Week One - Getting There

Monday 17th June 2019

set off for Eurotunnel just before 9am.  Bright at first then a little cloudy by the time we left but 17˚C so not cold and little wind.  All motorways ran well with no hold ups, even  the M25 flowed unceasingly.

Deserted, parking at Eurotunnel

We made two stops.  First for a comfort break at Cobham Services, then, at 12.30 we renewed our acquaintance with the romantically named, Clacket Lane Services.

Deserted cafeteria too but they did have the flags out for us!

Arriving at Eurotunnel after a 5 hour journey, we were offered an earlier train to the one booked, the 2.50pm which we took. That saw us onto French soil by 4.40 local time.  At Bien Assise, our overnight stop, by 5.15pm.  Tired and hungry, we were delighted to have arrived under a clear blue sky, with a light wind and a temperature of 23˚C.

After connecting to the amenities, we sat in the sun and read.

Epernay revisited

Tuesday 18th June 2019

Woken with a start at 6am having forgotten to change or even turn off the alarm clock.

It was however a beautiful morning and so we had an early shower and breakfast and began making good for our move today on to Epernay.  We stayed here, at the same site, many years ago and look forward to revisiting.

In the end we didn't get away until 9.30 by which time the sky had clouded over although it remained hot, humid even.

An uneventful journey, we stopped for a comfort break then later for diesel.  £1.393  (not €'s) per ltr, I paid £1.249 when I filled up before leaving home.

Midway through our journey the sky cleared and we were treated to unbroken sunshine until well into the evening.  We arrived cool enough but with a clear sky and added humidity, by the time we had set up home for two nights we were unatractive blobs of persperation, waiting, and wishing, to be rung out.

Everything takes that much longer when you're tired, and hot and sticky, oh, and old!  The heat and humidity really made us feel our age.

The evening meal now out of the way, we're just sitting here watching the world go by and preparing a shopping list for tomorrow before going for that long awaited shower.

Epernay day two

Wednesday 19th June 2019

A lie in this morning, not up until just after 7.30.  It had been a warm night and was 19 degrees as we walked to the showers.  Suitably refreshed, we treated ourselves to a cooked breakfast.

Today was a rest and replenish day and so by about 10.30am we set off for the local Carrefour. We have always sung the praises of continental supermarkets and this one lived up to our expectations.

Firstly the smell.  It's a wonderful mix of cheese, dried meat and a vege come pastry aroma, absolutely delightful.  And they're so big!  We could, and did, spend more time just perusing the aisles than actually shopping.

Afternoon spent wandering the site, sitting and reading, batteries on recharge. With a temperature of 24 degrees C, blue sky and a hot sun, we avoided all exertion.

Beaune

Thursday 20th June 2019
 Up at 7.30am and, don't tell anyone but, we didn't shower.  A quick wash inhouse followed by a swift breakfast then all hands to the final chores prior to departure.

We were away by 9.30am and, with around 200 miles to go until we next put our legs down, glad we got away early.


Little to comment on today. An uneventful journey with just a couple of comfort stops. Occasionally plagued by a strong cross wind which made the caravan swing frighteningly a couple of times.

Following a refreshing shower and a salad for our evening meal we were too tired even to read so watched The King's Speech on dvd.  Excellent.

Beaune, day two

Friday 21st June 2019

Slept well and a little late. Breakfast at 9.30 then showered and dressed ready for the shops by 11am.

Diesel again, £1.227 per litre this time.  Great shopping experience in E.Leclerc, a supermarket on a scale not seen in UK, sad I know but we could spend hours just wandering the aisles.  Had a shopping list but failed to stick to it.

Rather dull today with just the odd glimpse of the sun.  Temperature of 24 degrees C was comfortable as we've lost the humidity.

Bought a couple of sun-loungers as ours at home were too heavy to bring with us. These are much lighter, as is my wallet.

Lyon

Saturday 22nd June 2019

No urgency to rise early today as we have just a 95 mile drive to our next overnight stop, Lyon.

Our daily mileage to date has been:

To our 1st stop, Bien Assise, Calais, from home, 220 miles.
To Epernay, our 2nd stop, 182 miles,
to Beaune, 3rd stop, 212, and finally to our stop here in Lyon, 95 miles.

With 170 miles to do on Monday, taking us to Salon de Provence, we will be a little short of 900 miles from home.

