Autumn Vacation 2025 - Outward - Slight Change!

The slight change is that we are no longer going to fit in a visit to Claire's friend near Saint Etienne.  It's simply to cut down some of the mileage involved and free-up a few hours on the road.

Another change and what could be called a spanner in the works is that John, whose "surprise" 70th we are going to for lunch on Sunday, emailed to say that we shouldn't be too late arriving on Saturday as there is a dinner!  We were unaware of that! And it's not a surprise.

He also said friends in the village had offered to put us up in their house (or apartment) whilst we are there. The problem we have is that we will have a fridge full of stuff bought on the way down, including Reggie's food that we can't keep frozen in the freezer compartment unless we are on an electric hook-up, or using the LPG onboard. It's not safe to leave a van with the gas burning when you aren't near it!

We will need to address that nearer the time.  It may be that we can park somewhere that could give us access to an electric point.  I have a jump lead with the French two pin plug at one end and the 16amp camping fitment at the other.

Anyway, the route has changed a little to come down the middle of France rather than more to the west. Apart 

I have been looking at overnight stops to make the days not too long on the road and overnighting in some different places.

Although the first night might be a Formerie. Where we have stayed before. It's only around 110 miles from Calais.  The Camping-Car Park  (CCP) aire there is only small but it's easy to get to. I might have to pre-book it to ensure that we can get a spot for the night.  

After that we will be on the familiar route around the edge of Rouen to the N154 and eventually around Chartres and to Orleans and then on the N20 to Bourges. We've not been there before and they have a new(ish) CCP aire we can try.  Bourges is almost in the centre of France.  Mainland France! Then across towards Clermont-Ferrand the toll-free A75 to La Canourgue. Another CCP aire we have never stayed at before.

The final day will see us with a shorter day of driving to arrive in Moux well in time to get sorted out and ready for that dinner we didn't know about and an evening of socialising.