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).
Saturday, 17th September 2016 A truly dismal morning. We are high up here, so, I am not sure if we have mist, or low cloud, but, either way, everywhere is soaking wet, and, there is a steady drizzle. Someone (ie me) failed to put the "outdoor" chairs away last night, so, they are soaking wet. Kathleen insists, she did "tell" me to put the chairs away, but, I point out that she did not, she hinted that it might be a good idea to put the chairs away. As I have told Kathleen many times, men do not do hints! Instead of "it might be a good idea to put the chairs away", just say "we have finished using the chairs, will you put them away?". Clear an unambiguous.
We did have vague plans of perhaps staying here for another day or even two, but, given the dismal weather and the distance we are out of Plombieres-les-Bains, we decide to stick to Plan A, use this place as a stop-over, and head for Tournus.
When we passed through Plombieres-Les-Bains on the way here, the Sat-Nav took us along wide avenues, for some reason, going the other way, it takes us down impossibly narrow streets, with parked cars all over the place. The rain continues off and on, all 150 miles to Tournus, where we arrive at Camping Tournus (N45 34'25" E4 54'34", an ACSI site, 17Euro/night. The site is on the banks of the River Soane, and, promises to be very pleasant, if only the sun shines!, but, for today, it rains, and it rains and it rains! It certainly is popular, there are many vans here as we arrive, and numerous more arrive after us, mostly Dutch. I assume it is a site which people "know", because it is not easy to find, we have not seen a single signpost to the place, and even when you are almost at the entrance, it is not obvious. Before actually finding the site, we have a nice little tour of the river bank along a single track road, courtesy of the Sat-Nav. The journey, as it unfolds.
Sunday, 18th September 2016 The rain continues, in fact, worse if anything! I believe the French description to be "il pleat comme cache qui pisse".
Yesterday, a family arrived on bicycles. Mother, Father and two small children. The children are travelling in a trailer, towed behind the Father's bicycle. They are staying in this small tent. This morning, they were happily sitting under the cover rigged up outside of their tent, eating breakfast, as the rain poured down around them. After breakfast, they packed up their gear and cycled off in the rain. Now, THAT is camping! But, a little deluge of biblical proportions will not deter Kathleen from going to Mass on Sunday, so, we walk into Tournus, and Kathleen attends Mass at St Philibert's, whilst I have "Chocolate chaude" and read a very expensive (4.50Euro) Daily Telegraph, in a nearby cafe.
Thursday, 15th September 2016 It could not last, just as the weather forecast said it would, hot sunshine comes to an end. Cloudy and a cool 20C, with a stiff breeze and then, eventually, in the afternoon rain. A last ride out on the scooter, amazingly, at Kathleen's request, she is REALLY getting into this "bike chick" thing! Trailer all packed up with bikes, scooter, ready for our departure tomorrow. Friday, 16th September 2016 Cloudy and cool as we leave Saverne, and then, steady rain as we travel South.
We have taken a novel approach today, we checked out, and even discussed, the route, using Sat-Nav, Map, and Google. We chose the Google Maps prefered route, no problems, peace and harmony all the way.
The rain stops and the sun emerges as we arrive at Au Fraiteaux, Plombieres-les-Bains/Ruaux, N47 57'55" E6 24'59". The sunshine does not last however, by evening, it is pouring with rain. Au Fraiteaux is an ASCI site, 15Euro / night. We pass through Plombieres-les-Bains, en-route to the campsite. It is a Harrogate (North Yorkshire) look alike, very pleasant. The site is in a village (Ruaux) approximately 4km outside of Plombieres-les-Bains, definitely not cycling country, as far as Kathleen is concerned, there are very big hills!
Ruaux is a pleasant, sleepy little place, but, the only shop, bar, cafe, appear to be at the campsite. The only functioning "service" in the village appears to be a very well kept church. The jury is out (ie, that translates as "Kathleen has not decided"), as to, if we stay here more than overnight. If we do, the scooter will have to be pressed into service to get around.
The "main" street of the village, is decorated with bunting, suggesting that some event has just taken place, or, is about to take place. Given the lack of any shops, bars or cafes, it is difficult to imagine what form such an event will take! The journey, as it unfolds
