It is I in “la France”, and having a great time thanks for asking .
However, every pleasure has a price and for Alan it was driving from L’Estartit to Aigne, in some of the strongest winds you can imagine.. To give you an indication, when we pulled in for diesel on the Spanish border, Guy had to hang on to the wing mirror while fuelling to prevent being blown over the forecourt. The Spanish lorry drivers had no problem hurtling at full speed along the motorway, even if many of them had the fabric sides hanging and blowing down the sides. So they would pull over fix, and hurtle off again. Alan said it was one of the hardest drives he had done.
Priscilla was being blown in all directions and at nearly 4 tonne, he said it was difficult to hold on. The worst was the local roads to the motorway, with oncoming lorries (at full speed, and we are being blown into the centre of the road, but I think it was only Alan who noticed because me and Guy had our eyes closed and were humming loudly most of the way.
Just before we left the site we noticed that Jodrell Bank had gone, packed away, and nearly all the tents on site had been taken down. Why, cus the winds just blew everything around, including us, we were rocked the whole night through. We made a pact that we would not mention the navigators directional error, it did mean we had a VERY scenic journey to the motorway, at one point the road between the two houses on opposite sides of the road was about a foot wider than Priscilla, we all breathed in and this time Alan closed his eyes.
The petrol stop, was longer than usual this time because every one was buying goods at the border, 10 kg oranges for €7.30, Sangria, we do not know what price cus they said they would not drink it if they were in a desert and the oasis was dry. And other items that are only sold in Spain. Then we crossed the border (slowly as there are a number of viaducts and the wind was still blasting us side on !) to find diesel was €0.22 dearer after 10 km, good idea filling up then!
Then the tolls jump too, but the humans say they have a way to beat the French charging so much (they are going to use a new motorway in a day or two, see where they go). Then the temperature drops and we all feel it, (don’t need the zip anymore!) we all want to turn round and zoom back to the sun and heat, but we can’t always have what we wont, we are down to about 10-12 deg with wind chill.
All this is of nothing to me as I have one thought in mind, France means I can get my delights inside a restaurant instead of being banned as in Spain and Blighty. So I’ll be putting the pressure on them to get me out into town for some tasty bites.
Canal du Midi in the spring, but it was a bit blustery
However, every pleasure has a price and for Alan it was driving from L’Estartit to Aigne, in some of the strongest winds you can imagine.. To give you an indication, when we pulled in for diesel on the Spanish border, Guy had to hang on to the wing mirror while fuelling to prevent being blown over the forecourt. The Spanish lorry drivers had no problem hurtling at full speed along the motorway, even if many of them had the fabric sides hanging and blowing down the sides. So they would pull over fix, and hurtle off again. Alan said it was one of the hardest drives he had done.
Priscilla was being blown in all directions and at nearly 4 tonne, he said it was difficult to hold on. The worst was the local roads to the motorway, with oncoming lorries (at full speed, and we are being blown into the centre of the road, but I think it was only Alan who noticed because me and Guy had our eyes closed and were humming loudly most of the way.
Just before we left the site we noticed that Jodrell Bank had gone, packed away, and nearly all the tents on site had been taken down. Why, cus the winds just blew everything around, including us, we were rocked the whole night through. We made a pact that we would not mention the navigators directional error, it did mean we had a VERY scenic journey to the motorway, at one point the road between the two houses on opposite sides of the road was about a foot wider than Priscilla, we all breathed in and this time Alan closed his eyes.
The petrol stop, was longer than usual this time because every one was buying goods at the border, 10 kg oranges for €7.30, Sangria, we do not know what price cus they said they would not drink it if they were in a desert and the oasis was dry. And other items that are only sold in Spain. Then we crossed the border (slowly as there are a number of viaducts and the wind was still blasting us side on !) to find diesel was €0.22 dearer after 10 km, good idea filling up then!
Then the tolls jump too, but the humans say they have a way to beat the French charging so much (they are going to use a new motorway in a day or two, see where they go). Then the temperature drops and we all feel it, (don’t need the zip anymore!) we all want to turn round and zoom back to the sun and heat, but we can’t always have what we wont, we are down to about 10-12 deg with wind chill.
All this is of nothing to me as I have one thought in mind, France means I can get my delights inside a restaurant instead of being banned as in Spain and Blighty. So I’ll be putting the pressure on them to get me out into town for some tasty bites.
Canal du Midi in the spring, but it was a bit blustery
But first its time to meet up with my mates, our neighbours from London, who are doing up a nice house in the Languedoc-Roussillon area in the South of France (last years blog gives detail). We got our navigator to take us to Aigne (got it almost right – no comment) and arrived at their home. Lots of work has been done since we were here last year. More to do, but they’re happy with the progress, and so are we cus we can stay with them instead of going to the camp site. We go out for lunch and I JOIN them, yippee, its great, not gourmet, but who cares.
I have a real thing about wind blowing up my rear, it makes me so MAD!
Off to the Canal du Midi to walk off lunch. A bit windy and a tad cool, but so nice. Then we found a family of Coypu, which are known as Ragondin in France. Apparently they used to be used for ladies fur accessories, and some got (or was it went) wild and now the French Government poison them when found (they damage there river banks) so no one would mention they knew they wee around. Really friendly babies kept coming up to us.
The family of Ragondin that made friends with us, and we won't tell the French police they are there !!
Back home and some of Robert and Geoff’s neighbours joined us for dinner, Imogene & Joe, very nice people who helped make a really great night which went on to after 1200pm, I was kna*****, (I think everyone else was would not say so!).
However, it did end reluctantly for all of us, but I got a midnight walk and Imogene and Joe got a look at Priscilla, so they could see what a real motorhome looked like (they have one but I think it was a bit different from ours!)
I know I will sleep tonight, but may end up dreaming of an A-la-carte meal in a restaurant with all my friends around the table (a bit like Saturday evening back home!)
Night Night
Distance today : 160 km
Total do date : 4231 km
Tolls : € 19.00
Best diesel price: € 1.13Lt
LPG € lt
