On Tour France - Mondragon

Thursday 12th JuneUp and away by about 5.50am, so it was going to be a fast drive, nothing that I could not handle, it would depend on Eddie, well I only got told twice to slow down so pretty good. The trip from Andorra to Barcelona Airport took 2 hours 20, so think all were pretty happy with that. The Kiwi’s had a 10.25am flight; ours was not till 11.40am to Lyon, France. I have taken to this driving on the wrong side of the road, don’t have any problems with it, thank god; as I have to drive the Motor home next.Returned the A4, didn’t even top it up as Mike forgot to stop for us, so I returned as it was, no trouble did not cost us anything, even though some one on the first day had touched their green car on the right hand left guard.We had the usual assistance, this time because were where so early they took up to the correct gate and then left me with the wheelchair as we still had about 1hour and half before boarding. Then when it was time to board the guy that met us off the plane from Gatwick came and loaded us into a van, we then had to drive out onto the tarmac, quite a way I might add, and then we were assisted onto the plane, first on again, the rest of the passengers arrived in 2 buses.So then assistance at the Lyon end, helped with luggage and into a taxi, gave the driver our instructions and on our way. Eddie and I did become concerned when we had been traveling for quite a time and the metre was reading 55eruo and the signage saying Paris that we were in for a long trip. Anyway 75eruo later we arrived at the campervan place.Van was already for us; brand new I might add with 50k on it. Signed paperwork, watched a DVD on how to work everything. Maps and instructions on how to leave and go south, it was off we go.Well happy to say it is not a problem to drive, good mirrors, not a big van and so easy to drive. So drove from the north side on Lyon to the south to a place called Vienne, most of this drive was on the motorway as it was the best way to go around Lyon I was told, worked for me. From Vienne to was on smaller roads to St Vallier for the night. Motor camps are very easy to find.carouslFriday 13th JuneShit I have just realized that it is black Friday and we have not had a black thing happen to us all day, shit I am good. Sorry I have had a few reds.Picked up some food and left St Vallier about 11am on our way to Valence; onward from there. If there are any signs that say Golf we are off to have a look. Today they turned out not to be Golf Courses but maybe an arborist that grows the trees for golf courses. Our French is not very good. Never mind that is why we have the motor home to enjoy the countryside. Which we have done today, been up little narrow roads that 2 vehicles can only just get by each other. We have now settled for the night in a camping site under the mountains in Mondragon. Christine you may know it, on the way to Orange and then Nimes, if we get it correct. It seems to be in the middle on no were for us, and we have free Internet access. I couldn’t find Internet access in Barcelona, had to pay heaps for it on the Internet. This world does impress me at times.We have ordered fresh bread and pastries for breakfast, told they will be here between 8 – 9am. Our plan of attach for this tour, is to do a big loop from Lyon down to Montpellier, up to Millau, that has the big bridge-want to see that, then up to Rodez, Montauban, Agen, Bergerac, Perigueux, Brive-la-Gailtanle, across to Clermont-Ferrand and then Villurbanne the night before we need to return to van to Minbel as we have to catch the train to Paris at 1pm. We will have to see if time is kind to us.We are having such a great time, we stop for Eddie’s rest about midday, I try for some town so that I can go off and look, and then we try for campsite by 6-7pm. It is so light here till about 10pm so you are inclined to forget what the time is.