Thursday 5th July

Thursday 5^th July.

12 noon, just about to leave this excellent site, Les Ceriselles at Vincelles. Really helpful reception staff, nice and flat pitches with easy access, right on the Canal le du Nivernais and river yonne.  Alongside the canal is an excellent cycle path that goes for miles and Barbara and I did a 14 ride alongside it this morning.  Really impressed with the value of the site that also provides an excellent wifi connection free of charge, other sites have been charging up to 6 euros an hour. Would recommend this place.

Now off to Sezanne to one of our favourite municipal sites that has an Olympic sized pool. Not sure about the weather we can now expect but we’re mainly preparing for the trip home. So its shopping and vets for Pickles. Not expecting to get internet access on next site so this is probably the last posting for this trip. When I get home I intend to summarise the visit to Sardinia and post that for those thinking of making the trip there so for now its Arriverderci.

Top picture: parked up for the night outside the walls of Cluny. Only a 50yd walk into the town centre.

Next: Riding along the Voie Verte.

Next: The popular Aire at St Gengoux Le National.

Bottom: Many of the converted railway buildings next to the Aire at St Gengoux, The station here houses a bike hire facility. Also there are toilets etc

Monday 2nd July - Wednesday 4th July update

Wednesday 4^th July

Still a pretty hot day. We left Santenay and arrived at Vincelles, just south of Auxerre. Again we chose an ACSI site here for 12 euros a night. We were fortunate to find that they did free WIFI so it was time to logon and book the boat home for Sunday at around 4pm. All we need to do now is get Pickles booked in at the vets probably at our final stop off point at Sezanne. When we went to pitch the van we got talking to a fellow scouser whose wife had a stroke here a week ago and is in hospital in Auxerre.  Again he’s a retired school teacher and during our conversation we found so many coincidences. He now lives in Maghull where our Joan used to live.  He used to live where we live and knows many of our neighbours. I wont bother you with the other coincidences but it’s a worrying time for him and he’s not sure when she’s being discharged.

The site is good with a small swimming pool.  We seem to be running out of humorous incidents to report on.

Tuesday 3^rd July.

Left the Aire and drove further north to Santenay to another ACSI site. It is quite hot so we took a swim in the municipal pool. Santenay looks a clean and tidy town with lots going on but we spent little time there. Good site.

Monday 2nd July update

It was still a bit overcast with the odd shower so we decided to leave Cluny and head for another nearby Aire in St Gengoux Le National. This turned out to be an excellent choice as it was a large area that had been an ex railway station but was now  set aside for cyclists as it was positioned directly on the Voie Verte cycle route.  It had a toilet and a water and drainage point. We walked into the town and were surprised to find that it was a medieval town with a really nice old church and what looked to me like a medieval bath house. Well worth a visit. Its funny but sometimes on these one night stopovers you forget to look at the local towns. We took a cycle ride of about 8 miles along the track with Pickles behind in his carriage. We later got talking to an English couple who were both retired teachers. He had converted a van into a motorhome and done an excellent job of it.

Monday 2nd July

Monday 2nd July
Still a bit overcast and drizzly. We had a good meal in the Le Nation restaurant. then went to watch the Euro final. Pity Italy lost as I would have won 60 quid on my 60th birthday. But Spain were excellent. Got talking to two ex KPMG workers, one from Sidney the other living in Seville but from Canada. Barbara went back to the van to pick up Pickles so in that 20 mins we covered every topic...the Spanish economy, Australian Cricket, Rugby League, the bank rate in Australia and the lovely French girl in the corner. When Barbara returned there was still lots of things I should have found out about them!
Even though we were right in the town centre, we slept well and woke at around 8am. Not a bad overnight parking spot. Still not sure where to go next but as its raining we might drive around and look for another Aire. Weather will improve later today or tomorrow.

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Sunday 1st July

Sunday 1st July.

Woke up aged 60 nothing else to say about that! We left this site in pouring rain, when we hit Lyon the weather was appalling and difficult to see when driving. We stopped at Belleville and drove to a little lake, maybe a possible future night stop, very quiet with toilets. Had our dinner and then drove to Cluny, one of our favourite places in France. An old medieval town that isn’t too packed.We were intending to stop at the nearby campsite and have a swim but the weather was dull and cool so we drove around. At the back of the Abbey we found an area reserved for 5 motorhomes and a French guy told us we’d be ok for 3 nights free parking. So as its actually in town in a quiet spot we’ll probably stay for one night and then move on. Enjoyed an afternoon beer in the town and will go in at 7pm for a meal and watch the Euro final. Free wifi at the bar.