Tag Archives: Fanjeaux

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.