Saturday 18th September 2010

Friday 10^th September 2010

We’re back on the road!!! Gave up waiting for the AA to call so called them, to be told the garage had fixed the van but needed to run some more tests so another hours labour! We packed, planned our route and walked up to the garage to get there just before 12 and the start of their 2 hour lunch break! The garage reception still didn’t know whether it was ready or which day of the week it was! They made more phone calls to the “Napoleonic” mechanic, who was just leaving for lunch, yes the van was ready! We paid, grabbed our keys and left, it was like rush hour as everyone left for their lunch! We drove the van back to the hotel and picked up our numerous bags, said our goodbyes (see photo) and left!

Needed fuel so stopped and nervously filled her up! Then made our way out of the Paris area and along some lovely country roads. Lynn and the Sat Nav had a disagreement over the route to our overnight stop! Lynn overruled the Sat Nav only to be outdone later on, I feel this is just the start of a battle of the navigators!!

Found our Aire in Bray sur Seine, right on the river (see photo)! Quickly set up and had some lunch before walking into the small town, very old with lots of little alleys. Found a supermache where we bought enough dinners for a few days and a nice bottle of local wine! Got back and sat infront of the van by the river in glorious sunshine, drinking the wine and eating French sausage! A few vans are here, including a couple of English. May stay another night and go for a bike ride along the canal tomorrow. Found a map with cycle routes on it, looks good.

Saturday 11^th September 2010

Woke up to another lovely sunny day so decided to stay another night! Sat by the van overlooking the river with a morning cup of tea! After breakfast decided to empty the waste water and fill her up with fresh. Began manoeuvring only to be queue jumped by a small Belgium van! Considered ramming him but overruled by the crew! After completing the “Pitstop” I know we can get quicker! We parked the van overlooking the river again and set off on a bike ride along the river and through some local villages. The river views were lovely (see photos) and we had lunch in a park by the river. Some of the terrain was interesting, more off road assault course than leisurely cycle ride! But we enjoyed it.

Sat by the van having a beer and planning our route for tomorrow. We plan to head towards Orleans and stay at a campsite for a couple of nights, as there don’t appear to be any suitable Aires in the area. It may also give us wifi!

Sunday 12^th September 2010

Writing this sitting on a bench the next to our pitch in the sun, with a glass of wine and some sausage, this is the life!

Packed up this morning in some sunshine but with rain clouds looming. Made our way out of town and onto A19, unfortunately neither the map or the Sat Nav had the new road layout where we expected to come off it! We stayed on the A19 for some distance before escaping onto D roads which took us through some lovely countryside and villages. By now the rain had arrived. Found our campsite at the first attempt right on the Loire. Booked in using the ASCI card and the receptionist didn’t charge for Sarah! Able to choose our own pitch, site fairly quiet, which was lucky as not many would easily take “Bella”. Those outfits that are here are mostly Dutch, with a couple of Brits and French. By the time we had finished lunch, the sun had come out and the rain had stopped. Decided to go for bike ride along the Loire (see photos). Visited the local chateau just across the river, which was lovely and seemed to have connections to Henry IV? Auction taking place in one of its large rooms with items going for 2000 euros, had to keep an eye on Lynn who was getting rather excited!

Unfortunately the site office is closed and we can’t seem to find the wifi as shown in the book! Intend to ring home to say hi and will post this as soon as we can.

Monday 13^th September 2010

Had a leisurely breakfast outside, before cycling into Sully sur Loire which was packed due to market day. It’s amazing you get the same “Quality stuff” in market wherever you are! The food produce did look good though. Having explored the town and still not found a supermarket, Lynn asked for directions in perfect French and received them the same! Unfortunately this meant nothing! She returned with notes and diagrams which after a quick tour of the town again brought us flawlessly to the small supermarket, voila! Spent the afternoon sitting in the sun or going for a walk along the river.

Tuesday 14^th September 2010

Left the camp and followed the Loire heading west towards the coast. Lynn got us to one of the Chateau I had found in the guide book, chateau Chambord (see Photos). We only intended to stop for a short while but it was so interesting we stayed all afternoon and had a really good look around. This was the seat of the royal kings over different generations and had spiral staircases believed to have been designed by Leonardo Di Vinci! Incredible views from the upper levels where you could go outside and walk around the roof areas. Lynn enjoyed this immensely, Sarah and I not so sure!!

When we came to leave the ticket machine (which measures the length of your vehicle) wanted to charge us 30 euros, the same as the coaches! We went back to the information desk where we spoke to the English women working there! She sorted the ticket out and charged us the 6 euros we were expecting! We left and drove along the Loire through some very pretty villages and in glorious sunshine! The temperature outside was hitting high 70’s low 80’s! eventually found an Aire just outside a small town, Athee sur Cher.

Wed 15^th September 2010

Woke up to grey skies and rain, what a change! Found a supermarket on route, so filled up with food and fuel. The diesel is cheaper than home but the food more expensive! Sarah cooking tonight as it’s our wedding anniversary, bought a large bottle of local red wine to go with Sarah’s “Duck with red berries”.

Had a quick lunch overlooking the Loire river before heading to our Aire. Sat Nav took us along the river before going cross country and through a military training area! Nice Aire set amongst the trees on the edge of a small town, Le Courdray Macourd. Now where’s that wine?

Thursday 16^th September 2010

Had a good run towards our next Aire and as the town was on the map, Lynn decided to navigate without the Sat Nav as it looked straight forward and the town we wanted was actually on the map! All went well until we reached a town not far from our destination but couldn’t find either the road or town we wanted! Decided to switch on Sat Nav, which quickly found the road we wanted then took us off onto a small lane which got smaller and smaller until we reached a small hamlet and couldn’t go anything further due to our width! Had to do some tight reversing during which the entire local population decided to drive through! Switched off Sat Nav and made our way back to the bigger road and Lynn got us to the Aire in Coulon.

Lovely town, very very pretty with small canal/rivers hence the name “Green Venice”. After lunch went off on a bike ride along the canals (see photos) and through some local villages, great countryside with marked walking and cycling trails. Spent nearly 3 hours cycling around and thoroughly enjoyed it. Should make the coast tomorrow and plan to stay in a campsite over the weekend so we can get internet access!

PS dinner last night was fabulous, Sarah did a great job!

Friday 17^th September 2010

Left the Aire early,  0930hrs ( crew did a slick pit stop!) and had a great journey towards the coast, the sun coming out as we got closer.  Found the bridge onto the “lle d’ Oleron”, small island only 35k by 12k. Managed to the aire at Bouyardville, overlooks Fort Bouyard from the TV series, only to find it closed! This meant some reversing and muttering! Decided to head for the campsite a day early, had some trouble finding it, poor directions, lack of sign posts and a French builder blocking most of the lane with his truck who insisted we could get by, until he saw the van! Even then he measured the width of van and the gap he’d left by walking them, only to be forced to acknowledge it wouldn’t fit! Mum did brilliant in her negotiations I sat in the van and called him a few choice names!

Found the site which is great, only just fitted through entrance and managed to reverse into the pitch, a bit tight (see photo)! Had lunch in the sun and went for a walk around the camp and out the back across the dunes onto the beach. Brilliant!

If the weathers good we’re going to try the pool in the afternoon and buy some wifi time which we can access from the bar area! Oh what a shame!