Lézinnes - Bourgogne

Saturday May 19^th

Farewell to Beaune and a very interesting journey to the next place, with many chateaux and charming villages to be admired. We saw a huge bird of prey, which might have been an owl, and a big wild cat creature ran across the road in front of us. It was bigger than a fox and had a striped tail.

La Graviere du Moulin

7 Route de Frangey

89160 Lezinnes

www.lagravieredumoulin.lezines.fr

This is a Camping Municipal, allied to the Acsi scheme and costs a mere 10 euros per night. What a bargain! There’s even a new shower block and an excellent laundry room.

We arrived at lunchtime so Reception was closed but no matter, we could see plenty of spaces. We parked the caravan round the corner in the big car park and had lunch. We were just settling down for a snooze when M le Patron turned up and invited us to check in. He was another jolly man with no English. He escorted us on foot to help us chose a pitch. We decided the river bank would be pleasant so that’s where we settled. The site is actually a small island, with the river on one side, the mill race on the other. The two join up into rocky shallows at the far end of the field.

We sat in the sunshine by the river, watching the dragonflies and thinking all was right with the world. 

Sunday 20^th May

We had torrential rain in the night. So much for the sunny idyll! We walked to the village for a look around but there’s not much there. The river’s interesting, very fierce further up and picking up a great deal of speed over the weir. The mill race is pretty impressive too.

We got caught in a thunderstorm while we were out, which carried on with great gusto for at least three hours, chucking down buckets of rain and huge hailstones. We then realised why there were flood escape notices all around the site. Oh ****! Trust us to be parked six inches from the edge of the river, which by this time had turned into a raging torrent. Why didn’t we choose the middle bit, like the three sensible Dutch couples?

My anxiety was not helped when M le Patron came banging on the caravans to make sure everyone was OK. He kept trudging up and down the river bank, looking at the water level. He needn’t have bothered, I was keeping a pretty close eye on it myself.

The first thing to flood was the road out. Yikes! But we were reassured by a notice in the laundry, which said there’d be a loudspeaker warning when we had to evacuate. It also warned us to gardez notre sang froid. We’re British, dammit. Stiff upper lip and all that. I think the Dutch have stiff upper lips as well.

There was a poor sod camping in a tiny tent. We were wondering if we should ask him in for dinner and shelter but couldn’t decide how to ask him to leave at bedtime! (I’m not that charitable.) Anyway, he had the sense to remove himself to the shelter of the nice warm laundry, where he spent the night. He was a bit sullen. I’d said bonjour to him earlier in the day and he wasn’t at all smiley or pleasant I’m sad to say. Perhaps he had a premonition of discomfort to come.

Monday 21^st May

We survived the night and were not swept away but the skies are miserable and grey. More rain but not the torrential sort.

The man with the tent packed up his sodden gear and cycled away. If he had any sense, he’d have got on the next train home.

Tuesday 22^nd May

More rain and the river’s up. We keep watching the weather forecast because we’re really keen to cycle some of the Canal de Borgogne but we’re fair weather cyclists and see no joy in doing it in the wet.

The innards of the kettle glowed bright red and then it exploded. Good job we’ve got a sit-on-the-stove back up one.

Wednesday 23^rd May

Today the computer died.

We viewed the ancient laundry. (Huge key from reception on request.) We had another look at the fierce weir, exuberant river and tumultuous mill race and decided enough was enough and we’ll sadly leave tomorrow. After the decision was made, the sun came out! But we’ve made up our minds now.

I’m getting desperately short of reading material. Books running out and computer broken. At this rate we’ll have to talk to each other!

Beautiful Beaune

 Wednesday 16^th May

More rain in the night and freezing cold this morning. It was a bit grim taking down the wet awning. The Dutch couple watched from the cosy innards of their little camper. I hope they were entertained. I think they thought I was smiling at them but in actual fact I was snarling.

We got going about 11am and arrived Beaune at lunch time. Quite a nice site with a good pitch. Hardstanding.

