Day 2 - 4 - The Roanne

I don't wait long in the morning. It started at 9:15 am. Chattering in the car, having a nice conversation with a young girl during breakfast, who also stayed there with her sister and mother. We got talking because she spoke German very well. She had been in an exchange program in Franconia for a year and wants to become a German teacher. We had a great conversation over sweet baguette, milky coffee, and jam. The night was okay, my bed seems to be more comfortable. I can clearly hear it.

The journey is the destination, and so we start off at 27 degrees Celsius towards the first campsite. I am curious. On the toll road through Lyon and a break on the hottest day of the year at a rest area with baguette and coffee, we travel through France.

After the highway, the vineyards come, on the left and right, and a river, the Roanne, winds along with us.

After about 340 km, we reach our destination. A campsite that doesn't seem appealing from the outside. The plan was to stop here, but the place doesn't promise what is advertised in the travel guide. I hear "let's continue and take a look". Along the Roanne through streets that would not allow oncoming traffic. No cars are coming. Occasionally, many cars are parked on the side, indicating that locals are spending the hot day at the bathing spots.

Mountains, rocks, cliffs, and a light blue river. I like it, especially since I can drive at 80 km/h, but more than 30 km/h would be too dangerous.

Found the campsite - looks nice - after 354.7 km and 5 1/2 hours in scorching heat, I can stay under the trees.

My awning is set up and I can simply observe the next few days. Standing under walnut trees, I only hear the church bells and the distant ringing of the bells of the goats running across the fields. It can be summed up as idyllic.

A place hidden among trees, on a hill above the village of St. Nazaire with about 40 pitches. A small restaurant, a very nice owner and operator. Toilets and the like are small but nice and okay. As a highlight, a 25m long pool that provides refreshment and variety. And on the last evening, there will be a typical French dinner in the restaurant.

I learn that you can get fresh baguettes, fresh goat's cheese, and vegetables in the village. Sometimes, it smells like fried zucchini, fresh basil pesto, and other times, the drivers just seem to chill, enjoy the time, and I think we will spontaneously continue towards the Mediterranean tomorrow. That's fine too, so I keep my eyes open and listen to the crickets, the wind, and the church bell that strikes just 12 times.