To give you the full itinerary, we have 13 nights at Salon de Provence after which we drive to Macon, some 170 miles where we stop for two nights, then 240 miles to Paris where we shall stay for 5 nights.  175 miles back to Bien Assise for our final night in France then 220 miles back home on Monday, 15th July, coincidentally, our 52nd wedding anniversary. Whew!!

Back to today. With the usual couple of comfort breaks, we arrived at the camp site just outside Lyon at 2.15pm.

The day had started damp, a little light rain, and just 17 degrees but gradually improved as the day wore on and as we progressed further south.  On our arrival the temperature has risen to 26 degrees with clear blue skies.

An odd site that has seen better days but we quickly set up on what was a service pitch, where we're able to connect to the mains water and to a drainage point, plus electric of course.

By 6pm, all available pitches around us were full and we were metaphorically slapping ourselves on the back for getting here early.

In and out, sun, shade, a short walk, back in the sun.  This was our afternoon.  A light salad later then, too tired even to read, we watched The End of the Affair on DVD.  Bed then beckoned.

Reception at Camping de Lyon

Lyon, day two

Sunday 23rd June 2019

Final day of our first week and, having remembered to turn off the alarm clock, we woke around 8am.  Our pitch is one of the few not bathed in morning sun which initially brought about a minor resentment but, once showered and dressed, it was a blessing as we cooked our breakfast of mushrooms, plum tomatoes and scrambled egg, all on toasted French bread spread generously with French butter.


It's 11.30am and 25 degrees out there.  Like mad dogs and Englishmen, we're off into the city for a stroll around the centre of Lyon, France's second city. Founded by the Romans in 43 BC, it is second only to Paris as a tourist attraction.  Pity we only have today.

Lyon centre was just under 5 miles from where we were staying and we got caught up in some heavy traffic as we made our way in.  Once in the city all was a little quieter and we soon found out how, and where, to park. We spent a couple of hours walking the streets of Lyon in the midst of a Fete.  Music, much drumming and youngsters playing some great saxophone.

Back to the Site by 2pm for a late lunch.

Well that's it for our first week in France.  As we are away for four weeks the plan is to dispatch this blog once a week.  That's the plan.

You will see at the top right of the first page "Our Four Weeks in France" beneath which is week one, week two etc.

That's all folks, more news in a weeks time.

Week Two - Our Arrival in Provence

Monday 24th June  2019

Up around 7 am, left Lyon at 10.15 with a clear blue sky and temperature of 27 degrees.

An uneventful if somewhat long journey of around 180 miles where the temperature continued to rise as the day wore on, being 33 degrees C on our arrival at 3pm.

First impressions of the site were that it was tired, dusty and a little unloved although, in its defence, we've seen many French sites like this, particularly down south where it's extremely hot.

We registered and found a pitch with a degree of shade and sun that we liked.  Again, to be fair, all the pitches were large and had water and mains electric available.

We were unsure whether we wanted to commit ourselves to 13 nights here but thought we would decide tomorrow.

Well, it was the showers and toilets that decided us.  No detail necessary, just to say they came well below our acceptable standards. Not unclean, but basic beyond belief. We will see yer man tomorrow.

2nd Day Salon de Provence

Tuesday 25th June 2019

Not a bad nights sleep despite the Jackdaws roosting above us and noisy well into the darkness then the frogs took over, croaking through till the early hours.

I told the guy in reception we were going to move on, further south, but would stay the two nights to cover the deposit we had made. He was happy with that and gave us a bottle of wine as we would not  quite use all our deposit..

So now I got on the internet and looked for sites not too far from here.  Eventually found one that sounded like it may suit us so gave them a ring, spoke to Monsieur who said he had space and we would be welcome to come and take a look.

In the afternoon we took off to check out the site.  It was just 27 miles away and a little more off the beaten track but it ticked all our boxes, even down to Wi-Fi from the pitch. Told Monsieur we would see him tomorrow.

Back to Salon de Provence and,once again, we begin the process of preparing to move.  We're beginning to feel like Gypsies.

We had begun to like the site and were sorry to be moving but it was the ablutions that swayed us.

First day in Cucuron

Wednesday 26th June 2019

Laid in to 7.30am and missing our morning showers.  23 degrees out and bright again.

 Although only 27 miles to go today we left at 9.55 and arrived at 10.50 with no hiccups, delays or wrong turnings.  32 degrees on arrival and again, unbelievably humid.  Decided to put the awning up later this evening, after sundown.



Just sat down in the shade, with a cool drink when we had a visitor.  We haven't seen a Hoopoe since we stayed at Sorede, near Argeles, close to Montpelier many years ago.

