Awaycation Summer 2023 France Day 1 onwards

Arrived at the Shuttle at 0646 and checked Reggie into the Pet Reception.

Our first stop tonight would be a campsite in Bourg-Comin - Camping la Pointe. Only €19 a night inc EHU. Decent site, good pitches.

After a stop at the Picard in Coquelles for three kilos of dogador, raw food for dogs,and then Auchun for those essentials for life - food, beer and wine, and we were off.

We decided to knock the time off and take the A26. A toll road. The satnav was quoting 4.5 hours and 7.5 off toll

With cruise control to be set at 100km/h on the HUD, we set off. The temp gauge showing a reasonable 25°C. A couple of stops for coffee and lunch, plus essential dog pee breaks and we exited near Laon.

I had set a waypoint to a motorhome parking area close to the city wall. One road was closed with road works, but the satnav got us round.

Park4Night shows the space for 8 motorhomes. The spaces are delimited by metal studs in the road. There was only one Moho there when we arrived. I did a three point turn and slotted into a space.

We were only going into the cité for a walk to see the cathedral.

It was hot and for Reggie's comfort we kept to the shade as much as possible. The cathedral is marvellous. So many interesting gargoyles on the facade.

We adjourned to the cafe opposite to sit in the shade. A quick menthe a l'eau each and we walked back. Some nice photos - to follow!!!

The road to the campsite is a decent D road.

We arrived around 1635. Checked in and went on pitch 21. The site has a pool as well as a restaurant. We ordered bread for this morning. A cockup with booking meant that 21 is a non-EHU pitch. There was no one on 22 so I plugged in there. The hosts said that was okay.

It had been a long day. At times the thermometer in the van was showing 34°C. It was warm and sticky all night...

Day 2

Neither of us got much sleep and to be honest we didn't get up too early. Our next stop would be the former municipal site at Mantenay-Montlin. This is in the Bresse area. Noted for its chickens....

The site is now a Camping de Mon Village site. Booked though Camping-Car Parks. The difference is that these are campsites not Aires. That means you can have the awning rolled out and use tables and chairs. The sanitaries are also on site in summer.

With the longest day on the road ahead of us we opted once again to use the péage! We will feel the pain if this next month when the bill drops through the door!

Before we got to the motorway we stopped at the armoured force monument near the Chemin des Dames.

We have been here before on the way back from a pre-Christmas trip to Metz.

And then it was time to hit the péage and make some progress. We had ordered bread and croissants the night before so we had lunch. We stop far too often when we are away, but it means that Reggie gets to stretch his legs and of course have a pee. 

At the first stop we went around a few times as there were cars parked in the caravan parking .. without caravans! In the end we parked in one of the truck parks.  I went to McD via the loo. This Sommesous aire de service was packed. Two coaches had arrived and the self-service restaurant and McDonald's was very busy. Service was quick for two white coffees!

We just plugged along the different motorways southwards and made our exit near Tournus crossing the River Saone there.

Mantenay-Montlin has in its centre a huge silver statue of a coq.  The site is 600m from there down a narrow road. Okay in a van but not much run off at the side when passing oncoming vehicles.

As I had paid in advance we just needed to touch our card on the reader and the barrier opened. The site is mostly grass. But for winter there are some hard standing tarmacked pitches. 

We drove along and found an ehu bollard and next to it a water tap. We needed to fill our fresh water and so pitch 16 was perfect.

The view at the front was across the grass to the river. 

The only downside? The noise the local frogs made! There must have been hundreds or even thousands croaking loudly until late into the night. The sanitaires were clean and came with loos and showers....

All in all a very nicely kept site and this summer only €14 a night including electric.

Day 3

A shorter day but one where we were going to visit a long-term colleague of Claire's at her house to the north of Saint-Etienne. Being Friday the traffic was a little heavier. Once again we chose the wallet sapping péage.

Looking at the map it looked as though we should head pretty much South-East to Reims and get on the motorway there. "The Ohrex" took us east and we joined the A26 a little further north than that. 

We only had to go about a 100 miles and it was a little after noon when we arrived. This after overshooting the turn and having to turn back.

Veronique and her husband, Vincent,  made us and Reggie very welcome. With the drive gate shut their huge plot of land was secure for Reggie to run around, whilst we chatted and had lunch. Lunch was locally sourced, sausages and cheeses. Very simple but very nice. 

The blue cheese Montbrison was milder than most other blues like Roquefort. Something to look out for in future.

It was getting on for 3.30pm when we left. Various checks on maps showed that it was around 2 hours max to the site for two nights near Anneyron.

In the end it was just short of three hours....

Once off the A72 around Saint-Etienne itself the road out climbs up and you enter the Parc Naturel Régional du Pilat on the D1082. The climb up to the highest point at the Col de la République at 1161 metres is a bit of a strain. This would be perfect on another day, in the dry, on a sports bike or even my V-strom! Still great fun in a 7.02m motorhome. Although the column of traffic behind wanting to exceed the 90 limit might disagree....

At Annonay Ohrex decided we should stay on the D820 to cross the Rhône at Serrières. High above the river we joined the large queue of traffic winding down to the antique looking bridge over the river. Gridlock in both directions. 

We joined the N7 for a short squirt before heading around Albon and into Anneyron.

The "arrival time" on the Ohrex was way over the site's reception closing time! We tried calling but neither phone had a signal!!

In the end we arrived at 6.25pm. Five minutes to spare.  We were shown a nap with a few places to pitch up.

A couple were unoccupied but the signs that previous occupants had had a problem put me off.  The pitches were slightly sloping up off the gravel road/drive.  No thanks.

In the end we chose a lower pitch. Reversing to turn around. Crunch. Rear left corner above the lights and hedge made contact. A previously repaired crack (previous owner!) is now a duct tape covered hole. Bowlocks.

We decided to set up as it was near to the ehu bollard and a water tap. Handy for filling the kettle and Reggie's water bowl.

The weather forecast is thunder ⛈️ for the weekend. Luckily our first night of two it rained but not too hard. Hopefully as we are on the Milenco Triples and facing out of the pitch, we can easily roll out onto the gravel! Fingers crossed.

As I write it's coming up to lunchtime on Saturday 10th June.

All we have done so far is sit in the sun, grumble at the noise the new occupants are making with their inflatable bungalow sized tent... And think about lunch. 

The site was do quiet.  The Germans in the Harley Davidson badged Hymer didn't seem please when we set up camp, he was checking to see if he could get off his pitch. In the end he had no problems. Maybe he heard the crunch and wanted to avoid us and the aggressive hedge? 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

Today is supposed to be peaceful before we set off tomorrow to our next site on the Camargue. 

I have three different mozzie roll-ons and sprays with me. One worked marvels in mozzie infested botanical gardens in Sarasota FL. Let's see if French mosquitoes are as easily and successfully deterred.

Tonight for dinner? Mergues sausages and tinned veggies! Have Ridge-Monkey will travel.

Until tomorrow. As usual. Photos to follow.