Les Cent Vignes

Camping Municipal

10 Rue Auguste Dubois

21200 Beaune

campinglescentvignes@mairie-beaune.fr

 Thursday 17^th May

We walked into the town, which is quite charming but very expensive. If you ask for a glass of house wine, they bring you a wine list! The back streets are more interesting than the touristy bits – cobbles, courtyards and shabby little old houses.

We went for a drink and Kim engaged a retired fireman in conversation. He didn’t speak a word of English so we struggled a bit and it was hard work. We had his life story, which took about two hours to relate. He was all set to follow us back to the camp site but we said we couldn’t remember what number pitch we were on. Anti-social, I know, but I suspect he would have been there all night swigging wine, gabbing faster French and giving me brain ache.  

Saturday 19^th May

We were glad to see the sun this morning, after a day of rain yesterday. We left here about 11am. We’ve seen Beaune, done that. Wouldn’t be bothered coming back except maybe for a stopover. Next!

Villegusian-le-Lac - Haut Marne

Friday 11^th May

Today we left Luxembourg, but not until we’d filled the tank with cheap diesel. Hot and sweaty journey and the satnav couldn’t take us straight to the site so we drove down miles and miles of narrow roads through forest. We eventually picked up signs and found our way here the old fashioned way.

La Forge de Sainte Marie

52230 Thonnance des Moulins

France

www.laforgedesaintemarie.com

This is a very big site with a fishing lake, restaurant, pool etc. Not really to our taste and @ 16 euros per night (with acsi card) we didn’t think the pitches were up to much. We’ll just stay here the one night. I should think it’s a good place for anglers tho. We spoke to a Dutch man who’d caught a huge trout that fed 8 people.

The bloody mover didn’t work so we had to heave-ho a bit. We forgot to disconnect it this morning and the battery was flat, or so we thought. After another read of the manual, it turned out that it just needed resetting. We won’t be making that mistake again.

Saturday 12^th May

It rained in the night and was cold this morning. We drove through lovely lanes (a bit narrow for my taste) with huge landscapes of fields and forests. Beautiful. This is the France we love, it’s so big and spacious compared to dinky little Britain. We saw lovely looking cows in lush pastures – shame to think of eating them!

Arrived about lunch time and plenty of space.

Camping du Lac de la Vingeanne

52190 Villeguisien le Lac

www.campingdulacvilleguisien.com

M le Patron doesn’t speak a work of English (and why should he?) but was most droll and charming. He directed us to the top of the site as the bottom pitches were a bit soggy from too much rain. Our pitch is adjacent to a little vineyard. The site is on the edge of a big lake with a 7k walk around the perimeter. Great!

Canal  Marne a la Soane

Lock keeper's cottage

Sunday 13^th May

Bright but cold morning with a sharp breeze.

Went to the bank for dosh and to the supermarket to stock up but we’d forgotten about the early closing and were asked to leave at midi so we had to abandon the shopping half way.

We walked around the lake after lunch. My feet thought it was much further than 7k! It’s a nature trail, mainly through wet woodland and there were lots of things to stop and exclaim over, including fabulous fungi and lots of birds. We couldn’t recognise the voices of many of the birds and they weren’t showing themselves. There were no people about so it was a lovely quiet experience. 

When we came back to the caravan, Kim brought me a bowl of warm water for the poor feet and coffee and brandy for the soul.

Monday 14^th May

Took the bikes out and cycled along the Canal Marne a la Soane. They’re doing lock repairs so it’s very dry and not open to boats. We found large mussel shells on the towpath.

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Did laundry. The loading of the machine was closely supervised by the jolly patron. He was waiting to show me how to set the thing going but I was wishing I had something more glamorous than big white knickers to wash. Ah, vanity!

Tuesday 15^th May

Torrential rain on and off all day. We should have taken the awning down early while it was dry so it will have to go away wet in the morning before we leave. Bugger.

We drove to Langres for lunch and a look around but it was dismal. Road works and the town centre dug up for re-paving. None of the restaurants appealed to us so we came back for a home made lunch. All this money we’re not spending should stand us in good stead for a good nosh up if we come across somewhere really nice.

  

A Dutch couple in a little camper arrived and parked about 2 inches from the edge of our awning. They were very nice but why the need to be so cosy when the site’s almost empty? 

