5816 miles
Still in the Berry, south of Tours, a few days of relatively wet and chilly weather was spent at the riverside aire at Martizay, a small village south of Tours in the Berry. Managed a couple of walks across the gently undulating landscape between the showers. Boulangerie just up the road, free electric and a decent internet connection on Orange France.
 |
| Chateau de Tourneau - a few clicks from the aire when walking one late afternoon |
12th to 14th August 2017 - Charroux
5885 miles
South from the Indre Department, into the Allier, and a few days at a quite aire on the edge of the village of Charroux. An impressive ruined tower, apse and part of the cloister is about all that remains of a once important abbey founded in the tenth century under the protection of Charlemagne. On the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, it's important relic was part of the 'true cross'. Noticed a pilgrims refuge near the cloister for people walking the trail. Blue skies and hot again after the recent rain and managed a couple of walks along the Charente, through woods and fields.
 |
| Charroux - Abbey Tower, Cloister and Chapter House in the foreground |
15th August 2017 - Londigny
5907 miles
A few miles to the north west to end up at a small well shaded aire next to the twelfth century church, with yet another free electric supply, at Londigny. Not such a great idea at 7am in the morning when some kind sole decides to start playing tunes on the church bells in the, much more recent, wall belfry just thirty metres from the van.
 |
| Londigny - Another 12th Century Church - was parked up just off to the right |
16th August 2017 - Lesignac-Durand
5986 miles
Following plans, made a week or so ago in Ceverny, to head south down towards Limoges and the Dordogne headed off in that direction to Lesignac Durand in the Charente Department. The village and the central aire are on a hill overlooking the artificial Lac de Mas Chaban. Yet more free electric hook-ups for the aire users and of course the aire was free to use as well.
 |
| Lesignac-Durand - Village church with its rather strange domed spire |
17th August 2017 - Sereilhac
A village on the RN21 some 20km south of Limoges, parked in the aire on the edge of the village looking over a park and a couple of lakes. A blazoned trail from the lake went up into the forestry and followed part of the route to Compostella for a while where it went past a medieval pilgrim's lodging in one of the small hamlets.
 |
| Sereihlac - Church and Village |
18th to 19th August 2017 - Queyssac
6108 miles
South into the Dordogne Department, to stop just outside of Bergerac, at a gorgeous aire in a meadow filled valley at the edge of the small village of Queyssac. Spent a couple of nights here and and followed a couple of waymarked walks in the local hills and forestry.
 |
| Queyssac - Village Church across the stream from the aire |
20th August 2017 - Beaumont de Perigord
6129 miles
Just a few kilometres and south of the Dordogne river ended up outside an interesting bastide town, founded by Edward I. Great square and the fortified church with one of the towers built as a keep. Managed a walk in the early evening; but getting very hot again in the top thirties during the afternoon.
 |
| Beaumont de Perigord - the church and its fortified southern tower |
21st to 22nd August 2017 - Montpazier
6139 miles
Just ten miles away to stop off at an aire at another well preserved Edwardian bastide at Monpazier. I was beginning to find this part of the Dordogne really interesting; but, the chances of doing much exploring or walking were being ruined by the on going heatwave which hit 40C the two days I was here. Really too hot to do anything apart from try and stay cool! The weather forecast suggested that it was going to last for the next ten days. Decided to head up to Brittany, over the next few days, where it looked like low twenties for the next week or so.
 |
| Montpazier - Church and arcaded market place |
23rd August 2017 - Moutiers-sur-le-Lay
6370 miles
A long days drive towards Brittany to end up in the Vendee at Moutiers-sur-le-Lay, on a small river that eventually reaches the Atlantic just north of La Rochelle. Where I crossed it again about a week later when heading back down south to les Landes. Quiet aire near the village centre provided shade for a couple of days of more hot weather before heading further to the north west and into Brittany.
 |
| Moutiers-sur-le-Ley - Old Mill on the Lay from the bridge at the edge of the village |
6495 miles
Into the Morbihan Department, in the historic duchy of Brittany, to stop at an inland marina on the Villaine, some twenty kilometres from the coast in a flooded river valley, before heading for some coastal aires. Busy with boats and people during the day but pretty quiet at night.
 |
| Port Foleux - Part of the Marina near the aire. |
26th to 29th August 2017 - Plage des Kaolins, Ploemeur
6590 miles
Found a great aire about ten kilometres west of l'Orient. With a beach, in a relatively undeveloped stretch of coastline, just ten minutes walk from the aire at the rear of a huge car park. Very busy with locals at the weekend. Unfortunately, no services; but, being France, all the local parkings for access to the clean, coarse sandy beaches (from weathered granite) were free and plentiful, the litter bins were emptied every morning when a couple of guys also went around picking the few bits of litter that be left around. So different from the UK - pay for everything and litter everywhere.
 |
| Plage de Kaolins |
30th August to 2nd September 2017 - Plage de Salins, St Hilaire de Riez
6774 miles
Weather was turning a little chilly and damp in Brittany so I headed down to another coastal aire just to the north of the resort of St Hilaire de Riez. The Aire, in A pine forest, was free and located about a click from the beach. Services were a problem all the local ones seemed to be out of order! Managed to find a private aire to fill up with water, dump waste and get some power for a few hours but had to pay, ten euros for the privilege!! Can't really complain, since landing in Nice on the 13th June I have spent a total of ten euros for services and nothing to park overnight! Charges to date were four euros for electricity, one damp and chilly weekend, on one occasion one euro to fill up with water and then the five euros today. In Scotland last year I had to fill up with water from a stream, as there wasn't even a tap to be found with or without a charge!
 |
| Plage de Salins - backed by dunes and pine forest |
3rd September 2017 - Cartelegue
6883 miles
Heading south to les Landes, skirting around La Rochelle and down the right bank of the Gironde, to overnight in transit at a small village aire, near Blaye. Vines everywhere!
 |
| VIllage and vines near Blaye, Gironde |
4th to 10th September 2017 - Messanges
7078 miles
Drove on down into les Landes, to stop for a week or so, at a great value campsite in pine forest about a kilometre from the fantastic beach, at Messanges about fifty kilometers north of Biarritz. The beach is very busy with loads of surfers and sun lovers. Unfortunately, the sun isn't being too cooperative today; but, at least its relatively warm, low twenties in the afternoons. Camping works out at 13 euro a night, there are two pools and the santiares are spotless. Nearby, the small resort of Vieux-Boucau-les-Bains, on a coastal lagoon, fifteen minutes by bike, serves excellent oysters and moules frites, best enjoyed with un quart de vin blanc while overlooking the lagoon and the pine forest beyond. I met an english lady who had been coming to this site for the last twenty-one years!
 |
| Messanges - Plage Sud |
 |
| Vieux-Boucau-les-Bains across the coastal lagoon |
No comments:
Post a Comment