Monday
We moved on this morning for a few days in Provence to finish the holiday with a look at another area of France that was on our list to visit. However this will only be a quick visit to one small part of this region.
We set off after breakfast to a small village called Mondragon, chosen because it was in Provence but also on the way back up north. We had intended staying here for 4 nights but when we arrived the site was rather a mess, and also was a lot further from Orange and Avignon than we thought. We had a brew, looked at alternatives and decided to set off about half past 4 in the car to see what else was available so that we could move on in the morning. There were 2 sites in the centre of Avignon and 2 sites out of the centre, which we thought we would have a look at first. It took us ages to find the first site after it seemed we had been driving round and round in circles, over, under and alongside the motorway. It was so remote and inaccessible, we said no, off to the next. This, when we got there had changed it’s name and was c!osed for the winter. Into Avignon and eventually found the other two sites next to each other on an island in the middle of the river Rhone. By this time it was half past 6 and at least we knew where we were heading in the morning. We had a quick look and decided to head back to the caravan via a supermarket that we had seen on the way in to get something for dinner. It took us a while to get back to the supermarket and then do a quick shop and when we came out it was dark. We drove back through the small villages until we arrived at the sign for Mondragon, but nothing looked familiar. We drove up and down the main road, the N7 that bypasses the village but couldn’t see any signs for the campsite. We kept turning round and driving back over the same patch of road. Eventually we turned into Mondragon but there was no one around. We had noticed before that the french have their evening meal and then go inside at dusk, shut the doors and shutters and close down for the night. So french villages in the evening are like ghost towns or observing a blackout. Beginning to panic, just a bit, thinking we could sleep in the car, the dogs in the back and so is her food, oh we haven’t eaten and I am rather hungry, we’ve got a bag of sweets in the car but no other food and no drinks apart from some wine but no corkscrew, maybe we could check into a hotel, but there don’t seem to be any hotels around here, we will have to drive to Bollene, but its nearly 9 pm and nothing will be open. Where is this jolly campsite!
Then I saw it, at the far end of the village, a little sign on a post saying Camping Pinede. We followed this back into the village and the campsite was 200 metres through the other side, we had been on the wrong road, the bypass instead of the road through. Rubbish navigating but at least we were back and it was only 9pm Made some dinner n collapsed into bed, it had taken us 4 and a half hours and 150km to checkout 4 campsites and do a bit of shopping.
Tuesday
Off to Avignon which in the light and knowing where we were going took us about 50 minutes.
There were some reminders of Saumur, a campsite on an island in the river, walk across a bridge and straight into the city. This must be prime location for development but obviously these islands are kept as green as possible, with a few campsites and a farm or two. We had a bit of a tidy tidy, some lunch, remains of pizza from last night, then a snooze before walking into the city. Ellie was again not sure about all these people and all this traffic but we enjoyed a stroll through the walled completely enclosed city centre with its massive Palais des Papes at its centre. We wandered through narrow medieval lanes between towering golden stone walls and then stopped in a square for a drink but didn’t really want a meal so headed back to the caravan about 8pm for cheese and biscuits.
Wednesday
We had a walk up the island in the morning with Ellie and round onto a very nice promenade that runs down the river side to the bridge that leads into the city. We got a good view of the other bridge, the famous Pont d’Avignon, which was partly washed away in the 17C so only has four arches left, stretching half way across the river Rhone to Ile de Barthelasse. We cooked lunch and enjoyed the sunshine and I finished book 4 of this holiday which is a very poor record for me. Later on we walked into the city, explored a bit more and had dinner at an Italian restaurant. It is beginning to get a lot cooler in the evenings here, autumn is here.
Thursday
Our last day in Avignon and starts with a trip to the vets to fulfil the passport requirements for Ellie of a vet overseeing her taking worming tablets. We decided to book her in here rather than leave it till the last minute at Calais. She got checked out by a female vet and then gobbled up her worming tablets. All done, just another big bill! We then walked into the city again and went to the market for a look round. We then went to l’Epicerie for a lovely French lunch. Had a conversation with a couple from California on the next table who asked us to explain Brexit and apologised for Trump and a french guy on the table beyond who was enjoying eating here after working as a kitchen hand over the summer. The American woman asked him where he was from and what he wanted to do, as in with his life, which he didn’t know how to answer except this is what I am doing. Back to the campsite to plan routes back and packup. It has turned cloudy and therefore cold today, no sun so it feels like real Autumn. Time to go home.
Friday
Traveling up country past Lyon, Reims and Dijon, staying overnight at a farm site then on up to Calais on Saturday. Sunday morning off to catch the ferry and then driving back home.