Category Archives: Country

France day 18 – Cormoranche-sur-Saone

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Today was meant to be a lovely blue-sky day.  It did not disappoint, despite a slow start as the thin cloud was burnt off.  The morning was quite chilly, and our feet felt it as we wandered around doing our morning tasks.  Another happy camper informed us it had been 5C during the night.

The late morning and early afternoon were spent in a leisurely walk which took us through fields and woods, along the bank of the river Saone.  In one of the fields on the way to the river we saw three grey herons. 

The Saone is a large navigable river, we saw several small boats motor down and up and one large Swiss river cruise liner travelling down.  There were a few people on the top deck, and a few on their balconies looking out.  It did not look very full, maybe everyone else was a lunch.

On the other bank there was a stork’s nest on top of a large dead tree.  There was even a stork standing there peering in.  On the river itself there were numerous grey herons perched on the banks.  In the river we came across a small group of juvenile swans still in their grey colour.

We continued the walk, through silver birch plantations and back to the campsite.  We should have passed through the village, but a slight navigation error caused us to bypass the village of Cormoranche-sur-Saone.

Back at the campsite we ate a late lunch and one-day old French bread which was soft and soggy. Actually, the pain complet does last a little longer than the white pap stuff the French pass off as bread.

I took a walk around the lake, especially to get close to photograph the TGVs as they trundled by.  They did not look that impressive in their speed here, maybe a slow section of line.  I did like the way that where the line divided, they built a bridge so that as one line crossed over the other it was on a bridge and not by crossing lines.  This presumably is to allow faster speeds and easier scheduling of trains.

Back at the tent, we opened a bottle of fizz from Borgognone and then started our burger and “chip” dinner.  Rosemary let herself down big time, the beans she thought must be French were from Rwanda.

Next door a British mobile home moved in, it also had a Silver Screen cover for the front windscreen.  Their’s though seemed not to fit as well and snugly as our’s does.

French pap bread ordered for the morning and a final JD nightcap as I write my blog and continue to read a Sci-Fi book by British author Charles Stross who used to work in IT from the 1980s to 2000.

Tomorrow is our last planned day here, not sure whether we are going to veg, or maybe we will look at the local sights.

France day 17 – Cormoranche-sur-Saone

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Well organised today, woken by the sun streaming into the window of the campervan top.  Out to the showers, showered, bed made and then I was off to the shop to purchase this damn French bread which goes off in an hour and a couple of pain au raisins.  We were soon packed and were off, paying as we left.  Oh the barrier on exit seemed to take a little bash as we left.  Seemed to appear rather sooner than I expected.

We were heading north, though the weather was improving in the south, it was also improving further north, so we were making a stop a third of the way up the country near to Macon.   This time we were paying and taking the A road all the way.  Most of the journey was uneventful, very windy as there were some definite lively moments as we passed trucks.  And oh yes the French experience the same problems as we do on the their two lane A roads where trucks try to overtake for miles and miles.  Traffic was delayed by one Spanish driver who took 10 minutes to overtake one truck.  The saving grace was the overtaken truck was forced to slow down a little later when it caught up with another truck. Five minutes later the carriage way went back to three lanes!!

We arrived in Macon after four hours and found a large Carfour, bought a couple of days food and wine, and replenished the van with fuel. (nearly 100 Euros as was getting empty).  The campsite was only 10 minutes away.  Across the river Saone in a village called Cormoranche-sur-Saone.  The site is called Base De Loisirs Camping du lac.  The campsite has large individual pitches with hedges and trees separating the plots.  There is a café selling bread and meals.  A large lake and swimming pool as part of the lake.   There is a downside,  a TGV rail line nearby which is used on a regular basis with trains passing every 5 minutes or so.  At least at night, I am writing this at 10.15 pm, the trains seemed to have stopped going by.  Hopefully a quiet night.

The evening was cloudless, our first satellite was spotted, and the pond is a haven for bats.  Importantly the mobile phone Internet connection is good. A great improvement on the Camargue!! 

We are booked for three nights, let us see what there is around here.  Google is suggesting some sites of interest nearby.

