Monday, 26 June 2023

Awaycation Summer 2023 - France

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Awaycation Summer 2023 - France

Day 8

Another totally lazy do nothing day. 

After the rainy end to yesterday the forecast today for the Millau area was much more of the same.

Our neighbours to the right, both UK caravans, packed up and left. 

We had left the awning and groundsheet out and both were sopping wet. 

We had a walk to the reception to pick up our baguette and croissants. The sky was grey in places. 

The indicator on the fresh water was showing red and so whilst Claire did the washing up I made a few trips to the drinking water tap near the motorhome service area to fill a 5L water bottle. As luck would have it the tip of the bottle fitted perfectly into the inlet. 

With the ground wet when we arrived and the subsequent rain, I only want one go at driving off the pitch! 

The access to the motorhome service area looks a little tight in any case. We'll need to drain the grey and empty the cassette at some point. Tomorrow I think, when we are leaving.

After breakfast the sun peeped out and then the day was very warm. We dried the awning, groundsheet and chairs in the sun.

If we had a rear window we would be able to see the river rushing by. After the Camargue I had been worried that we had gone from one mosquito hell to another. Apart from one sneaky little B biting my ankle we have been clear. 

Around 4pm there were a few spots of rain, so away went the awning, the chairs and groundsheet were packed away in the locker... It drizzled. Another 10L I to the water tank....

We took a walk out along the river and hadn't got far when thunder rumbled! Reggie immediately got worried and barked. 

I took a few photos of the huge cliffs across from the campsite. The Tarn cut its way through these over millennia.

We holed up in the van. As quickly as it blew up, it had gone. 

The sun returned. The birds began to sing. The hoopoe that visited earlier didn't return but we can hear its call. It sounds like it is calling out its name.

To see us through to dinner tonight's snack is camembert, but as we have no bread, we had to make do with crisps. 

We also looked at the journey tomorrow. Our next two-nighter is in Saint-Nectaire. It's not that far and will be quicker using the A75 toll free motorway.

Into the journey I have built-in a couple of Beaux Villages that aren't too far into the mountains. More about and of them tomorrow.

The weather forecast tomorrow looks good.

Dinner tonight looks like lasagne. The site restaurant does snacks but not on Wednesdays. What day is it?

Until tomorrow.

Awaycation Summer 2023 - France

Day 7 - Part 2

Once we had eaten. For those interested in the eating habits of others, fresh baguette 🥖, Tomme de Savoie cheese and ham on. Very nice.

When paying to park you get a ticket with a bar code. On exit the barrier bollard takes the ticket and that's the last you see of it ..

Ohrex wanted us to go left but being a know all after seeing the map I went right. That was actually wrong. The junction on the A75 that I was aiming for was closed for roadworks.

But before that the thunder that was forecast daily since Wednesday arrived. Reggie went mad. Then it seemed to pass. About a mile down the road it began to rain. When I say rain I mean monsoon level. The road surface turned into a river in seconds. There was nowhere to stop safely and so I carried on at around 25mph.

It lasted for around 10 minutes and then cleared.

By the time we came into Millau it was dry. The view of the Viaduct was stunning. I have been over it but as an experience I can't say it was that exciting.

From the viewpoint on the D809 it is simply amazing with Millau nestled under the massive cliffs of the Tarn Gorge.

It was drizzling when we checked in. We had a drive around and chose a pitch (45) overlooking the river.

With heavier rain due and a grass pitch we ended up backing in. The side windows will provide the view. I thought that it was safer to be only a metre or so to the gravel track!!

Not long after setting up... The skies darkened and it started to lash down with quite heavy rain. Quick get stuff from getting wet. Roof lights closed!

Now we can see where the river gets its water from!!!😄😄😄

And so for dinner. Listening to a French FM station. Tonight's culinary delight is a tin of cassoulet, baguette followed by the cheese course.

Tonight's cheese will be some of the Tomme and maybe Bleu our Brebis. Washed down with a local version of Sangria!

Tomorrow? Who knows. It all depends on the weather ....

Awaycation Summer 2023 - France

Day 7 - Part 1

So here we are having lunch in the Camping-Car parking in La Couvertoirade.

We didn't get up until late. It was hot and sticky again overnight. So no sleeping bags just sheets used again.

We packed up and it was around 11am when we rolled. First stop Carrefour on the outskirts of Béziers for supplies and whilst there I topped up the fuel tank again. Here was the cheapest we have since we arrived in France.

Then up the A75. When I was planning I forgot that this crew all except for the Millau Viaduct.

It's also the entrance to the Massif. We climbed up and up. The range on the dashboard went from a high of 694 miles to 440! This will go up again when we go downhill!

The village costs €4 to park. I didn't see for how long. A French van near us seems to be setup for the night... Levellers, roll-out awning out and all campsite behaviour. 

The village itself is marvellous. Built around the 13th century Templar castle.



From here we head for the campsite at Millau.

Awaycation Summer 2023 - France

Day 6 - Part 2

Well. The change of site may have resulted in us losing the €23 we paid for La Brise, and then the €15 we then shelled out for Sérignan-Plage, but the lack of flies and mozzies makes it almost worth it. We could have had two nights here! 

Anyway, coming this far west means that our next double overnight stay near Millau is much nearer.

We have to be off site here before noon. I am planning to be away before that!

The van did need levellers. This is normal as usually vans are a little "arse upwards".

The bordering campsites are a little loud. Music etc. Judging by the voices it's kids they are catering for in the day and adults until 1130pm!!

No problems really. Free entertainment!!

When it cooled down we took a walk to the beach. Not much going on and the car park, huge as it is, has a height barrier 🚧!!

One bar a few hundred metres along from our beach access seemed a magnet 🧲 for yoofs in cars. Their music vying with each other and that of the bar.

That was it. 

Tomorrow. "Only" about 85 miles to Millau via the Beaux Village de France ať La Couvertoirade.  

Bedtime nearly and time to finish today's blog...