Our hosts had been up early, as they had the plumber arriving at 8am, we were a little later in rising. Robert had been out again and picked up the croissants, so we started our day as I like. We all had things to do today, they had the tradesmen to sort out, we had some rubber to burn.
After our “au revoirs”, we went down to the car park, and activated Priscilla’s controls, stashed all the stuff we had taken with us, and left the guys waiting for the plumber (now over 1 hour late – in fact he turned up late morning and left almost as soon as he had arrived, to return another day – well its France !)
Our navigator is taken from his cupboard and woken up had given our destination instruction. Today “Chateau de Grange Fort” campsite a little south of Clermont Ferrand, which is the far end of the Dordogne region. He does his best job yet, (no really) he took us around Beziers instead of through it to get to the motorway A75 The route takes us through the spectacular Massif Central with is breathtaking scenery. None more so than the biggest bridge in the world “ The Millau viaduct” its amazing, what made it even better was we had perfect weather (we had been expecting cloud) Even Guy was impressed and took the pictures, (he hates heights and usually closes his eyes), and I think you will agree his pictures are as good as the ones we took from the web. What a morning, and not a toll in sight, well apart from the €8.20 to cross the bridge, but you would pay twice that for such a brilliant sight (it is more expensive on summer tariffs). The road had very little traffic and even fewer lorries, which is the opposite of using the A10 up the west coast (and all the tolls on that road). So just the bridge toll on 340km of new great road, not a bump to my bits all way !.
The fantastic Millau bridge. The first 4 pics dad took
And the next 3 pictures I got the web
However you do go up, and we joined (re-joined) the mile high club, as we got to 1121m , and we had snow for scenery, and to beat that I got to put my paws in it when we pulled into a large Aire. Just what my paws were made for, but dad was a bit more eager to get inside and get warm, and get stuck into lunch. Lunch, then yes lets get back, I’m always a bit peckish.
Well I was ok, snows in my jeans, but by the look on dads face I dont think its in his !
Not quite high enough as we did get to 1121 m, but the camera was off !What goes up must come down, so we start our descent. Its still cloudy and drizzling, so after set up I get a sort recon walk, and the views would be great but for the weather. Just four units on the site, which is in the grounds of a fort, with a moat. The only problem (yes there seems always a problem) the son was away and dad could not give a stuff. Sign on reception door said sign book in courtyard to order bread – no book. No one in reception you could ring a buzzer and hope he came out the home in the fort. Wifi, don’t know (and could note care – French raised shoulders) None of the pitch lights were turned on, during night, and when we left, there was a controtant. We used our ACSI card, €14 for night all-inclusive. €15 presented, no change when challenged oh its was due to a local tax, (not the fact he could be bothered), so we wont bother him again, there’s always another site who may be interested in a customer. There was no receipt either. So let’s consider this as 1 Euro publicity!
Smart camping site, pity about the service
Pity is was overcast, the vies from the Fort were great
This of course set Alan off, not the fact of €1, but the fact so many sites do not provide any type of professional service to its customers – take it or leave it. He says if it was a hotel it would go bust. This was has so much potential, large swimming pool in the summer, brilliant spot, in grounds of fort, BUT.
You can imagine the mood when we left was not good. It was not helped by the fact that the boiler decided to play up and not generate any hot water. Sacrebleu! We need a plumber! They fiddled for ages and managed to coax it to work on gas only, but it takes forever to warm the water. Showers are now on ration until our return to blighty, but we do have central heating.
Rain more rain and more rain, as we return to the motorway. Once we get north of Clermont we have to pay toll again, but the road is good. There is more descent, until we reach the plains of France, and back to the wine country, together with very green farming land. Beautiful countryside that many English men have moved here for.
We are going to a site just a little way from Tours, Camping Le Tournefeuille, which is in the middle of a small town. Well that did not go well, its just before 2.pm and a sign on the gate says weekend entry is only between 5-7pm, and you have to walk through the stadium where a football match is taking place to get access. The site looks unwelcoming, and loads of local men with the jackets loose over their shoulders at parking outside the gate and walking down the site spitting as they go (get the picture?) we did, so reluctantly we decide to skip and go straight to Saumur tomorrow’s plannedstop (the one we did last year) so another 180km. Alan’s not to happy about doing 530km (6 hours) in one day, but lets get from this site.
We are using a brand new motorway, that Tom Tom does not know about so he’s given the boot and turned off, no one can stand the stuttering for the next 180km. It’s a on the cheap motorway, as, when there is a bridge or viaduct it goes from 2 lanes each way to 1 to save on cost. However it’s great to be able to get from east to west France so easy, but with toll cost. For one days travel we have paid €47.
The weather has brightened, and we are now in Saumur, but only just, there is only one fuel station on the new motorway, and we did not use it, Alan said we arrived at pitch running on vapour. We have used to backup diesel in the boot, to get us off site in a couple of days – phew! that what you call running close to the edge.
No internet gain (they’ll have it next month – when it will work - echo echo echo ), so tomorrow were going into town to find an internet café, so I can update al my friends.
Lets hope were successful.
Site was busy last year (we were here on the 13th march) to night we eat and sleep below the big Châteaux sharing the site with just one other motorhome (UK)
It will get better before their tans fade they say!
Distance today : 520 km
Total do date : 4751 km
Tolls : € 47.00
Best diesel price: € 1.32Lt (worst €1.43)
LPG € 0.79 lt
