, almost exclusively with Dutch people. I do not know what is going on in Holland, but, it would appear they are evacuating the place, given the number of Dutch who have arrived here in the course of the day.
Wednesday 23rd September 2015 A cloudy and decidely cool start (9C) to the day. It does not improve much, cloudy and cool (14C), until 17:00, at which point, sunshine. We explore Digoin, which is much bigger than we thought, but, it would appear mostly closed for the season.
Thursday 24th September 2015
A misty start to the day, but, by 9:30, the sun is beginning to burn off the mist, and a sunny day is promised. It does indeed turn out sunny, by 11:00, it is a warm and sunny 20C, with 23C in the afternoon.
This prompts Kathleen to think about (clothes) washing!
What is it with women, sunshine = clothes washing and drying, when, it should be sunshine = fun? In the event, Kathleen has her fix of clothes washing, by which time, the sun has burned off the mist, and we are "all systems GO" for cycling. It would appear several people on the site are of like mind, our German neighbours pedal off, whilst we are still getting ourselves ready, and, our English neighbours Jerry and Norma. Eventually, we are off too. Kathleen is in fine pedalling form, and, we overtake our German neighbours at the first lock. We do not catch up with Jerry and Norma until we reach Paray-le-Monial, some ten miles away. It should be pointed out, Jerry and Norma may be a little older than we are, but, they are on electric bikes! Paray-le-Monial is a very pleasant place, with a beautifully restored Basilica. While looking for a place to have lunch, we chance upon Jerry and Norma, who are on the same quest. It transpires we may have met someone who is even more picky about food than Kathleen! We find that Norma's mother came from Blyth, in Northumberland, given their complex list of things they do not eat, I theorise, they may be related! Soon we are having a very pleasant lunch at a small cafe in the centre of town. The French know how to relax! The round trip is a commendable 24 miles, rounded off with sitting in the sun, drinking a cool beer.
The weather forecast for today is cloudy, but mild. We had planned to leave Annecy tomorrow, but, decide we may as well travel on a cloudy day, and hope for sunshine tomorrow!
The eternal optimists we are! We have about 150 miles to our next planned stop, Digoin, in Burgundy.
It would appear, this year, we are to be plagued by road closures. We are enjoying an almost traffic free and reasonably scenic drive, when a dreaded "Route Barree" sign appears, soon followed by a barricade across the road, to leave us in no doubt, the road is closed.
The closure is at a place called "Serrieres" and affects what appears to be the only bridge across a river, for several miles, so, we follow the "deviation" signs. Note, I say "signs" in the plural, there are actually two signs, a record in my experience of French signposting.
Several miles later, following a road which does not even appear to be on the map as far as he sat-nav is concerned, we emerge at a bridge, and a road leading in the direction we want to go. We arrive at Digoin, Camping de la Chevrette, late afternoon. We are fortunate enough to get parked and hooked up to the electrics just before the heavans open and we have a half hour downpour. The good news is, the site appears to be well located for the town, and cycling opportunities (if the rain stops!), Although it is "out of season", the place is more than half full.
Accordingly we set off, along the Canal, in the opposite direction to yesterday, towards Diou, which is 25km (15 miles) away.
