Where's Bertie? He's at a free Aire on the bank of the river Sioule at Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule. A service point is available for a fee (exact location: 46.31349, 3.29600).
Weather: Overcast but dry. 18 degrees at destination.
The wind really got up last evening and into the night and with it coming side-on to the pitches, Bertie's broad side took a walloping that caused us to pitch and roll. Even so, a good night's sleep was had.
I was unusually quick this morning in deciding where we were going to end the day, and once I'd seen that it was to be 18 degrees and sunny here this afternoon (although only the former prediction proved to be accurate), we made haste to leave Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon. Our haste was such that we were prepared to defer our runs until the end of the day (the wind speed may have also been a deciding factor...), but wasn't such that we were prepared to forego the showers that were on offer at the Aire. They were push-button you-take-what-temperature-you're-given jobs, but at that hour of the morning the water was verging on too hot, which was perfect in a cold shower block.
I've only two observations about our driving day (which consisted of: drive, stop for coffee, drive, stop for lunch, drive, arrive): 1) this route through France, which we've never driven before, is remarkably undulating; there didn't seem to be any flat road, it's all either up or down, mainly steep enough for warning signs about the gradient; 2) In view of (1), it's a great bonus that the strong wind was coming from behind - it's not the sort of terrain where we expect to see our average MPG increasing, as we did today.
The Aire we've come to is a good one. Seventy five demarcated pitches laid out either side of a track that runs parallel to the river, with the pitches on one side of the track being right on the edge of the water. It's a shame that we're only here for a night-stop.
Having foregone our runs this morning, the second thing we did on arrival (after a cup of tea) was to head out along the river. Alas, after two days of sitting still, my left adductor wasn't happy with the activity and only made it 4.8km before tying itself in a knot. Walking in circles whilst Mick did another lap of the riverside park, it did gradually ease off, but it's not happy. Let's hope some dedicated stretching soon has it back happy.
Weather: Overcast but dry. 18 degrees at destination.
The wind really got up last evening and into the night and with it coming side-on to the pitches, Bertie's broad side took a walloping that caused us to pitch and roll. Even so, a good night's sleep was had.
I was unusually quick this morning in deciding where we were going to end the day, and once I'd seen that it was to be 18 degrees and sunny here this afternoon (although only the former prediction proved to be accurate), we made haste to leave Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon. Our haste was such that we were prepared to defer our runs until the end of the day (the wind speed may have also been a deciding factor...), but wasn't such that we were prepared to forego the showers that were on offer at the Aire. They were push-button you-take-what-temperature-you're-given jobs, but at that hour of the morning the water was verging on too hot, which was perfect in a cold shower block.
I've only two observations about our driving day (which consisted of: drive, stop for coffee, drive, stop for lunch, drive, arrive): 1) this route through France, which we've never driven before, is remarkably undulating; there didn't seem to be any flat road, it's all either up or down, mainly steep enough for warning signs about the gradient; 2) In view of (1), it's a great bonus that the strong wind was coming from behind - it's not the sort of terrain where we expect to see our average MPG increasing, as we did today.
The Aire we've come to is a good one. Seventy five demarcated pitches laid out either side of a track that runs parallel to the river, with the pitches on one side of the track being right on the edge of the water. It's a shame that we're only here for a night-stop.
Having foregone our runs this morning, the second thing we did on arrival (after a cup of tea) was to head out along the river. Alas, after two days of sitting still, my left adductor wasn't happy with the activity and only made it 4.8km before tying itself in a knot. Walking in circles whilst Mick did another lap of the riverside park, it did gradually ease off, but it's not happy. Let's hope some dedicated stretching soon has it back happy.
The only photo taken today.
(*Mick has reminded me that there was one other notable thing in our drive today. The motorway rest area at which we stopped for morning coffee was chosen purely because it fell at a convenient time, but turned out to be a viewing point for the Garabit Viaduct, built by some chap called Eiffel in the 1880s and opened in 1885. It was, apparently, at the time, the largest viaduct ever built. Mick took this snap of it:
I have been noting the weather in your part of the world and wondering how you were doing. I remember having the caravan in Pembrokeshire during one of the major storms a few years ago and receiving anxious enquiries as to my well being. Fortunately I wa in a sheltered place but I had some wild days on the summits.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't as wild as the night we had in Shropshire a few years back when we decamped to a more sheltered spot at 1am. Always good to have a "Well it's not as bad as that time" situation to look back on.
Deletedon't know if you're returning with P&O - they sacked their entire crew this afternoon (Thursday 17th)and are attempting to use agency staff.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/mar/17/po-ferries-halts-sailings-before-major-announcement
P&O is owned by DP World, which in turn is owned by Dubai’s sovereign wealth fund.
By good fortune I have a great aversion to boats, so we're booked on the Channel Tunnel. I suspect it may be busier this weekend than we usually find it to be.
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