On Tour France - Last Days

Monday 16th JuneRaining today, it started last night just after to had got settled with the van.Full up the Van this morning, 105.00 euro = $A175.00.Left Pont de Salars and decided to go across country a bit, we like the out of the way places. So we traveled across to Villefranche – De Rouergue and then onto Cahors via Caussade, about 192ks, to Gourdon for the night. We stopped off in town first had the coffee and a look around. Met this lovely couple from Amsterdam, they travel twice a year to mostly France in the Spring and Autumn. They rent a Villa in an area and take day trips for 4 weeks each time. Tuesday 17th JuneWell today was to prove a bad day, still raining quite heavy. First I thought I was going to the caves and went in the wrong direction, cannot read the French map. So once we knew we were about 80ks in the wrong direction gave that up as it was still raining and the caves might not have been open anyway. Then it was getting late for lunch and we could not find a place, finally found one in Beveyre, bad choice, food was not that good. Onward we went to Brive and Tulle. Over another mountain into Cleremount – Ferrand, great views from the top. Every choice I made today has been the wrong one, could not find my way through Cleremont, finally after some heated moments I found my way onto the Toll road, speed limit of 130 and onto Thiers. It was the first off ramp so decided it was a good option as it was about 5.30pm and no camp site to be seen. I then took a sign that said Roanne as I knew that was north of Lyon, had seen it on a map previously. Some of these roads we end up on, this particular one went straight up the side of a mountain with heaps of corners that turn back on themselves. Some great sites and plenty of old buildings and history I would say. Most of the towns are so narrow that you have to give way to on coming traffic, but still amazing to see all these towns. We are finally at the top and the road looks like it is going nowhere and its about 7.30pm, most camp sites close at this time. All I can do is keep driving, we have done about 220ks. Then finally about 8pm I find a camp sign follow it and find the barrier down.They all have these barriers and you either need a key or a code to come and go. So I go up to office no one to be seen and no one to answer bell. Then a car comes along opens the gate, it happens to be the caretaker. My arse has been saved again. So we get to spend the night at Noiretable.Wednesday 18th JuneWe wake to a beautiful sunny morning, still a bit cold, so a good nights sleep and we are ready for the last leg of our journey. We have decided to follow the signage to Lyon to day as I need to be as close as I can to Miribel which is just north of Lyon and this is were I need to take the Van back to in the morning as we have a 1pm train to Paris from Lyon on Thursday.Today will we a quite day about 100ks. It will take us across country towards Lyon and over more mountains through the flat land, which Eddie tell me is called alluvial plains, he tells me he remembers this from his school days. We arrive nice and early in Anse find the camp site, four star, the girl on the desk speaks good English, so that’s very helpful. We tell her we need to find the rental place tomorrow, so she prints travel instructions off the internet for us, arranges the WiFi for us, most helpful. I am now feeling confident that we can find the rental place again.So now the washing is done, cloths are packed, the van cleaned and its time for a drink.