Thursday 16th June – Monday 18th July. Liz + Chris + Hugh in our Campervan Kon-tiki.
Ferry from Portsmouth to Ouistraham [Caen] [Normandie, Brittany Ferries], arriving at 6.30am [7.30 France time]. Hugh flew back on 3rd July from Avignon [Flybe].
Total trip was 1,953 miles; 3,125km.
Click on place names on the itinerary below to go direct to the pictures [ in same sequence as the itinerary]
For Full Driving itineray Click Here
Ouistraham by motorway [mainly] Falaise, Boussac, Poinsouze; past Vichy, Chaise-Dieu, to Vorey; Yssingeaux, past Valence, Crest, Die to Lus la Croix Haute; [past Barcelonette to Larche; past Digne les Bains to St. Laurent du Verdon; to Avignon; past Arles to Saintes Maries de la Mer; to Le Vigan; past Nant to Randals Bison [Causse Noir]; past Meyrueis to Causse Mejean; to Ste. Enimie; past Mende and Chateauneuf de Randon to Col de la Croix de Bor; past Chaudes aigues, St Flour, Riom es Montagnes to Trizac; by Ussel, La Courtine, Auzances to Evaux les Bains; past Montalgut, by Montmarault and Sancerre to St. Satur/St Thibault; by Aubigny s Nere, Beaugency to La Ferte Bernard; By Vimoutiers, Troarn to Ouistraham, Portsmouth, Southampton.
Click here: for full Itinery for Camping Guide for all France pictures
| Poinsouze | |
| TOP | |
.JPG) |
|
| Poinsouze. Our 1st campsite, in the centre of France TOP | |
.JPG) |
|
| The chateau with kayakers in lake | |
.JPG) |
|
| About to seal launch | |
.JPG) |
|
| Well warmed up | |
.JPG) |
|
| Pylon on our walk around Poinsouze | |
.JPG) |
|
| Female stag beetle showing us our route | |
| Vorey | |
| TOP | |
.JPG) |
|
Vorey campsite |
|
.JPG) |
|
| Swimming pool at Vorey | |
.JPG) |
|
| Vorey school | |
.JPG) |
|
| Vorey from the mountain in a break in the thunderstorms | |
.JPG) .JPG) |
|
| Inn the village of Vorey | |
| Lus de la Croix Haute | |
| TOP | |
.JPG) |
|
| Damage to van during a stand off with a German campervan in a narrow tunnel on the route to Grimone col on the wa y to Lus | |
.JPG) |
|
| Lus de la Croix Haute | |
.JPG) |
|
| Lus de la Croix Haute | |
.JPG) |
|
| Lus de la Croix Haute; our campsite | |
| Larche | |
| TOP | |
.JPG) |
|
| Larch campsite [of our top 4 campsites] | |
.JPG) |
|
| Larche | |
.JPG) |
|
| The col de Larche [de Madellena in Italy] | |
.JPG) |
|
| On the way down from the col de Larche | |
.JPG) |
|
| Larch | |
.JPG) |
|
| Larche Mairie | |
.JPG) |
|
| Larche; church | |
.JPG) |
|
| Larche; Church bell tower | |
.JPG) |
|
| Looks like rain | |
.JPG) |
|
Ask Liz |
|
.JPG) |
|
| View from campsite; the golden eagle came over these each morning | |
.JPG) |
|
| View on other side | |
.JPG) |
|
| Fort on top of Mountain | |
.JPG) |
|
Helicopter taking weekly rations? |
|
.JPG) |
|
| Explorer | |
.JPG) |
|
| My birthday teaparty with Dutch neighbours | |
.JPG) |
|
| Red-backed shrike | |
| St. Laurent in Verdon | |
| TOP | |
.JPG) |
|
| The lake at St. Laurent campsite [La Farigoulette] | |
.JPG) |
|
Entrance to St Laurent village looking toward campsite and Verdon Gorge |
|
.JPG) |
|
| Our mechanic come with 2 new tyres [then expelled from the site for obscene language to lady owner] | |
.JPG) |
|
| My wonderful companions in camping | |
.JPG) |
|
| Aren't they wonderful! | |
.JPG) |
|
| Friendly hoopoe | |
.JPG) |
|
| Hugh looking forward to his 30th birthday | |
.JPG) |
|
| Wonderful restaurant in St. Laurent village | |
.JPG) |
|
| Lavender field near St. Laurent | |
| Avignon | |
| TOP | |
.JPG) |
|
| Our campsite at Pont d'Avignon | |
.JPG) |
|
Le pont d'Avignon. Campsite is on left bank. |
|
.JPG) |
|
| Avignon from the campsite | |
