Chalonnes-sur-Loire

After two days of being lazy we decide to move on. First stop is the Super U to stock up on food for the next few days. We found some zip ties there so thought I’d just secure the diesel heater pump a bit better while we were parked in the car park on flat dry ground. Bliss did her best to supervise my work under the van by keeping watch at the door while Darren took the opportunity to take the rubbish to the bins.
A short drive from there we found ourselves at a small parking spot right on the bank of the Loire River. On the way there we came to a bridge that said okay for vehicles 7.5tn but to me it looked like it was a foot bridge as it was narrow and not very substantial so I was to say the least not very happy crossing it, even though Darren assured me it would be fine. He of course took great pleasure in videoing me having a bit of a meltdown while I drove over it against all my better judgment!... anyway... turned out it was fine. 🤭
We were sure we’d found the perfect quiet spot that would be somewhere nobody else would be turning up so started making some dinner. Just got everything out to make a lovely salad (so stuff everywhere!) then a man turned up asking us to move, albeit very politely (in French) so we packed up dinner and moved a bit along the path. Halfway through eating dinner we noticed a man taking photos of the van. Darren went out to say hello and make sure he wasn’t a weirdo who might come back and murder us in our beds tonight (it’s very secluded here!) but he was just saying that we weren’t allowed to park here overnight. Darren explained that we had come across the spot on park4night and that we would leave in the morning and managed to win him over so we were able to stay. It did put a bit of a damper on what would have been a lovely place to though. Cheered me up when we saw another otter swimming in the shallows. We kept Bliss on a short lead here as the river is vast and extremely fast flowing
In the morning we were up early to get back on the road.Read more