We departed
Newhaven port under lowering skies, sailing into a surprisingly sunny
crossing. Off the boat at Dieppe in record time and on the road,
fortified by a substantial onboard lunch, for a 200 mile drive south to one of
our favourite free French aires, at Marcilly-en-Villette.
A solid 9 hour
sleep later and we were off, sailing along the N154, and then the A20, past Brive-le-Gaillard and
into the Causses de Quercy national park, marvelling at the industry of French
municipal workers en route, maintaining the towns and villages with grass
cutting, pruning, flower planting and white line painting. France is
definitely prepping itself for summer and is a far cry from the litter strewn
verges of the A27 at home! We arrived at Camping Domaine de la Fauries, near
Seniergues, around 7pm and were immediately taken with the beautiful
surroundings of this little gem of a site, with its far reaching views all
around, and despite the changeable weather the next day, decided to explore,
togged up in our waterproofs as the rain and sun changed places at least half a
dozen times in a couple of hours! We met some newly shorn sheep and the
noisy donkey across the valley, admired the wild orchids and marvelled at the
space that French inhabitants enjoy all around them.
It was just
too lovely to leave, especially with a sunny day beckoning, so we stayed on the next day to explore some more, driving to Labastide-Murat and Vaillac for a 5km
and then a 3km walk in glorious sunshine around postcard villages and
captivating countryside.
Today, we
head south past Toulouse, then towards the Pyrenees and the Spanish border.
J.
