France Villerest

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  • Day 12–13

    Day 11/12 - St Haon le Chatel to Saint J

    May 3, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Before we get started just a little matter about socks - too many socks garrotte your ankles - our good friend Nick in Japan has caught onto this from personal experience! And he’s now launching himself into this very important project, sitting at his designing desk as we speak mulling the problem 🙌🧦🤞.
    We enjoyed a relaxing day yesterday around St Haon le Chatel and its neighbouring town Renaisance. Having gone through the now familiar experience of being watched and scrutinised through a 3 course dinner, attempting pigeon French on the first evening, we took ourselves out to eat and had a boozy lunch. We went shopping in Carrefour for anyone of Walmley background. Thought better of going to the Caberet due to the expense!!
    Simon managed to get key stuck in lock once back and Valerie the host suddenly loomed out of nowhere and also spent 10 mins huffing and puffing over said key, whilst flooring Simon with her rapid French 😂 fortunately I had escaped to the loo!!
    Today has been a beautiful sunny day - until I tried hanging laundry out 🙄
    And a long but pleasant walk through hills, meadows, quaint towns, acres of vineyards and plenty of the usual wildlife. As ever most things shut - apart from the hair dressers- these must be key to French life!! Ended up getting a coffee in the post office- and used their loo!
    Arrived at our destination after a 6 hour walk in blistering Sun 🌞
    Now waiting for the 7.00 opening time of local restaurant for a rejuvenating meal and a glass of local plonk 🍷
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  • Day 13–14

    Day 13 - Saint Jean Saint Maurice to Pom

    May 4, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    Today is Simon’s birthday and the Plodicus is very tired - he is plodded out.
    We had a leisurely start to the day as the cafe we were planning for breakfast didn’t open til 10! We headed up there at 10 to find they would only serve coffee and hot drinks 😳. All other restaurants were shut 😭 so we headed off on our longest walk yet on empty stomachs. 6 Km on we came to the village of Bully - this to our relief had a campsite with an open cafe 🙌. So we were able to feast on a cheese baguette 🥖 and hot drinks. This set us up for the remaining 14 kms.
    We were doing quite well up until the last 4km when Mary wanted a sit down and Simon decided to bolt for home! Result Mary’s tired feet made her a little ratty. 😂
    We have a lovely apartment overlooking the ancient priory.
    Simon keeps getting worrying flashbacks to his surprise party last year 😆 but feels safely far enough away for no repetition!!
    We are booked into a local restaurant for hopefully a nice birthday meal 🤞
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  • Day 10–12

    Day 10 - La Fromagerie to Saint Haon le

    May 1, 2024 in France ⋅ 🌧 14 °C

    We woke up to a foggy start at La Fromagerie, Simon spotted a deer groaning in the mist while having his morning coffee. Breakfast from Stephanie on the cart was a big improvement on supper 🙌
    We set off on today’s trek - just under 20 km! Today is a bank holiday in France so once again all is closed. Simon says France is shut, it’s like a permanent seventies Sunday.
    The forecast had been for rain but God’s blessings were still with us and it remained dry 😊.
    The way was fairly level with very few ups and downs. Just long wet grass and mud to contend with.
    We planned lunch in Saint Romaine La Motte, all was closed bar a pizza takeout- so yes we shared a pizza, they also threw a free coffee in 👍
    We arrived in Saint Haon le Chatel feeling worn out and ready for a rest. We are in a room in a French families home. The town is quaint and medieval in character. We have a rest day planned tomorrow so will explore the town further then. So next update will be on Friday when we’re on the move again. 125 km walked so far 👣👣👣
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  • Day 9–10

    Day 9 - Charlieu to La Fromagerie

    April 30, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    After a chatty breakfast with Delphine our host in Charlieu we headed into town for some bits and bobs as today is a shorter walk 🙌 and we are under strict instructions not to arrive at our destination until after 3!!
    The sun is out and it’s very warm ☀️
    Our track was flat and bordered by fields and farms. We crossed canals and the river Loire. Stopped for a coffee at a marina type place, very civilised 😊. To ask for the bill you say ‘ l’addition s’il vous plait’
    Simon went off to pay and said ‘is it le subtraction s’il vous plait?’ 😆
    Thank goodness he checked…
    We stopped in Le Benisson Dieu for lunch, this literally translates as ‘God’s Blessings’ and has a beautiful abbey at the centre. As we had time we stopped for lunch having enquired did they do omelette? However once we sat down the only option given us was steak!! - God’s Blessings perhaps?!!
    Then onto our destination for the evening - The Fromagerie- literally the cheese house. Fortunately non been made here for the past 10 years. It’s very rustic with an eco toilet 😳.
    We are waiting for Stephanie to bring our supper of quiche, she comes on a cart at 5! We hope 😉
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  • Day 8–9