Luxembourg

Saturday 5^th May

More rain in the night and wet all the way to the next site. We’ll be waterlogged at this rate. There was a diversion coming into the town of Alzingen and we seemed to be going round in circles for a long time. We drove smartly into a little cul-de-sac. I thought we’d have to go through the performance of unhitching to turn around but Kim managed a 10,000 point turn, with me shouting the odds from behind the caravan. I don’t know why I bother because he’s deaf as a post, but I like to feel I’m doing something useful.

When we reached the campsite, the lady in reception told us to park alongside the shower block while we booked in. Unfortunately, a van parked in front of our car, Kim had to do a sharp turn to get past it and he took off the plastic canopy above the ladies’ toilet with the top of the caravan. Another scar on poor Dorothy! The canopy survived and nobody seemed much bothered about it. It sat on the floor in a corner for the rest of our stay. It might still be there for all I know. ‘Il n’est pas cassé’ is the French for ‘it’s not damaged’ in case you need to know. 

Camping Bon Accueil

2 Rue du Camping

L – 5815 Alzingen

Luxembourg

This is a jolly nice site and only 12 euros per night (with Acsi card). Marked pitches with hedges between, and a laundry: 3 euros for a large machine load. Toilets and showers are spotless and warm. There’s a supermarket within walking distance, buses into Luxembourg town or a cycleway alongside the river. The staff are friendly and helpful and don’t mind you bashing up their toilet block with the caravan. 


Sunday 6^th May

Rained all day so stayed in and did housekeeping stuff. We were quite happy to have a rest.

Monday 7^th May

We caught the bus into Luxembourg town. It’s gorgeous: clean, wealthy, lovely buildings, great views, trees everywhere. I recommend it. See photos.

A silly lady blackbird has been trying to build a nest on the car wheel. I keep sweeping away her efforts but she keeps returning. I don’t want her to get too comfy for obvious reasons.

The weather forecast is for snow. Kim has become unaccountably excited by this possibility and wants to stay here and see if it happens. The man’s barking mad.

Tuesday 8^th May

No snow after all (thank goodness).

We cycled to Luxembourg town along a lovely woodland road beside the river.

When we returned, Mrs Blackbird had rebuilt her nest and laid an egg! She was sitting there looking at me. I don’t know which one of us had the bigger fright when I peered under the wheel arch. I felt dreadful when I saw the egg. I had to move it into the hedge but I expect that was the end of that short life. We moved the car into a more exposed spot, away from the hedge.

Wednesday 9^th May

 

Piddling down again so we had another lazy day.

Mrs Blackbird has again attempted to build a new nest on the same wheel! What is wrong with the stupid bird? Why can’t she go and find a nice tree? I think she must be a bit simple, poor soul. Kim blocked off the wheel arch with a piece of cardboard. 

Thursday 10^th May

Deep joy, dry and sunny! We took down the awning and got ready for departure tomorrow. I’ve been delighted with Luxembourg and found it quite charming. Also, the diesel and petrol is very cheap so if you go, try to get there with an empty tank and fill up before you leave. I think it was €1.25 per litre. 

   

Stadkyll Germany

Thursday July 3

It took forever to get going this morning because we had to take the awning down. We like to do it the night before but it was too wet. Ah well. Left the site late morning, stopped in a lay-by for lunch and a wee and arrived early afternoon at the Landal campsite.

Campsite Landal Wirfttal

Wirftstraße 81

54589 Stadtkyll

Germany

It’s a beautiful site with a lake, a stream and surrounded by forested hills but we won’t be staying long because for some reason it’s not off season here (everywhere else is!) and the price for two nights was 50 euros! There seem to be a lot of children doing outward bound activities so maybe that’s why it’s so expensive. Clean toilets but only two showers. Good washing up sinks, little supermarket. Lots of bird watching to be had.

Friday July 4^th

Rained heavily on and off all day. We walked into town but there was nothing of interest: houses, cafes, bars and about five shops. I bought an apple strudel for my breakfast from a very fierce lady who resembled a valkyrie and was most impatient with my lack of German. She looked a bit like Les Dawson in drag.

Next stop is Luxembourg and I need to do some laundry so I hope we get some dry weather.