Transit France

Our first stop is at a small campsite in the middle of the forest in Fondespierre. The site has just opened for the 2nd day of the new season, so it is accordingly empty. There are problems with our vaccination certificate during check-in, the reception cannot scan it, and after several attempts, the operator says it's okay and we can stay. We choose a spot and a nice older woman sits in front of her caravan and smiles at us. Since the weather is still nice and sitting in the car for a long time makes our bones tired, we decide to walk the few kilometers to the supermarket. The path leads through a forest until the beginning of the town. Rocky is excited to run free again. Eventually, we hear music and a bicycle behind us. We let go of each other's hands and step aside, making sure Rocky comes to us quickly and stays, as he has developed the habit of running in front of every bike that comes towards him. So we always have to stand at the side and wait until the bike passes by. Suddenly, the older lady on the bike stops and starts speaking to us in French. Of course, we don't understand a word. Nicole initially thinks that Maria should leash the dog. But the woman made it clear that we don't need to leash the dog. Eventually, she shows Nicole her rainbow-colored face mask. The woman wanted us to continue walking hand in hand. After that, she says goodbye and continues riding. When we want to leave the next morning, Nicole notices something on the windshield. There is a card tucked in there. Shortly before that, the lady said goodbye to us with a wave and rode off on her bike. Unfortunately, we don't understand what's written on the card. Luckily, Easy has been learning French for some time and can translate the card for us. 'You should never hide it. It is her will, that she is a woman. My little girl is homosexual. Fortunately, that's how it is and I love her, and that has occupied me for 27 years. Have a good trip and good luck, an 83-year-old French woman' Apparently, the lady thought we let go of each other's hands because she came. We were very happy about this card!

Our second overnight stay is in Lyon. Apparently, our vaccination certificate works here. However, after scanning it, Nicole notices something turning red, but the lady at the reception says everything is okay. After doing some shopping, we hear loud voices in the dark and a woman tells her husband to knock on our door. We open the door and an unfriendly and rude German woman tells us to come out because we are apparently on her spot. After some back and forth, all parties agree that we are actually on the reserved spot, as the parcel numbers are poorly placed and confusing. Only after showing them our site number on paper, they can calm down and then park on our actual spot. Of course, not without complaining loudly and running to the reception to inform them that there was a mix-up and now we are swapped. The woman's biggest problem was that she didn't want to move at night if someone wanted to take the spot. It's not like there are at least 30 other available spots... It makes you look forward to Germany even more. In Spain/Portugal, no one would have caused such a fuss but would have immediately parked somewhere else.

The next day, we end up near Dijon for our last overnight stay. A cute little campsite right by a river. There are problems again during check-in, and finally, someone informs us that our certificate is no longer valid in France. Luckily, Maria manages to persuade the operator to let us stay for one night. In the worst case, we would have had to drive again. Different rules and deadlines apply here, and after 4 months without a booster, you are considered not fully vaccinated. On Sunday, we stop at the vacation rental in Opfingen and plan to try our luck at an open vaccination campaign the next morning.