With much laughter, some tears and an enthusiastic offer of help from our Flemish neighbours, we finally got the awning up by 10pm, ish. Not fully pegged down as it was still so hot but I don't think it's going far tonight, there is a distinct lack of air here right now and what there is is HOT, in every sense.

Cucuron - Day 2

Thursday 27th June 2019

Up at 7.30 to try ad beat the heat.  Beautiful morning, 25 degrees, bearable.  Did some more to completing the awning but by 10 am it was just too hot, again. 

Had a light lunch then out to a Hyper U supermarket at Pertuis, some 7 miles from here to stock up on provisions. Also managed to get a car wash.

Saw this fellow and his three mates just outside our window last night.



Sleeping is difficult. Night time temperature is around 26 degrees with little of no movement of air

Day 5 second week

Friday 28th June 2019

10 am and it's 27 degrees out there.  Worse than that, it's 31 degrees in here.  We're off to Avignon today.  I suspect our sightseeing may be curtailed by the heat, we shall see.

Just under 50 miles from home here it was a pleasant hours journey despite getting progressively hotter as we entered the city.  We found underground parking and surfaced only to find the temperature had risen to 44 C and, as we later found out, we were just 16 miles from the hottest place in France that day and that was a close 45.6 C

We wandered a little, saw the pont d'Avignon.  Too hot to give a rendition of the song remembered from childhood.

Found a bar, had a drink.  Later found an outdoor restaurant where we had lunch.  A little more wandering in the heat of the day then gratefully, back to the car and the air conditioning.

Day 6 of our second week

Saturday 29th June 2019

Not a lot to tell today.  Needed to replenish food stocks and hoped to get a fan, move the air around a little.

With our, "we're retired" heads on we totally forgot it was a Saturday and were, pathetically, surprised at how busy the roads were and what a struggle to get a parking space at the supermarket. DOH!

Another scorching day so were grateful for the cool of Super U and probably spent a little more time in there than needed.  Did however manage to get a fan, last but one of the size we wanted.  They were flying off the shelves so we were obviously in good company.



Nothing more of note today, SATURDAY.  Sat in the shade, mostly, and read.

Last Day of Second Week

Sunday 30th June 2019

With it being so hot and humid here, we thought today we would head for a higher place.

Speaking to our man, he suggested Mont Ventoux, nicknamed "The Beast of Provence" having become famous, if not infamous, for its regular inclusion in the Tour de France.  At 1,909 metres or 6,263 feet, it's the largest mountain in the area.

Some 76 kilometres or 47 miles from base camp here, the drive took us across the Plateau de Vaucluse with its kilometres of straight, tree lined roads and the switchback of its winding roads as they climbed to the plateau, often with sheer drops on one side and sometimes on both. It took us through remote iconic French hamlets and villages, many of which appeared neglected, abandoned even, until you caught site of washing on a line or a fairly modern automobile parked inside a tumbledown shed.



With a temperature of just 26 degrees at the summit and a moderate breeze, we could have stayed there all day.  We did however have a return journey of 47 miles to complete, and no roads other than those we came on so it wasn't going to be quick.

Back by 7pm which wasn't a problem as we're not eating our evening meal until 8 or even 9pm.

That's it for our second week, half way through for us now.  Another week here then a week in Paris and we'll be home.  Time will fly.

Week three - our final week in Provence

Monday 1st July 2019

Just one of those quiet, lazy days although we did pop out to Super U for a little stock replenishment..

We fancy it's marginally less humid today and managed a couple of walks around the site here throughout the day.  As I write this, it's 6.30 pm local time, 30 degrees C outside in the shade and 33 degrees here, inside the caravan.  What is nice though is that we sit out until it's too dark to read, then go for a shower.

I don't think I've mentioned the lavender fields we've seen since we arrived in Provence. Blossoming from the end of June until early August when it's harvested, you can't go far without spotting a field of purple flowers, in long straight rows. Here's a couple of pictures of one we stopped by and picked a few blooms to fragrance the car.



 

Week Three - Tuesday

Tuesday 2nd July 2017

Hot still, 31 degrees by 10 am but slightly less humid.

We've decided our body clocks have retained their UK time settings.  We're up usually about 9am, we lunch around 2 to 2.30, our evening meal is usually about 8pm and we shower at 10 pm.

