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).
Possibly the best weather we have had since arriving here (not that it has been bad up until now!), clear blue sky and 27C.
Much to my surprise, Kathleen suggests jaunt on the scooter, she really is getting into this! We first ride along to Varenes-sous-Dun, and double check church times for this evening, since, we plan to leave tomorrow morning. Next, we ride around to a few villages with "interesting" names (ie Saints you have never heard of), which Kathleen has picked out from the tourist map, given to us by the chap who runs the campsite.
All of the places we go to are rather beautiful, very old, and quaint, every one of them has a functioning church, with doors open. But, they all have another thing in common, they do not even have a cafe or bar. We end our scooter ride with a visit to Chateau de Dree, about 4 kilometers outside La Clayette. The correct spelling has an accent over the first "e", but, my English keyboard does not do accents. The Chateau and grounds are very impressive, apparently, bought by some
(very) rich person and restored to their former glory. It certainly is beautiful and magnificent, although, I am not sure it would have been worth a visit to Madame Guillotene in 1765 or when ever it was the French had a cull of their Aristocracy. In the evening, Kathleen cycles to church, in Varennes-sous-Duns. On our return, we chat to Rodger and Fiona for a short while. Today, they have cycled 40Km. This, plus a few glasses of Rose, inspires Kathleen to begin talking positively about a cycling holiday, taking the Newcastle -> Amsterdam Ferry. I quickly check the distance, Amsterdam to Saverne, just over 400 miles, a trifle ambitious, I will have to think
of somewhere a little nearer. Arnhem, is dismissed, it is only about 80 miles, from Amsterdam. Google tells me, there is a Canal, Amsterdam to the Rhine, passing through Utrecht, Kathleen is enthusiastic about this (after the second glass). I shall have to handle this carefully, it might actually be a "goer"!
Sunday, 25th September 2016
Final (?) farewells to Rodger and Fiona, it looks as if they are about to have another beautiful day, weatherwise, in La Clayette. They plan to move on to La Charite-sur-Loire, shortly, we do not know it at this point, but, they are soon to be disappointed!
Today, is about to turn into one of our less successful days of this trip. Not a lot goes right, but, all ends well. We first head to St Satur, Les Portes de Sancerre N47 20'32" E2 51'58", but, neither of us are entirely happy with this site. First not so good thing to happen, Kathleen suggests a stop for "a sandwich", we find pleasant Aire de Repose (stopping place). There is a Kiosk selling "frites", Kathleen decides we will have some, and, she will pay, 4.50Euro EACH, for chips! A bit steep! When we arrive (about 12:30), reception is closed for lunch, until 15:00. There is a code controlled barrier, and no where adequate to park a Campervan (or car/caravan). We manage to squeeze into the "visitors" car park, and have a walk around the site. The facilties leave a lot to be desired. Then we encounter an English couple who arrived just as reception was closing for "lunch". They were admitted, but, not checked-in, now, they cannot get their Electricity to work. They are thinking of leaving, and going instead to a site they have used before at Charite-sur-Loire. It is, they tell us, a beautiful site, with an interesting town. This just happens to be the site which Rodger and Fiona are planning to go to next. Although it means going back, approximately 10 miles, we decide to go there. It begins to rain, this day is just getting better and better! We have no co-ordinates or detailed address for the place, and naively assume it will be signposted. Big mistake. It is signposted, on very small signs, and, only if you are arriving from the South, we are arriving from the North. Eventually, courtesy of Google maps, we arrive at Camping de La Saulaie, La Charite-sur-Loire, Quai de La Saulaie, 58400. It is CLOSED. I subsequently checked the website, which says it is open April to September, well, it is September, but, it is closed. We have no contact details for Rodger and Fiona, so, no way to tell them that their next destination is closed. So, what to do? As we sit pondering, the English couple from St Satur arrive, they too are disappointed. We decide to head for Gien, they are going south, Spain eventually, so, they head for Nevers. We arrive at Gien, Camping Touristique de Gien N47 40'56" E2 37'23", the sun comes out, the site seems pleasant, things are looking up. The trip so far.
Thursday, 22nd September 2016 A real, autumn morning, a chilly 8C, to start, but warming nicely, as the sun rises above the trees, to reach a very pleasant 25C. One set of English neighbours leave today, in their caravan, heading home, and, our French neighbour packs her tent and leaves. This would appear to leave just four of us on site, ourselves, plus another couple (Rodger and Fiona) from Portsmouth, in a Campervan. We at first think, there are no supermarkets here in La Clayette, the ever resourceful Google, tells us there is an Aldi a short distance away, on the edge of town, so, we unload the scooter, from the trailer, and head off there. Next task, having the scooter off the trailer, is to check out the "alternative" church (with Mass on Saturday evening), in the adjoining village, Varennes-sous-Dun. On our way there, we pass a large "Intermarche Hypermarket", within walking distance of the campsite! Time for lunch. We cycle to La Clayette, to Restaurant La Belle Epoche, right opposite the Chateau. We have choices from the set menu's, plus a bottle of red, but the food is good, and plentiful, plus, towards the end of the meal, one of the staff begins to serenade the remaining diners by playing French music, from the turn of the 1900's, on an accordian! Great lunch! Of course, we do have to cycle back to the van, followed by falling asleep in the sun. Friday, 23rd September 2016 Another cool start, followed by a glorious 25C day. After a little "house work", ie clothes washing, we ride the 19km (12 miles) to Charolles, on the scooter.
Charolles, is an anti-climax, after riding 12 miles to get there. It is a very pretty place, but, not actually much there, we did not even find a decent bar! A very well maintained church, which we visit, in deference to the fact we have parked the scooter in their car-park. Kathleen enjoyed the ride, apart from a railway crossing which I failed to spot in time, and crossed at 50mph, with a bit of a
thump. I remembered it on the way back. Our helmet Inter-Com, has never really been excellent, but, last night, I succumbed and read the instructions, which means today, I was able to listen to Kathleen's instructions as we rode along. We spend the evening chatting and drinking wine with Rodger and Fiona. They are an interesting pair, approximately nine years older than us, he has had both hips replaced, and, open heart surgery! Not only are they pottering around France in their Campervan, but, they have been out cycling every day since they arrived here. When they were 70, they cycled from Portsmouth, via Caen, to Switzerland. As I say, an interesting pair.
Today, we leave Tournus and head for a place called La Clayette, only about 50 miles south of here. Kathleen has picked it out of the ACSI book, on the basis "the write-up sounds nice", let us hope it is accurate. First impressions are certainly favourable, as we enter the town, we are greeted with
this view, of a chateau, overlooking a lake. The campsite, La Clayette, Les Bryeres N46 17'30" E 4 19' 10", also overlooks the lake. There are very few people at the site, so, we are spoiled for choice as to where to place ourselves. So far, so good, everything seems in order, and, the sun is shining, it is a pleasant 22C. A light lunch, then a 4 mile cycle ride along the lake and into town to explore.
The all important (to Kathleen) church is found, and Mass times are determined. We pick out a restaurant or two, for possible future lunch-time sessions. I think this place is quite promising, although, it is a bit "undulating", so, I doubt there will be a lot of cycling done. But, Kathleen is still enthusiastic to use the scooter, and, there are plenty of nearby towns and villages to visit, including Charolles, of Charollais Beef fame.