France day 16 – Saintes-Maries-de-La-Mer

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Lovely sunny day today, but a strong wind was blowing.  This made sitting outside Van the Van uncomfortable as the wind swirled under the van, around the back and then over the top in a vortex dropping sand into your eyes, food and drink.  You could see a scum of kibble floating on the top of your wine after a few minutes.

Today we went for another walk over the Marais and back along the coast from the East.   This time the flamingos in the salt water mudflats were a little further off and difficult to photograph.  Amongst them were also hundreds of avocets feeding.  We walked across the sand and mud (now wet and sticky after the rain) towards some paths.  Here we found a new eco system of ponds with some gorgeous flying displays from some swallows/house martins?   They were occasionally dipping down to drink from the ponds.

On another water area, which I think connected to the main Etang were three flamingos who I was able to get quite close to and photograph.  These were again feeding.  Love the way they are ringed above the knee. You can even read the id with a scope from a way off.

We walked back along the coast with cyclists passing along the wide tracks. This does look like a place where it is worth while taking a bike with you.   Lots of tracks, and all on the flat.  The sea was rough today, and the sky was picturesque with the blue and the clouds to add texture.  Nothing quite a boring as a totally blue cloudless sky.

Back at the camp we had lunch of beer, bread and cheese.  We had consumed the last of the Camembert yesterday, but even today the fridge still stunk. Today it was some blue cheese bought earlier on the trip.

We walked into town on the pretext of buying some Camargue  red rice.  Not bought because there must be more authentic places to buy the stuff.  R did buy a present of a Camargue wrap around skirt/throw, but later saw, much to her annoyance, that it was made in Parkistan!   We took a break from buying, and experienced a beer at a bar.  No sooner had we sat down, the rain started.   A small cloud which soon passed, but enough to cause a flurry amongst the local shop owners.  The owner of the bar we were sitting in rushed over to help the lady from another shop move her displays under cover.

We left after the beer and walked back home under the lovely sun.  The wind was still blowing back at the campsite, and occasionally the van would rock with a sudden gust.

France day 15 – Saintes-Maries-de-La-Mer

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The morning was definitely grey, but the rain did not arrive this morning at Saintes-Maries-de-La-Mer. Late getting up waiting for the non-existent rain.  Once up, we finished the yogurt and pain au raisins.  The agenda for the day was to photograph the flamingos.  Set off under the grey skies towards the flamingos.  First stop was at the sluice gates to photograph the egrets trying to fish.  Eagle eyed Rosemary spotted a kingfisher across the water.  Managed to get a picture, but for id purposes only, as you can see.

We walked on out to the flamingos where there were several groups of 20 or so.  These though slowly moved away as time passed.  There were many birds in the water, and their calls where very loud.   As well as the flamingos, there were gulls of various sorts, sandpipers, shags, avocets and yet to be identified other birds.

On the other bank of the Etang (over  a mile away) there were hundreds of flamingos, just visible as a pink line to the naked eyes.  Other people came by and we were able to lend them the binoculars to see the birds.

There were some amazing fights amongst the gulls. When one caught a fish, all the others would chase it, hoping to steal the fish.

A couple with a dog and large Nikons also came by to take some photographs, one Canon against two Nikons.   The walk back presented on egret wading towards the sluice gate, running, flying and launching at fish.

We ate lunch of Camembert which was stinking out the fridge.  The Rustique cheese brand seems far more potent in France than the UK, and this sample still had a month to go before its self-destruct date.  Fridge now cleared of smelly food, we walked into town.  It dawned on us how many mobile home Aires there were.  Some just car parks, the neared ones to the coast charged, but gave you a water point and a refuse point.

In town we went to the church, and then paid to go up onto the roof.  The roof was made of stones, so we were able to walk to its summit.  By now the weather was good, the sun was out with little cloud in the sky.  After visiting a few grockle shops we headed back.  Sure enough as we sat down, the clouds came in, got colder.  As soon as the cooker was positioned for the duck, the rain started.  Quick dismantle and sat inside the van waiting for the rain to stop.  There was hope from the west, the sky brightened and within 30 minutes cooking started again.  The Germans next door erected their awning and were not stopped from their feast.

The town loves to decorate its roundabouts. Everyone had nice plants and some a scene, or statue or model building.  Several pictures in the gallery are of these roundabouts.

