France Part Three - Week 2

Our extra day by Annecy was pretty chilled, I went for a run (well more of a 3 mile shuffle) along the lake, we washed the van and then I had to get the soldering iron out to fix a broken wire causing the kitchen tap to stop working. A common fault apparently. Not soldered wiring since college, so a resulting pea sized blob was not pretty but water flowed so all good for now.

The Wednesday (after an Aldi shop) saw us begin our trek a bit further south, heading toward Provence. We’re using an Aire for the first time, and chose one ahead on route at Lus la Croix Haute in the Drone. Weather was a bit rubbish travelling down and it’s cloudy and wet, with storms forecast overnight. BBC forecast has us located at Die, which we hope isn’t an instruction. Storm subsided at around midnight, up to that point lightning was spectacular with flashes all around the valley and surrounding mountains. A straightforward drive on the Thursday to Aups in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, an area we’d previously rented houses (at Cotignac and Flayosc) for

holidays when the children were young.

Arrived on the fairly empty site and chose our hopefully sunny pitch (168) and we were greeted by a Dutch couple from Rotterdam we’d met at the site at Annecy who’d took a shine to Daisy. It was nice to chat with them, and hear of their journey down through some bad weather. The site is an easy walk into Aups, a pretty and typically Provençal town. We wandered in for a mooch and a beer, and the heavens opened with a torrent down the street and under the decking of the bar we passed an hour in with the locals, next day was hot and sunny and we enjoyed a 10k walk in the hills above Aups. The route took us through olive groves and vineyards with a blue sky backdrop, and back into the time via some interesting caves. In the evening we wondered into the town for some vin rouge, which was shortlived as the few bars there closed up early. Nice evening though nonetheless, practised my French ordering the wines.

Saturday was market day, coffee sat in the morning sun in the square watching the French shop and a pre lunch Kir in Cafe Central. Sunday was a sunn but blustery day, with hints of autumn. Some domestics around the van in the morning, anyone watching would think we’d got the shits as I walked back and forth to the chemical disposal point as decided to give the toilet cassette a soak, rinse, soak, rinse. Those that know, know.

We decided to extend our stay another day and Monday was a gentle day of coffee and shopping, sitting in the sun, a nice meal in the van, then retreating inside as it dropped cool on evening.

Enjoyed our stay at this site in Aups, end of season very quiet with only 2 other British vans. Felt sorry for a Dutch lady opposite us, whose husband was

rushed into hospital after suffering a heart attack. I understand he was ok.

Bizarrely we were woken up on Tuesday morning by a bouncy castle being inflated, no bugger here let alone any kids. We then moved down to the coast, easy journey through wine country and past a few places we’d visited before. Stopped off for lunch and a walk at Vidauban, a nice town with a park and lake.

Just wanted to mention we sadly missed my uncle’s funeral today, seems to be a recurring event sadly. 2 dear uncles have left us recently whilst we’re on our travels. Both sadly missed.

Update on our stay at Camping des Mures in the Gulf of St Tropez next week.