We have found that entering GPS coordinates into our Garmin since we have been in France is not accurate. For instance finding Patrice’s farm was an issue. The Garmin was trying to take us 70kms off course. Any clues anyone???

After a good ride and walk around Laval we eventually found the farm and Patrice’s chalet. He built the chalet himself and it faces a little lake. Sue arrived and we had a great French dinner consisting of 5 or 6 courses.

Saturday 8 May was raining and we went to our first French supermarket to shop. Much like NZ but very little meat. (France still have butcher shops!)

In the afternoon Sue took us for a walk around Ste Suzanne. This was a beautiful town with a chateau, and to a friend’s house for afternoon tea. (6pm!) The day is very long in France with most people working to at least 7pm and not dining until 9pm.

On Sunday 9 May, after Patrice had finished the milking, we hitched up Sarha (the horse) and the gig and drove for about 25kms thru the beautiful country side, along river banks and tracks. Lunch was half thru the trip in a Creperie next to a river.

What a great way to see the country!!

On Monday 10 May we said thanks and farewell to Sue and Patrice and headed up the Loire Valley, mostly following the river on a road along the levee. Unfortunately it was a grey rainy day and the view of the many Chateaux along the way was limited. We stopped for lunch at Saumur and walked around the town and Chateau, getting slightly lost on the way back to “Lefty”.

The next stop was at the Chateau de Villandry which had stunning gardens all set out in geometrical patterns.

After a rather hectic drive thru Tours at rush hour we spied some camper vans parked near a Chateau in Chaumount-sur-Loire where we spent the night.

We intended to travel west and south thru Brittany and Bordeaux and then into Spain. We have reversed this plan and now are travelling south thru France to the French Riviera and around Spain clockwise. The change was due to the cooler weather and the French school holidays.

Driving has been easier than we expected. We have travelled mainly on secondary roads which are sometimes narrow but in very good condition unlike the UK roads.

These roads go thru most villages where the streets are very narrow but well worth the effort.

We drove down a toll road from Deippe to Laval on our first day in France. When we reached the toll gate Don could not work out how to pay. There seemed to be nowhere to put the money so Don pushed the “assiste” button. A voice answered “Bon Jour”. Don yelled the name of the place where we were to leave the toll road which was Alencon which Don pronounced as per the spelling. A very short reply came over the intercom “push the ticket button.” (you pay at the other end of the road-25 euros).

When we told this story to Sue she exploded with laughter as Don had mispronounced the destination and he had called the bloke a bastard. No wonder he was short!!!

Tuesday 11 May - We woke to drizzly rain and freezing cold again. The cloud was low which is a shame as this is obviously very beautiful country side with Chateaux either side of the Loire River. We decided to pay and look inside the Chateau du Valencay. The original owner was the foreign minister for Napoleon. We were issued with and personal audio system that guided us thru the lavishly decorated rooms. Well worth the 11 euros each! Our overnight stop was at an “Aires” by a Channel in St-Amand-Montrond.

Wednesday 12 May – The weather has been even worse. Very low mist which got thicker as we approached the mountains. At lunchtime we stopped on the Col de Rocher where we could almost see through the fog the ruined Chateau Rocher.

After a stop at the supermarket and service station we have parked in the mist at an Aires at Tourzel-Ronzieres. Let’s hope the mist clears as there is supposed to be a spectacular view! The villages in this area are quite different from the Loire. The grey slate roofs have changed to terracotta tiles and the area looks like what you would expect in Tuscany.

We were hoping to go and cross/see the Millau Viaduct today but will change this plan as the weather is still foggy and it would be a waste. We may have to divert and see it on our way to Spain.