Ok you experienced snowbirds, what's the best way home?

[carol]

Day 9 - caumont sur garonne to brantome

Friends left the next morning but I decided to stay another night as the place was so beautiful and tranquil. Went for a walk along the canal, supposedly to the next village. No cafe. Walked further to the next village and then further to the main road. Over an hour, but nowhere for a beer so turned around and walked back! So at least a couple of hours exercise. I walked into the little village by the Aire to look at the bread dispenser. You put in your money and choose the bread you want! My friend had told me the machine bakes it for you. I don't know if he was having me on, or believed that himself but it doesn't. It gets filled twice a day apparently.

There was a dilapidated mansion up for sale and the entrance gate was hanging off so thought I'd venture in for a peek. The front door was ajar so I went in....a bit scary but I couldn't resist. What grandeur! It was huge with a massive open stairway which I also couldn't resist. So up I went...all the French novels I've read that could have been set in that house were coming back to me. Although it was dark downstairs it was really bright upstairs as the shutters had opened. There was even an old chaise longue in one of the rooms. I really wanted to find the kitchen but was getting a little bit jumpy. People were obviously squatting in the place as there were empty beer cans, ash trays and a mattress in the room downstairs so thought I'd leave while the going was good. I'd love to know the history of the place.

Left there this morning for Brantome as it was heading northwards and I was arranging to see Dippingatoe at some point. Also, market day tomorrow. What a journey. The satnav was really going haywire, trying to send me down little back roads all the time. It took ages to get here and when I did the payment booth wasn't working so it took me ages to get in! Had a walk around the town...pretty but very touristy...one of the theme park places. And so expensive in the cafes compared to Spain. Literally twice the price for a coffee or a beer!

And it's really overcast and a bit nippy and I'm feeling homesick.

 

[jennyp19]

Was that Stan and Alison you met up with ? It sounds like nerves have all gone - glad you are enjoying yourself.

 

[Tezza33]

Thanks David. It probably was though I thought it looked more orangey...

Buzzards come in a variety of colours, this one is more orangey



but it could have been a red kite you saw, slightly bigger with a forked tail





Unfortunately satnavs even truck ones will send you down small roads, if you enter the width of your van as 8ft it sees a road that is 8ft 6" wide as being wide enough, if you want to avoid narrow roads then go into 'edit vehicle' and change the width to something a lot bigger

 

[carol]

Jenny it was Stan and Alison and Bill and Sonia. Tezza, wasn't using my trucker sat nav.

 

[janegam]

Sounds as if you are having a great trip, re the prices and weather i always think that going back through France after spending time in Spain is like a halfway house- getting you prepared for uk. But before anyone says, yes the weather has been lovely the past few days and the spring colours are stunning but £2.20 for a coffee and nothing to eat!! Enjoy rest of trip.

 

[vivall]

Albir to Calais

Your visit to caumont sur Garonne reminds us of our stay in the same place two years ago.

Yes, reversing into the spaces is a little tight.

We recall the large house for sale, although we did not venture inside we photographed and sent them to our son in law in case he may be interested.

Early that evening a mobile pizza van parked outside that house which suited us and our neighbours and we shared the pizzas and bottles of wine.
That night, apparently, there was a heavy storm. Neither our neighbours or us heard anything. A large branch from one of the overhanging trees had fallen and landed just inches away from the neighbours. It needed all four of us to move it out of the way!

Do pizzas normally make one sleep so heavily?

Allen.

 

[Tezza33]

Pizza'ed as a newt

 

[spigot]

Carol,
I don't know where you are at the mo,
but if you are near here, try & drop in.
Verteuil-sur-Charente, it's a stunningly beautiful village just off the N10 with a free aire.
There is also an amazing 15th cent polychrome figure group in the church.
M&M. x

 

[carol]

Carol,
I don't know where you are at the mo,
but if you are near here, try & drop in.
Verteuil-sur-Charente, it's a stunningly beautiful village just off the N10 with a free aire.
There is also an amazing 15th cent polychrome figure group in the church.
M&M. x

Oh ****, I nearly went there too! There is so much to choose from in France, which is why bumping into ye people I'd met in France was truly serendipitous! Hope you're continuing to have a great trip.