Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
The guard dogs in the camping car works wake us numerous times in the night and then it's daylight and time to return to complete the work.
Yannick connects the recharging plant and all goes well this time. Finally we start the engine and he monitors the temperature rising and falling before pronouncing all 'bon et finis'.
Ironically we're glad its finished as this morning is cool and overcast and the cab is like a fridge.
Another shock to the Visa settles our account and we are on our way. We have to say we're impressed by Aventure Camping-car, they have worked hard to help us out and are a competent, professional outfit.
Snoopy gets his orders to take us to Uzerch and we're on our way down the motorway with a few showers.
Ali can't resist pressing the A/C button a couple of times to prove all is well and each time she does we nearly get icicles on the rearview mirror.
Passing Masseret we see its fairy-castle tower, almost expecting a glimpse of Rapunzel at its base.
We find parking in the aire at Uzerch in the former railway station, high above a weir on the river Verzne.
Across the valley stands the town, its sandstone structures punctuated with towers with witch-hat rooves.
A five minute walk brings us to the bridge and on up to the town. Walls are hung with vibrant flower boxes and tall hollyhocks grow out of the foundations. The buildings are warm, brown sandstone with granite details; arches, lintels and supports for the cylindrical towers jutting out.
Through the arch into the old town everything is quieter. Centuries-old buildings have studded, timber doors and forged iron bars at the windows. Many have a notice of their histories; grand houses belonging to pharmacists, financiers, traders and the like. Beneath the main church is an 11th C crypt and behind the hotel is a small, simple chapel.
On the doors on many places hang what loooks like bunches of tobacco, but is actually vine leaves. These are hung in mid July and left to dry throughout the year to ward of ilness.
One house is timber-framed wattle and daub, unique a a town built of local rock. Its ancient timber windows bear the carpenter's marks around joints and frames.
The only thing missing is teddies. Uzerch is famous for patchwork teddy bears but we don't see a single one.
The road to the river passes in a tunnel under a hotel. 15 feet above us are the timbers and boards of the floor. We amble along and watch a school of canoes slip over the weir one by one then return to the aire and follow the old railway trackbed through the woods and into a short tunnel. This is part of a 5km circular cycle path. About halfway we reach a bridge but the route is barred by roadworks so we return the same way.
The aire is almost full and there is a mobile pizza van setting up.
Next to us is a British registered van owned by Geoff and his Polish companion Basia. We have an intersing chat with them then we order pizza for dinner.
After two frustrating days, today has been especially good.
- comments