We were then, still a little sluggish when our Dutch neighbours told us they were off on their bikes, electrically aided I must add, to the weekly market at Cucuron.  Now we've come across one or two markets since we've been here but usually around lunchtime, and just as they are packing up, so we hastened ourselves and set off, in the 31 degrees heat, to the market.

The market takes place around the dramatic water feature in the centre of Cucuron. The bassin is spring-fed and about as big as an Olympic swimming pool, and with huge 200-year-old plane trees all around the square, they provide much needed shade for all.

It was of course a typical French market with great arrays of fresh fruit, vegetables, some of which we'd never seen before, plenty of meat, fresh and dried and of course, cheese. Many items too referring to the lavender trade which just added to the nasal assault you feel as soon as you step out of the car.

Back home by around 2pm, lunch, then our current favourite pass-time, sitting, reading and dozing.

Week Three - Wednesday

Wednesday 3rd July 2019

Today we decided it was time we made a trip to Aix en Provence.  We stopped here very briefly many years ago on our way to Marseille and promised we would return.

Just 21 miles and the now usual temperature of 37 degrees, we enjoyed a pleasant journey into the city centre and quickly found an underground multi story car park.

Perhaps it was less humid but we were moderately comfortable walking the streets, as we like to do. After an hour or so we stopped at a street cafe\restaurant for a beer and a coke then decided we would eat there.The French do some wonderful omelettes so we went for one, plus salad and the inevitable French Fries.

After lunch we spotted many small, 6 seater, busses and, being curious, I asked where they went.  Well, it turned out that they would take us on a circular tour of the city for the paltry sum of .90 cents each.  We couldn't refuse.  It was a slightly death defying ride, through the narrow streets, brushing against the backs of diners chairs in the street cafes, tooting and hooting at strolling sightseers.  For most of the journey we were the only passengers and, given the looks we got, we felt like royalty. All this at what felt like 50 miles per hour but was probably nearer 10.

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and were quite exhausted when finally dropped off at our starting point.

We slowly made our way back to the multi story, got the car and went home.

Still 37 degrees so we sat in the shade and read.

Week 3 - Thursday

Thursday 4th July 2019

A quiet day today.  Did some washing in machine then put it out to dry.  With a temperature of 27 degrees and a light breeze, it was dried and aired within 2 hours.  Later in the morning we popped out to Super U, in actual fact, 7 miles from here but easy to get to and what has become our local supermarket. Filled up with diesel too and once again, managed to make the car wash work.

Rest of the day is spent sitting in the sun, or, sitting in the shade, or, walking the site.  Site is well set out with a fair amount of trees for shelter from the heat of the day.

There are 70 pitches dotted around the site, almost all of which have some degree of shelter from the sun.  It's also surprisingly green considering the level of daytime temperatures they get here.

Week 3 - Friday

Friday 5th July 2019

We discovered there was a large market, on a Friday, close to us at Lourmarin, some 7 miles away so we set the alarm for 7 am, got up at 8 and were off in the early morning sun by a little after 9am

As early as we were arriving there was no street parking available and we ended up in a field but close to the centre. Once again we congratulated ourselves on getting up and out early.  Already the temperature was 26 degrees and the market, spread over many streets, was just beginning to fill with keen market goers. Click here for Lourmarin Market

I'm not going to waffle on about the typical French market and the variety of vegetables on sale, the olives, a hundred different types of bread, cheese, and the soaps, the meats of course and many French design clothes for ladies, gents, childrens and babies.

Apart from a couple of drinks, our only purchase was a big bag of black olives.




Oh and there was music too....

Back for a late lunch only to discover, after a little detective work, that the inline pressure switch on our water system and started to leak and, being a sealed unit, I'm unable to fix it so we have no water from the taps now for the rest of the holiday. A slight annoyance but we'll survive.

Week 3 - Saturday

Saturday 6th July 2019

Off out to Super U at 8am, they open 8.30, to beat the crowds.  We need a water container with a tap for the kitchen. 24 degrees at 8.30, may be hot again today.  We are moving tomorrow to Macon, on our journey to Paris so there's plenty to do today in the way of packing and generally making ready to travel.

I haven't told you, we have been adopted by a cat named Minit.  She's a poor, terribly thin young mother with three kittens to look after. We bought a packet of cat crunchies and leave some out for her plus a dish of water.

There are a number of regulars here including our neighbours on both sides.  They've been coming to this site for many years and know Minit and her kittens.












and our Hoopoe appeared last night and showed us his crown of feathers.

1pm now and we're pretty much done as far as moving off jobs are concerned. Ready now for the off tomorrow.