Camping at Cheverny and massive rainstorm
Started off quite early for us, tour had only got out of the campsite when we had to turn back because of a cycle race, Bill tried to turn the van round, and after nearly taking the car in a man’s front parlour - we did manage to start off in the right direction, making for Bourganeuf in a round-a-bout way - due to the race! Guéret next, La Châtre, Châteauroux, towards Blois, it rained on the way. Stopped and ate in an Italian restaurant it was still hot, they got out a fan, but it didn’t work! Bill talked to the waiter, who came from Florence, and practised his Italian on him! I looked up campsites and before we made for one, we stopped at an Intermarché for some food - just as well really, as just as we uncoupled the van and I’d started the let (?) a leg down, it poured with rain. When it eased off Bill decided we ??? get some near! We went of to Cheverny (Les Saules is the name of the site) got out of the car walked into the town, the sky was as black as pitch by the this time, and the lighting was playing around, all the shops hastily shut up, and we were getting back to the car - Bill had his umbrella - and the heavens opened, the wind howled and we tried to shelter under a tree, but it was making us into wet rag dolls! A girl called to us from a doorway and we ran in - she was very kind, lit some candles and gave us towels to dry us off with - there was no electricity in the town! We talked until the storm left us a bit - went back to the car and started off back to the campsite - a tree had been struck and had fallen on a parked car, branches of trees were everywhere, and another tree was down on the main road, the campsite was a bit wet, some tents were practically swimming & the site isn;t very crowded. It’s a 3-star - because it has a swimming pool! We’re moving off tomorrow - let’s hope the weather improves! We saw a red squirrel on the way here - I forgot to put that down! Bill is always seeing jays - even when they’re woodpeckers, magpies or crows!
FRANCE 03 JULY - 04 AUGUST 1988 holiday overview
- Zoë growing up; arriving in Falaise
- Tour from Falaise to Putanges
- From Bougé to Angoulême
- Cold shower and Moulin De Fleurac
- Boggy sites but good meals and pool
- Villeréal - a bastide town
- Losing Bill at Biron; Moving to Monpazier
- Moved site again; ran into friend
- Two enormous castles: Gavaudun and Bonaguil
- From Monpazier to the Abbey at Cadouin
- Picnic in the Old Port of Bergerac
- New campsite at St.Céré & lovely town with fish feeder
- Castle of St.Laurent & The incomparable Gouffre de Padirac
- Jean Lurçat exhibition
- Getting lost on the way to new campsite in Faux-la-Montagne
- Lake Vassivière and the Tour de France
- Discovered a dolmen & Learning swearwords
- Camping at Cheverny and massive rainstorm
- Calmer weather - campsite at Bourgueil
- Broken exhaust & Bill's bad foot
- Walked to Market in Bourgueil
- Getting car back & Château de Chinon
- Château d'Ussé and Château d'Azay-le-Rideau
- On the road again - campsite in St.Suzanne
- Local cattle show with large bull creating havoc
- Basilica of Evron & a joust at the Château of St.Suzanne
- Chilly weather and mist in Falaise
- Manoir de Coupesarte & Château de Vendeuvre
- Lunch with Chris and Maxine and then home!