The meal was eaten in dryness, though getting dark.  The stars are out and tomorrow promises to be a nice day, so we are staying on here to try and get pictures of flamingos with blue sky behind them.

France day 14 – Saintes-Maries-de-La-Mer

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Bit of a lie in and then we broke camp, packed Van the Van and set off to France.  We were aiming for a small campsite in the ACSI book..  It is on the coast of the Carmargue and is on the banks of a river.  Off we set stopping off before midday to buy a couple of days worth of food.  Had to be done before the shops all close on the Sunday afternoon.  We continued along the toll free roads, travelling on the ‘A’ roads where they were free.  Stopped off at an Aire for lunch.  The toilets here were so bad, people had been trampling shit all over the place.  Disgusting.

We arrived at 3.30 at the campsite, getting slightly perplexed by the number of vans driving in the opposite direction, yes it was full up.  The Aire outside the campsite was also stacked with a hundred plus vans.  We looked at the AXI map and were about to head to another site 30 minutes away on the other side of an Etang. But before heading that way we tried another site the other side of the town I had previously spotted.  I had not considered it because it was not an ACSI site and looked huge.  Yes it was huge, and also tremendously expensive.   There were walks along the beach, and into the Etang de Monro. We decided we would book for a couple of nights to allow us to check out the town and site. We could always extend.

The site was packed, pitches are very close together.  The people near us all seem pretty good and international, Germans, Dutch, Swiss and Brits.  Here there were also quite a few VM camper vans and small vans.  These had been missing from the Spanish site.

In the hedge, just next to our van, a very cooperative dragonfly perched under the leaves. It remained there for the duration of the photoshoot, never moving.  It was still there after supper.

We walked along the beach, figuring out where the flamingos were for tomorrow’s walk. Near the sluice gates and Archimedes screw there were some very aggressive little egrets who seemed to be attacking each other.

It had been mainly a sunny day, but cloud was coming in and rain forecast for the morning.  A cheerful Brit who had been here for 5 days said it had been sunny all the time. Not quite how it had been in Spain.

France day 11 – Spain

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The rain was coming so, we quickly packed up the awning before it got too wet.  Packed away the van and set off to Spain.  The route avoided tolls and took us along some beautiful scenery, around some tight hairpin bends and even a place where the road looped over itself.  Some of the villages we passed through had the narrowest streets I have come across, and two-way.  Luckily not much traffic passed through them. When I am home I must have my brakes replaced, they must be worn out now with all the twisty downhill mountain roads.

The last part of the trip was so enticingly close to  the A9 as we battled up and down hills to the border of Spain crossing at Le Perthus.  In Spain we stopped at the first supermarket which was taken over mainly by alcohol.  Ricard being sold in 4 litre bottles, and also in boxes of 6.  This was not for the Brits, but for the French who come over and stock up on cheap alcohol.  There was not much food.   We should have kept on a little while longer for the classier supermarkets.

Our destination was Capmany, only a few minutes into Spain.  We soon passed a few ‘Night Clubs’ presumably doing good business with French customers coming over the border.  We turned off the N-II to Capmany signposted by a nearly naked woman dancing & soliciting at the junction.

After a few wrong turns we arrived at the campsite, did not erect the awning due to 50K winds which were blowing over the site.  They had been blowing all day, and the van had been buffeted a little in the open plains. Shortly after arrival the rain arrived.  Supper and bed.

France day 10 – Fanjeaux

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Wednesday was a very hot day.  Probably too hot for a site seeing day.  We met Nadine and paid for are camping and were suggested a tour we could do.  The first item on the tour was Carcassonne.  The directions we were given suggested bypassing the town of Carcassonne and taking signs to La Cite.  This all went wrong, and we ended up driving straight through and parking in the centre of Carcassonne, where we paid a couple of Euros to park for two hours, and realised that was wasted money as 12-2 was free anyway.  A short walk to La Cite which looked impressive from the outside. Inside we were confronted by lots of tourist shops, restaurants and bars.  We walked around the streets, and the outside lower battlements which were free. We visited the church where we were entertained by five male singers, who Rosemary thought were Russian.  After a couple of songs, they advertised their CD, which we both though was rather overpriced.   Had it been, say 10 Euros, maybe we would have purchased one.

