FROM CHATEAU TO WORKSHOP

 

We cross into France avoiding the toll roads but find ourselves driving along narrow streets and winding through numerous villages, continually having to slow down or practically stop for oncoming traffic. This will take ages, and we are on a deadline. Decision made we head back to the motorway. Perhaps we should buy a transponder to make it cheaper. We hunt down a toll depot. The first is closed and the second says that they are only for cars. Looks like we will have to pay full price! After a long day we turn off the motorway and find a lovely spot at Berry-au-Bac beside the canal for the night. In the morning there is a nearby patisserie for a baguette and croissants. They will set us up nicely for a long driving day as we plan to reach Mont St Michel where Trav and his crew are staying. We are doing a big loop around Paris to avoid traffic mayhem, so our route takes us through miles of lush countryside and out to the coast. There is a huge bridge to cross before we continue south near the coast to Normandy. By 4.30pm we reach our destination and catch up with our family. Very conveniently there is a small Aire de Camping Cars nearby where we can stay. Once parked we all head out for dinner. A noisy affair at a local restaurant I think we frightened the locals! In the morning it’s croissants all around before we head to the Chateau Minere at Ingrandes-de-Touraine (about 30 minutes from Tours) where we are staying for the family holiday.

It is grey and drizzly, but it doesn’t dim the excitement as one by one our three children arrive with their families. The kids race around the Chateau exploring and talking nonstop and the adults unpack for a week in one spot. And there is plenty of room for everyone. Every bedroom has its own bathroom! What a bonus.  Such a relief for them all after Hotel jumping for the last few weeks. Then follows a wonderful week of family time. The little ones find swords and shields to battle with. The girls spend ages in the very cold pool (it was supposed to be heated!) and enjoying girlie time. And the older ones just enjoy time out or a game or two at the ping pong table. And of course, the adults enjoy sitting back beside the fire with a glass or two of vino.

John & the oldest grandson set up the e-scooters and before we know it we are all having turns testing them out.  And of course, they are perfect for those very necessary trips to the patisserie for morning croissants. The first day is a bit wet, but the rest of the week is perfect. We head out on day trips to old forts, gorgeous Chateaus and cute villages. We even find a few ancient Roman ruins.  

But all good things must come to an end and we all head off in different directions for the rest of our trips. John and I do a final check, pack all the leftover food into our fridge (bonus!!) and set off. We will slowly wend our way back to Germany. Another visit to the workshop is required! This time we will avoid the tolls and stay on the slightly bigger roads. We head to the town of Vierzon for the night, taking in the scenic views along the way.  The pics of the town looked good but it proves to be a bit scruffy. Fortunately, it has a great tourist office that gives us a walking tour to follow. And camping by the river is nice.

The next day we select the town of La Charite-sur-Loire for our lunch stop and exploration. This proves to be a great choice as we walk over the old bridge straight into the heart of the old town. There is a massive Abbey we can walk through, the Notre Dame de la Charite-sur-Loire and up the hill ramparts with great views. Awesome, but time to move on. Much later we roll into the big town of Auxerre where there is free camping near the river. A fun fair has been set up but we can still squeeze in. Time to head out to explore. First up to the massive Cathedral St-Etienne, then more steep narrow streets to the Abbaye-Saint Germain d’Auxelle which is just closing, but just enough time for a quick peek inside, then we wander the streets. Later we find a local restaurant for some very French cuisine. Delicious! And it looks amazing.

Sunday is gray and misty as we continue north. When we stop at a little village for water, I spy a Church so set off to take a look. It is the ginormous Pontigng Abbey, and the Sunday service is just starting. I rush back for John so that we can both enjoy the lovely organ music. Our next stop is at Chalons-en-Champagne where we park near the centre. It’s great to explore the Chalons Cathedral, walk under their Arc de Triumph and explore the old town. While we eat lunch we check for places to camp. Toul looks interesting. On the map it looks small and the whole centre is enclosed by hexagonal shaped walls, plus there is a camp spot right beside those walls. We will head there. Unfortunately, the camping is full so we must find a park and do a rushed tour before we move on for the night. The massive Cathedral Saint Étienne de Toul is amazing and the ramparts impressive. A nearby village has an empty carpark - perfect for the night as it’s getting dark.

It is time to head back into Germany and to Mannheim again. We are booked into the workshop again to sort out the brakes. They are pulling to the left. It should be a warranty job. We drop one of the scooters off for repairs at a repair shop in Karlsruhe (unfortunately the back wheel is jammed)  and hope it will be ready by the time we finish at the workshop. Then there is enough time to stop at the town of Speyer for an explore. We park near the Rhein and see a row of Viking canal boats tied up. The town will be full of tourists. We walk in and discover yet another gorgeous town. Love the massive Cathedral and the streets chock full of half-timbered houses. Then onto the Alstad with its lovely entry gate and a yet more Churches. Time to move on to the workshop to camp overnight for an early start tomorrow. We hope!! They finally start by 10am and by 2pm we are sent on our way. Parts have been ordered. We head to the village of Heppenheim where there is a camp spot beside an amphitheater. The entry is via a steep cobbled street. We can stay and easily explore the simply gorgeous Alstad. One of the best we have seen. Dinner out and the next morning we walk up the hill to Starkenberg Castle to work off the calories. Finally, we hear the parts won’t arrive until tomorrow, so we head to the Teknik Museum in Mannheim. It is a massive building full of displays. Lots of school kids are doing workshops. The place is impressive, but mostly in German. A few hours later we return to the workshop for the night. In the morning 2 new vacuum cylinders are installed but the test drives shows that the problem is still not resolved. Eventually we are told to come back tomorrow. John and the mechanics are getting very frustrated! To fill in the rest of the day we head to Karlsruhe. fingers crossed, to collect the scooter. It’s not ready so we find a park near the city and walk in. The main sight is the huge Mannheim Palace. Most of the town is fairly new and unexciting. Then again back to the workshop.

We have told them we have to leave today and FINALLY the problem is sorted. We now have 4 new wheel cylinders, and we are on our way. The mechanic is finally smiling! Munich here we come.  Too far to get there today so we pull over in the town of Ruteshein for the night. We should get there by midday tomorrow. Well plans often change, and a 2 hour traffic jam does it this time, but we finally arrive in Erding where John & Elizabeth are staying. It will be  the changing of the guard soon when they take off in GR3 while we head home.

Lots of chatting and an afternoon exploring the city of Munich. We spend a few days exploring and introducing them to the truck and leave a very nervous John with the big truck. They plan to tour Spain, Morocco & Portugal. Before we know it it’s time to clean up the truck, pack our bags and head to the airport. Have a great time John & Elizabeth in GR3 aka The Beast!