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Charmes, continued
Mack and Josie have decided to leave, we are in the process of saying goodbye, when (yet another) pair of Scots turn up, Glen and Mary, it turns out they live about 10 miles from Mack and Josie.
We leave the four of them chatting, while we head off on our bicycles.
We cycle eight miles along the canal (Canal d’Est), which runs alongside the River Moselle.
It is easy cycling, and quite pleasant, but, to be honest not terribly scenic!
When we return, we find Mack and Josie have reconnected their van to the electricity and are sitting drinking coffee with new arrivals, Glen and Mary. We join them, lo and behold, as we sit there, yet another British pair come walking along (Deryk and Erica). They are not travelling by campervan, but, instead are roaming the waterways of France in their canal boat.
After lunch, we walk into town to have a beer and then buy strawberry tarts.
On our way back to the van, we call at Deryk and Erica’s boat (Star of Destiny).
Kathleen, never shy, asks if we can have a look around, and they, very kindly oblige.
It is very impressive, like a small house really. A real kitchen, living room, two bedrooms and the wheelhouse doubles up as a dining room come conservatory. You could be VERY comfortable onboard this!
As the day wears on, more and more vans arrive, all German, Dutch and Belgian. By early evening, there is quite a little drinking session going on, with ourselves and some Dutch neighbours, who actually ask if Kathleen will play her guitar.
The Pizza man arrives to take orders for take out Pizza, how organised is this place?
After a very pleasant and warm day, we have rain and gale force winds over night, it has not improved by Monday morning.
We make our planned move to Pont a Mousson.
It is dry when we arrive, but soon, the rain catches up with us.
Still, from what I see in the Newspaper, the weather is even worse at home, small consolation!
Pouring rain all Monday night, which lasts until after lunch Tuesday, Kathleen resorts to washing her hair, to occupy herself.
Just as I am about to slope off to McDonalds to use the wifi, Glen and Mary arrive from Pont a Mousson.
Wednesday morning, and it is still raining heavily.
We pack up and head for Stenay, via a couple of supermarkets, where we stop to top up Kathleen's hoard of Gin, Rose Wine and White Wine.
When we eventually arrive at Stenay, who is already sitting there but Mack and Josie!
Still raining!
Charmes, one of many aires on the River Moselle, and, it's associated canal.
For 6Euro per night, you get Electric hook up (6amps), toilets, showers (1.50Euro), and the usual service point.
It even has a wifi point (WIFI STOP), 3Euro for two days, or 16Euro for a year! There are, apparently, WIFI STOP points throughout France. I must have come across at least one before, since, When I come to register, it turns out, I am already registered.
It is fairly well used, but, when we were there at least, not too busy.
This is the view from our window.
As we arrive, we follow another British van ( well actually a Scot to be exact) in, this turns out to be Mack and Josie, a spritely pair in their mid 70's who still roam Europe in their campervan, and usually drive down to Portugal for the winter.
Just as I said before, that some chores just have to be done, so it is with haircuts, just because you are away from home, your hair does not stop growing.
As Kathleen begins cutting my hair in the sunshine, another Brit comes along and introduces himself, he is one of a couple (Steve and Ann), who are on a two year marathon trip, with no plan beyond today.
With six Brits on one aire, what are we to do, well, have a drink together of course, and soon the wine, red, white and rose is flowing. Then, Steve invites us all to eat with them, and tells us, he has cooked enough Spaghetti Bolognaise to feed six people.
Just to put a damper on the party, we feel a few spots of rain, so, we move under a tree, then, the heavens open, and we all scurry, into Steve and Ann's van.
I am not sure how, but, he manages to serve up a meal for six, in between drinking copious amounts of red wine!
The fun goes on fairly late into the night, and ends up with everyone, including Kathleen drinking brandy (Kathleen doesn't even like brandy!).
If this is the way Steve and Ann jouney is going to continue, I am not sure their livers will stand the pace!
Saturday morning, and Steve and Ann head off, just slighly hungover, after exchanging Email addresses.
A trip to Lidl with Mack and Josie, to replentish the wine supplies.
In the afternoon, I cycle along the canal in search of a church (the church in Charmes is closed, due to lack of a priest). I manage to find not one, but two, however, they are over five miles away, and neither of them have a mass tomorrow. It turns out, the nearest church with a mass, is ten miles away at Chatel-sur-Moselle. A ten mile cycle ride before 10:00 in the morning is too much, even for Kathleen's determination!
