Day 45 Saturday 3^rd July:

Today we finally made it to Poitiers by lunch time. We parked and had lunch on top of the city ramparts opposite the “Parc de Blossac” which overlooks the river, and being a short distance from the centre of the town.

A little cooler today but it was starting to warm-up again during the afternoon. We took all afternoon to wander the Poitiers. Helene was very interested in the wedding that took place while we were checking out the Notre Dame Church. We had earlier seen the same wedding party at the Hotel de Ville (Town Hall). The civil and the religious ceremonies must be very separate and mandatory in France. Later we went to the 12^th C Cathedral of St Piere and the 4^thC Baptistery of St Jean. Christianity certainly featured in Gaul/France from a very early time.

We walked back through the Parc de Blossac to the van, and left Poitiers by 6.30 pm – the 4 o’clock rule was forgotten for the day!

Set TT for an Aire in Vivonne – arrived and found a lovely spot with about 8 other vans. We parked near the canal in the centre of the village. Had a few drinks, dinner and walk around the village and in bed by 10.30 – an early night for a change!

Day 44 Friday 2^nd July

There doesn’t appear to be any wifi in Chauvigny! Went to the town centre today to try to contact Maddie but only one place had any public access – where’s Macca’s when you want it! Back to camp for further R’n R.

Weather a little cooler at times today – 28oC! The campsite proprietor has just informed us that we are to wind in the awning etc because there is a gale force weather warning being circulated. We prepared our van for the storm but when it came it was all over within 20 mins – a few strong winds and some rain. It arrived at about 6.30 pm but only lasted 20 minutes. It was a relief to see the temperature drop after what we had had over the past week or so.

After dinner we had a very interesting and pleasant evening with John and Jenny, from Frankfurt, and Ian and Margaret from the Scottish borders. Home to bed by 1.00 am!

Day 43 Thursday 1^st July:

A rest day today – well partially. Sorry no Poitiers today either! We decided to go to the “medieval cite” early before it became too hot. Chauvigny is the only medieval city in Europe to have four chateaux making up the old part of the hill-top fortification. Again, very interesting, and we had peace and quiet to ponder the area before the other tourists awoke and descended upon the area. As it became hotter we headed back to the campsite to get on with our domestics – washing and a little cleaning.

Day 42 Wednesday 30^th June :

Will we make it today? Woke to the sounds of the dawn chorus and the chimes of the village church bell. Spent some time early in the morning sitting atop the cliff overlooking the village of Angles sur-l’Anglin. Very peaceful – a man fly-fishing near the bridge until some of the village youth turn-up for a swim.

Left for St Sevan after breakfast. Another delightful town with a picturesque 12^th century Abbey and bridge. Moved onto Montmorillon for lunch – noted for its Notre-Dame cathedral, plus other bits and pieces – it all seems to be a bit ho-hum today – must be a little tired today.

Headed towards Lussac-les-Chateau where we met another English couple now living in France and they suggested we go to Chauvigny. The UK/French couple were telling us about them buying and then renovating an old French farmhouse. They were saying taxes and health insurance take about 35% of wages and that houses were taxed on the number of fixed bedrooms. They went on to say that it was very expensive for English people in France now because of the exchange rate plus the price of items had increased.

We booked into the campsite at Chauvigny. On the way we passed nuclear power station on the Vienne River.

The campsite is within walking distance of the old town and the city centre.

Still very hot late into the evening – the new fan is being put to good use.

Had a drink with Keith and Maureen – a Yorkshire couple- Maureen a little under the weather but Keith made sense.

Day 41 Tuesday 29^th June :

Another great Aire – so quite overnight – but a little de ja vu when the automatic sprinklers came on at 4.00 am. This happened last year at Jabiru and at Kununurra.

Still heading for Poitiers today! Set TT for Le Grand Pressigny. Stopped to buy our baguettes but discovered a village with an impressive chateau, ramparts and a “four banal” or medieval oven. This four banal was provided by the count for the villagers who were obliged to cook their bread in this oven for a fee or banality! The very impressive ruined tower of the chateau still remained even after the destruction during the revolution. An effort was in progress to r

estore the chateau and ramparts with a 8 million Euro works program.

Chaumussay seemed to be the destination for lunch – stopped by a river and had lunch on a green field and then filled with “eau portable”. We proceeded to Boussay when we came across yet another chateau, this one derelict but we were able to walk the grounds. Very impressive moated chateau. The French country side is dotted with these relics at every turn.

Seeing it was getting on in the afternoon we started to look out for a suitable Aire, two were not suitable because there was no shade, on our way to the third we came across Angles sur L’Anglin – what a find – stunning – some English folk here said that it was voted one of the most scenic villages in France. It is absolutely stunning. Ticks all the boxes, river, chateau and ramparts on the high ground, cute houses, flower boxes everywhere, small allies – its got the lot.

We drove into the parking area overlooking the river and decided this is our resting place for the night.

Still very hot but with a cooling breeze. A wine with some ice evened out the temperature a little .. and we still haven’t made it to Poitiers!

Day 40 Monday 28^th June:

Much cooler this morning but there is a feel about the air that it could get very hot quickly! Street cleaner did a solo performance this morning – up ‘n down x 10 where we camped! We aimed for a slow day today. We needed to shop before we left Amboise – another town with chateau, ramparts etc . Bought a fan for 9 Euros for when we are in campsites and it gets very hot.

It was interesting to see the large number of bread makers in th

e large electrical stores. The French passion for bread, baguettes of all different shapes and sizes, translate into a large home market for bread makers.

Every morning from very early to after mid-day you see the French, all shapes and sizes, walking away from the Boulangerie with their baguettes.

Today has been a slow day. We had lunch at Chenonceaus, but couldn’t take another chateau tour. We have ended up just south of Amboise at Loches, a very pleasant French village, and with its chateau, ramparts and narrow old streets.

It was interesting to note that two trains were over-nighting here. For 22 Euros you could get to Paris in 2 hours 15 minutes changing at Tours. We had another very pleasant Aire to stay at overlooking a small creek and much greenery.

Day 39 Sunday 27^th June:

The weather has really been kind to us – after all it is summer. Left our “overnight” by 9.20 am and by 9.30 am we had run into a large Sunday market in Savonnieres. This market had a huge variety of gear – householders, dealers etc all were touting their wares. Many French items not found in Australia could be bought . Lucky to escape by 11.30 am.

Drove onto Tours where we checked email etc – something we had not done for a few days. Found Steve and Anne still awake in Oz – great to talk with them. Had lunch in Tours – just another large French city without much attraction. A motor show was on in the centre of the town so we moved on pretty quickly. It must have been the least impressive of the bigger cities we have been to in France.

Finally had lunch in Vouray, just outside Tours, and then onto Montlouis-sur-Loire for the evening. Still very hot! Stopped here for a while and then decided to move onto Amboise – only 10km further on - so as to look at the town in the cool of the evening. Still very hot – 30 0C at 11.00 pm!