The last few days

All change again. Our site by the lake was lovely, no complaints, but we were hog-tied by the lake not allowing dogs. On Friday we went out for half a day to the River Rhone in nearby Yenne. We had a lovely time swimming in the river and wading in the smaller mountain stream flowing in to it.

Whilst at the river we noticed a campsite the other side of the stream, so decided to move sites. We reserved a spot there before returning to the lake site to pack up and pay. It was nearly 4 o’clock when we did so, and the owner had every right to charge us for that night, but he was very gracious and charged us only for two nights. 

The new site is basic - I think it would be described as rustic - so while it lacks a shop and pool and other fancy bits, it is flat and cool and beside the river. We realised that the previous site was in a kind of bowl, surrounded by hills, so even in the shade it was hot. The new riverside lake is more open and the small breeze is a godsend. 

We have swum, lazed and had a walk in the the charming village of Yenne for a coffee, and are booked here for five nights until Wednesday. It has the benefit over the previous site of good 5G so we can watch all the football, and will be here Tuesday to watch England’s next game. 

Our plan is to then travel to near Troyes, south west of Paris, for our penultimate stay before we go to our usual Calais site (on the beach with beautiful wide sands and only 15 minutes from the tunnel)  for the last one or two nights before returning home. The Troyes site seems to have all the right bits; a shop, its next to a lake where dogs can swim (away from the main beaches), a pool and near enough to Troyes for a day visit. 

It is unlikely that we will do much over the next few days except repeat the cycle of swim-laze-stroll, which at this stage of our travels, especially after our stays at a couple of unsuitable sites, is just what we need.  My mind is starting to think about the mammoth strimming job on the lower garden facing me at home, which is a sure sign that we are ready to go home. 

We have had a fantastic experience. It feels like a lifetime ago we were in Spain seeing dad and Maureen, and there have been so many good and great experiences between then and now - so much so we have to read our blog to remember them all. 

Along the way we have spent time thinking about how we can improve our camping experience. We have bought a few bits from Ikea and other places (lace curtain for a makeshift insect screen, new frying pan) and also discussed whether we might upgrade to a five-point-four van, a group of vans that are, no surprise, 5.4m long but are also full height inside with toilets and lots more storage. My favourite YouTube channel is EarlyretirementWonderlust with Richard and Jackie, and they have just done the same (for which I’m expecting some ribbing from Darren and Tasha). Who knows. 

We have some ideas for final tweaks to what we have, including adding what we now call a “Richard and Jackie”, a simple sheet and two pole awning we’d add on to the front of our existing awning, to give more shade, and protection from rain, and by removing the poles creating a front screen for nighttime. Othe changes are; I will make simple curtains for the sides and we will get two or three boxes used for under bed storage to put all our junk that is currently in bags and boxes throughout the van. They can go either under the dog beds or on the seat when travelling, and under the van when camped. If we had a pound for every time one of has said “do you know where … is?” we’d have about £37, so improved storage is very important to us.