.JPG) |
|
| Old Avignon palace of the popes | |
.JPG) |
|
| same | |
.JPG) |
|
| Playing Bach on steel drums | |
.JPG) |
|
| Main street restaurants | |
.JPG) |
|
| Wonderful Italian restaurant 'celebrating' Hugh's last dinner with us before flying home | |
| Saintes Maries de la Mer | |
| TOP | |
.JPG) |
|
| The sea at Clos du Rhone near Sts Maries de la Mers | |
.JPG) |
|
| The pool at the Clos du Rhone | |
.JPG) |
|
| Liz looking at the flamingoes outside typical Camargue house | |
.JPG) |
|
| On our walk into Sts Maries de la Mer | |
.JPG) .JPG) |
|
| Black winged stilt next to campsite and Nesting stilt | |
| Le Vigan | |
| TOP | |
.JPG) |
|
| Le Val d'Arre at Le Vigan. Sunday morning, selling bread and papers outside shop | |
|
|
| View from campsite | |
.JPG) |
|
| View from the bridge; the river flows through the site | |
.JPG) |
|
| small but nice pool | |
.JPG) |
|
| The pitch drops away just beyond van to play area and the river | |
.JPG) |
|
| Our redstart | |
.JPG) |
|
| Le Vigan from local hills | |
.JPG) |
|
| Hillside village on way up to Causse Noir | |
| Randals Bison on Causse Noir | |
| TOP | |
.JPG) |
|
| Bisons Randal on Causse Noir | |
.JPG) |
|
| Dinner time at Randasl Bison | |
.JPG) |
|
| Tourists being lectured for 1 hour under blazing sun | |
.JPG) |
|
| 'James Dean' | |
.JPG) |
|
| Roaming buffalo | |
.JPG) |
|
| Causse Noir | |
.JPG) .JPG) |
|
| Clear skies on Causse Noir and a tame butterfly | |
| Causse Mejean | |
| TOP | |
.JPG) |
|
| Causse Mejean Wild camping | |
.JPG) |
|
| Causse Mejean Wild camping | |
.JPG) .JPG) |
|
| Chough on Causse Mejean Egyptian Vulture | |
.JPG) .JPG) |
|
| Seeds of ??? Thirsty butterfly | |
| St. Enimie on the Tarn | |
| TOP | |
.JPG) |
|
| Campsite at St Enimie beside the Tarn | |
.JPG) |
|
| Causse Mejean from St Enimie | |
.JPG) |
|
| Liz in the Tarn swimming from campsite | |
.JPG) |
|
| Our site. The Tarn is behind the trees [down steep bank] | |
.JPG) |
|
| St Enimie | |
.JPG) |
|
| St Enimie | |
.JPG) |
|
| Causse Mejean road down to St Enimie | |
.JPG) |
|
| St Enimie | |
.JPG) .JPG) |
|
| Col de la Croix de Bor; wild camping | |
| TOP | |
.JPG) |
|
| Col de la Croix de Bor | |
.JPG) |
|
| View from Col de la Croix de Bor | |
.JPG) |
|
| Flowers on Col de la Croix de Bor | |
| Trizac | |
| TOP | |
.JPG) |
|
| Trizac campsite. | |
.JPG) |
|
| Trizac Mairie and Church | |
.JPG) |
|
| Trizac street market | |
.JPG) .JPG) |
|
| Trizac butcher and war memorial | |
.JPG) .JPG) |
|
| Animals of the Auvergne | |
| Evaux les Bains | |
| TOP | |
.JPG) |
|
| Evaux les Bains | |
.JPG) |
|
| Evaux les Bains | |
.JPG) |
|
| Evaux les Bains Church | |
.JPG) .JPG) |
|
| Inside the church | |
.JPG) .JPG) |
|
| Evaux | |
.JPG) |
|
| Church | |
.JPG) |
|
| The chateau at the entrance to the campsite | |
.JPG) |
|
| The hospital for the elderly backing onto us; fortunately the madhouse screams stopped at sunset | |
| St Thibault on the Loire | |
| TOP | |
.JPG) |
|
| Site at St Thibault on the Loire | |
.JPG) |
|
| The Loire | |
| La Ferte Bernard | |
| TOP | |
.JPG) |
|
| Ferte la Bernard | |
.JPG) |
|
| Ferte la Bernard | |
.JPG) |
|
| Ferte la Bernard; the grill sign shows our favourite restaurant | |
.JPG) |
|
| Preparing our last meal in France | |
.JPG) |
|
| Ferte la Bernard church | |
| Ouistraham | |
| TOP | |
.JPG) |
|
| Come to take us home | |
.JPG) .JPG) |
|
| Black headed gulls and tern saying goodbye | |
.JPG) |
|
| The port marker bouy with farewell party | |
.JPG) |
|
.JPG) .JPG) |
|
| Saying goodbye to La Belle France | |
| TOP | |
.JPG)
