Well after a good few days in Ambios apart from the weather, I departed about Sunday lunch time south to Oradour-sur-Glane this is a historical site from World War 2 where the German entered the village at about noon and for no know reason rounded up all the villagers separated the women and children from the men, all the men where took to two separate barns, the women children were ushered into the local church. An hour or so later the SS lined all the men up and just machined gunned them all down?? Next they set the church on fire from the inside and burnt alive all the women and children???? A must see village although very moving as the French have left the village as it was discovered the very next morning completely burnt out as a monument to the DEAD!
On a brighter note the Aire was very good and free so stayed for the night, this morning I left and headed for Chateau de lacomte’arriving about 2pm, Weather much improved temp is about 28 deg full sun, site is very nice apart from a few wasps make that loads of wasps (ouch), mainly English caravans and Motor homes a few tents, Going to stay here for a few days then head off over the Pyrenees and finally into Spain.
I have to say driving through France has been great apart from Tom Tom cocking things up now and again! The French Aires are great and people very helpful, I wish I had more time to explore France.
Have uploaded some pictures of the burnt out village and the Chateau I am now on, and not a sign of any gateaux or pictures of the Fallen Madonna with the big Boobes by Van Clomp!!!
A very nice place indeed sat here with a cold beer listening to the crickets relaxing in the sun!!!!
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Monday 22nd August 2011
Arrived in Le Havre about 9am local time, Set off and followed directions by Tom Tom plus maps and signs (can never be too careful ) Tom Tom decided to send me down an underpass 2.6mtrs high thankfully caught the sign in time and switched lanes, phew 5 mins into France almost had a convertible! Followed my prearranged route via Caen then left on the D526-N162 through Flers, Domfront, Laval, stopping for a quick bite to eat at an Aire around Chateau-Gontier and to get out of the rain and thunder storms, yes came to France for the weather etc. and found the British weather followed me down, still gave the van a wash.
I would recommend the town of Domfront for a stop a beautiful medieval town with an Aire right on the river looking over the boats.
Continued along my route to the outskirts of Angers where a huge lightning strike hit the ground a few hundred yards away just at a very busy intersection and Tom Tom went Nutt’s luckily I saw the sign for Bouchemaine and took it, A few seconds later Tom Tom caught up and got me to the Aire I had picked to stay for the first night.
What a beautiful Aire right along the river bank large toilet and shower block European style so don’t expect CC Club standards . However spacious pitches and managed to get on a pitch right at the front facing the river with electric, for 10.70 Euros for two nights.
Wednesday 24th August 2011
Have now stayed here for three nights so my route plan has gone out of the window especially after talking to some other brits who say, “Don’t have a route just drive in a direction and use the Aires”.
(Ok I finally got the hint).
Thursday 25th August 2011
The two Brits are Bryan and Carol a lovely couple who have been touring Spain and France since January, So I have joined them for a few days of touring, Today we will be driving along the river Loire on the D952 that runs right alongside the river with some stunning views and plenty of stopping places for lunch or even overnight stops, we carried along driving through Tours to an Aire on an Island in the middle of the River Loire and are planning on stopping here for the weekend this is another beautiful spot.
The weather has been good in places but other times there have been some very impressive thunder and lightning storms.
The next part of my trip I will be driving south to Oradour-sur-Glane just north of Limoges, Where I intend to visit a village left intact as a monument to the villagers that where all locked in the local church and burned to death by the Germans in 1944. From here off to Andorra and over the top of the Pyrenees’ and into Spain.
I will try to update this blog as much as possible but internet connections are few and far between.
Just about to board the ferry to France, bloody hell I realy am going to do this!
Well went to the IOW to see the old,s bless them, had a good time was well worth the visit over to the IOW.
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