    Day 8 - Le Cergne to Charlieu

    April 29, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Had a lovely stay in Le Cergne - well looked after by Phillipe and Martine. They had baked an amazing array of products and spoke good English so communication was much better. The other guests were our German friends mother and daughter Monicka and Francesca from Heidleburg. So we had odd 3 way chats in French, German and English 😂
    Today was very soggy as it rained most of the walk, we were coping til near the end when the path became a mire and muddy stream, testing our footwear to the limit - soggy sock city!!
    We entered Charlieu hungry and close to the edge. It is a beautiful medieval town but sadly on a Monday all is closed 😢
    We dropped our bags in our beautiful apartment and went in search of a supermarket. To our joy we found a bar open 🙌
    We started with coffee, then enquired about food only saucisson offered. We ordered 2 , the bar man looked doubtful trudged off and brought 2 large big chorizo type sausages hanging from a string- we all laughed and agreed 1 was sufficient. So we tucked into this with bread and gherkins and couldn’t resist a couple of cold beers - what an odd lunch!!
    Hit the supermarket for some evening food then headed back to flump out in our apartment for the evening. 19 km accomplished on a wet Monday.
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  • Day 11

    Endspurt

    March 22, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    10 Tage lang dauerte unser Abenteuer, und was für eine Zeit es war! Wir sind durch die malerischen Landschaften Frankreich und Spaniens gedüst und haben dabei wunderschöne Übernachtungsplätze entdeckt - ein echtes Highlight! Unterwegs durften wir supertolle Menschen kennenlernen, besonders aus Alicante, und endlich wieder Sebastian und Sophie sehen. Ein schönes Geburtstagsfest war das Highlight.

    Natürlich hatten wir auch unsere kleinen Abenteuer, wie die 1000 Leichen an unserer Frontscheibe - ja, das war vielleicht ein Anblick! Aber mit schönem Wetter und angenehmen Temperaturen konnten wir darüber hinwegsehen. Zum Glück gab es keine unschönen Zwischenfälle, und wir haben eindeutig festgestellt: Diese Art zu reisen ist genau unser Ding! Es macht einfach Spaß, neue Orte zu entdecken und dabei so viele großartige Menschen kennenzulernen. Auf viele weitere Abenteuer! 🚐💨✨

    Aber wichtig ist, wir haben nichts Negatives erlebt, keine schlimmen Unfälle gesehen, wurden nicht bestohlen und alles ist noch heil. Endlich konnte Noldi etwas Offroad fahren und die Temperaturen sind perfekt um zu Reisen.

    Allen, die sich für unsere Reisen interessieren ein herzliches Dankeschön. Mir macht es riesig Spass diesen Blog zu schreiben oder auch Videos zu kreiren, denn bei diesen langen Fahrten muss ich mich ja beschäftigen und das kann ich problemlos und wenn sich darüber noch jemand freut macht es umso mehr Spass.

    Ich weiss, in 10 Tagen nach Spanien hin und zurück war sehr sportlich, aber es hat sich mehr als gelohnt 😍.

    Lieber Sebastian nochmal herzlichen Dank für Deine Einladung zum 🎂 Geburtstag 🎈 🎁 und wer sagt, wir seien nicht spontan…der irrt sich. Das kannst du bestätigen. Wir haben sofort auf die Einladung zugesagt und sind froh darüber. Das waren soeben mal schnell 3700 km 🙈.

    Wir ziehen es jetzt durch bis nachhause um morgen noch alles aufräumen zu können und zu putzen, waschen etc. und freuen uns schon jetzt auf die nächste Reise….👍😘💯

    Danke fürs Lesen.
    Susanne und Noldi
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  • Day 2

    Roanne

    September 10, 2024 in France ⋅ 🌙 15 °C

    Eine Stadt in der Größe von Bregenz an der Loire.
    Unser Hotel ist super, mitten in der Stadt, die Leute sind alle total freundlich, obwohl mein Französisch wirklich nur rudimentär ist. :-(
    Am Abend sitzen wir zwar draußen, ich brauche aber meine Daunenjacke.Read more

  • Day 8

    Auf dem Weg nach Bully an der Loire

    July 30, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 33 °C

    Heute morgen sind wir früh gestartet weil wir ca. 300 km vor uns hatten. Die meisten davon auf schmalen Passstrassen wo ich immer hoffte, dass niemand entgegenkommt. So haben wir das ganze Cantalgebirge durchquert und sind dann endlich in Bully angekommen.
    Leider gibt es hier keine Einkaufsmöglichkeit und das einzige Restaurant das es gibt wollte gerade zu machen.
    Zum Glück hat es noch einiges im Kühlschrank gehabt so dass wir nicht hungern mussten :-)
    Jetzt sitzen wir vor dem Womo und geniessen den herrlichen Ausblick über die Hügel.
    Morgen möchten wir von hier aus eine Biketour an der Loire machen.
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  • Day 14–15

    Villerest

    May 20, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    We moved further south to Villerest, we parked in the motorhome Aire overlooking the Loire Dam and river with the town up high above us. The has some beautiful buildings and the remnants of the original town wallRead more

  • Day 12

    Clermont-Ferrand to Montpellier

    April 25, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 43 °F

    An early start found us eating breakfast from a boulangerie/viennoiserie. Cindy had a brioche bun with chocolate bits and I had a croissant filled with chocolate and a creamy almond paste covered in thinly sliced almonds. Delicious. An easy walk to the tram followed, and both tram and the bus were not crowded. That's one good thing for departing early. We had a leisurely wait at the train station and we're one of the first on board. That is a great thing about getting on a train at its originating location.
    Being under the weather and just climbing 63 stairs with luggage, we didn't do anything else this evening.
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