We made our way back to Van the Van, gave our ticket to a French woman and left for Lagrasse. The last few miles to Lagrasse were through some very tight hairpin bends.  These though were just the build-up for our trip to Spain the next day.

Parked in a public carpark at Lagrasse, near to the police station for security.  We then walked into town on the tourist circuit.  Lots of long narrow windy streets with the odd artist shop, and of course the covered market.  We crossed the river, passed the cemetery and arrived at the abbey.  Stopped for a beer, toast and aubergine pate.   We decided not to look around the abbey, there didn’t seem to be much of it when we reviewed the Google Map pictures.

Back along the hairpins we arrived back at Fanjeaux hoping to buy some food at the grocer, but were foiled by Wednesday being half-day closing.  The baker though was open. Back at the campsite supper and then sitting outside looking at the stars, and listening to the plops from the lake.  There was a rather ragged looking grey heron wandering around the shores.  Rosemary saw the heron when it made a rather unmelodious squawk.    Not at all a nice sound.

France day 9 – Fanjeaux

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The rain was finished for the morning, though still cloudy. We didn’t know what to do, so eventually we went for a walk.  It was one of the shorter set walks, 4.5 miles.  The walk has some good views of the surrounding countryside, the campsite, Fenouillet-du-Razes, Fanjeaux and mountains miles and miles away.  The day became warmer and warmer with the sun staying out longer.

Back at campsite, washing line erected, smalls washed and out to dry and a lunch of bread and cheese.

In the evening we wandered around the shore and were surprised by the number of little frogs who quickly leaped down the beach and into the water with a final plop.

France day 8 – Fanjeaux

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Today left the campsite on our journey to the south and hopefully the sun.  Managed to pack away the van, missing the rain. Soon came across it on our trip to the A20.  Drove the free section of the A20 to Nespouls where we took to the free local roads.  We made it all the way to Castelnaudry and started to search for a supermarket, Google had us go to Montreal, an Intermarche Contact.  Seemed to be a fuel station and a large warehouse, so tried again and found a place in Bram where we bought some essentials for the next few days.

Provisioned up, we headed to Fanjeaux (we had been there already between Montreal and Bram in the hope of finding food there.  It looked pretty grim on the shopping front.)  At Fanjeaux we headed to the camping, met Nadine at the farm. She told us to choose a site and come and pay later.  There is a longish drive through fields and down to a small lake.  The camping pitches are on the other side of the lake in several tiers.  We chose a spot near the lake, in-between the only two vehicles, two motorhomes. One was Dutch and the other was a Brit.  We tried to connect to the electricity, only to find, on our second occasion, another site with rubbish European socket connectors in the cabinets. 

A quick google, We found we there was a caravan supplier in Castelnaudary.  Arrived there and bought the adapter we required.  Back to the site, electricity connected, and the awning erected.  As soon as it was out of the bag the rain fell.  Rosemary remained inside the canopy supporting it, while I inflated, positioned and pegged the canopy.  All erected inside of 35 minutes. (Ignored R’s cries of how our tent (at home) would have been easier.)

We were invited by Luc, Nadine’s husband, for drinks at 6.30 where we met the other two couples who were camping.  Turns out that the Dutch couple knew John and Carol.  We drunk wine in the campsite common room with Luc, Nadine and the other two couples.  As it was getting dark we made our excuses to go and cook a quick meal of sausages and peppers. After dinner, the sky was clear, the stars were bright, and our galaxy was very visible. Despite the clear sky, the rain was soon on us during the night.  Battering down, with strong winds blowing the trees.  The shelter these trees gave to our camping space was fabulous.  Didn’t hear the awning blowing about at all during the night.

France day 7 – Carreau

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After breakfast we went for a walk along the local roads, through woods and by lakes. A deer was spotted in the woods, and a few buzzards.  We walked up through Carreau and spotted some English cars parked outside houses. The rain managed to keep off. Had lunch back at the campsite, and after 14.00 J&B arrived in their car.  Showed them Morrison and then we went for a drive around.  We stopped off at the Eglise Saint Eutrope in Les Salles-Lavauguyon.  This church has some wall paintings which are worth viewing. Then on up to Chabanais to see the English shop which sells Marmite, dropped in at Cassinomagus, an Archaeological Park, but never went in, then back to J&B for supper.