Bastille Day

Bastille Day

Sun.14^th July :  Today was a top day.  Leaving Freiburg shortly after nine o’clock, we travelled about 20 kms to Waldkirch, our intended overnight stop but on arriving and taking a look at the camp, we decided that as it was still early, we’d push on up the road a bit further.  It was a gorgeous day and driving through the lush farm lands with their rolling green hills and the occasional picture postcard village to ooh and aah over was no effort at all.  Heading for Nordrach, our new intended stopover, we came to Zell am Harmersbach and would have driven on but when we noticed that the main street had been closed off and there were several fire engines there, we thought we should investigate, so did a u-turn to the car park we’d just passed, parked Boris and walked back.  The occasion was an exhibition to celebrate the 150^th anniversary of the Fire Brigade (as far as we could make out) and as well as the fire engines, the police, rescue squads etc. were setting up their displays.  Of course we took photos and were delighted to hear a brass band start to play (we shall have music!) so followed the sound to a little square where the band was seated on a dais facing a series of trestle tables where a number of people were beginning to enjoy themselves with an early lunch, or maybe a late breakfast, with plenty of beer on tap. 

We sat and listened to the excellent band for a while before strolling around the little town which we’d have missed if the street hadn’t been closed off!

Continuing on, 6 kms up the road we came to Nordrach, another small village with seemingly little to see or do but we’d seen a sign for a puppet/toy museum, so, once we’d parked Boris, plugged into the power and had lunch, we wandered along the street to find the museum.  We were a little early but the kind lady in charge let us in and for quite a while, we had the place to ourselves.  Thinking it was not going to be terribly interesting, being in a small town, we were extremely surprised to find an enormous and stunning collection of puppets, dolls, dolls’ houses, toys, teasets, trains, farm animals etc. etc. etc.  Even more surprising is that we spent nearly two hours there and could quite easily have stayed longer.  Our granddaughter would have loved it and I think our grandsons would also have enjoyed wandering through. 

On the way back to Boris, we stopped at a café and enjoyed a cooling ale…a top day!

Gay Paree : Sun.21^st July

Fast forward a week and we’re in Paris…or rather, on the outskirts at a camping park in Villiers-sur-Orge about 20kms south, having arrived here at midday on Friday, 19^th.

But…I’m ahead of myself so I’ll rewind to Mon.15^th. Leaving Nordrach quite early, we drove to our designated overnight stop at Kehl, about 70kms away and almost on the German/France border.  From there we cycled the 2kms to the railway station, locked up the bikes only to find that the next train to Strasbourg in France was not for another hour and a half.  There was a bus terminal outside the station but on investigation, we found that there was a 40 minute wait for the next bus we could catch so decided to take a taxi ride the 9kms into the centre of Strasbourg, crossing the Rhine River into France.  It was our usual stroll around, plenty of people there but not too crowded to enjoy our walking tour, although it was a bit hotter than we’d have liked.  Strasbourg is lovely, lots of beautiful old buildings, lots of flowers as is the case in almost every village, town or city we’ve visited…in pots on balconies, hanging from lamp posts, on bridge railings, on median strips and roundabouts and just about anywhere else one could think of.

 There was a bit of a hassle getting tickets for the train back to Kehl…it took longer to buy them than the train ride took so we were glad to get back to camp and cool down with an ice cold beer.

Tues.16^th :  A very special day!  After leaving Germany again and crossing into France…again…our first stop was in Colmar…what a beautiful town it is!  We decided that ‘when’ we win Lotto, we will go back there, stay in the best hotel for a week or two and explore the town in detail.  It was busy, but like Strasbourg not too busy to be able to stroll around at leisure. 

 

If Colmar wasn’t enough, after driving through the vineyards of the Alsace we came to Kaysersberg,  only about 12kms away and our overnight stop.  A short walk revealed another small village with lovely old buildings and cobbled narrow streets with the usual flowers everywhere, providing glorious splashes of colour to brighten anyone’s day,

and is the birthplace of Albert Schweizer.  We had to have a cold beer in one of the cafes on the way back to camp for a quiet night.

Wed.17^th : We drove through a mountain pass this morning, stopping for a coffee at a café along the way and it was here that we were befriended by the son of the proprietors, a four year old named Nolann who sat with us and talked non stop, in French of course, but we somehow managed to understand each other.

Continuing our journey, we stopped at a caravan accessories shop and bought two new chairs…unfortunately, the ones we bought in England have broken, can be repaired but we haven’t the necessary tools at present and as it is too hot to sit inside, outdoor chairs were urgently needed.  On then to Giffaumont Champaubert where we camped for the night.  It was by a lake but with a high embankment so the water couldn’t be seen from the camp…

we went for a bike ride along the cycle path after dinner when the temperature had dropped a bit.

Thurs.18^th :  Through gorgeous patchwork farming country today to Bray sur Seine, had lunch in the park by the river and drove to nearby Jaulnes.  Here we found a small shady park alongside the Seine and we decided to stop there for the afternoon, and unless someone objected, the night as well.  We had a relaxing afternoon, watching the barges go through the lock a little way upriver and the family of swans which obviously resided there

and later, cycled to the lock for a closer look.  Nobody came to move us on so we stayed the night.  What could be better?  A night by the Seine in a lovely, cool park with nobody else around and it was Free!  Magic!!

Fri.19^th :  A 90km drive to our camp for Paris, Villiers-sur-Orge, unWeeventful and not terribly exciting as much of it was through industrial areas, which every city has and once we’d arrived here and settled in, we had a relaxing, but hot afternoon, chasing the shade in an effort to keep cool.

Sat.20^th :  We rode the bikes to the station, 700 metres away, chained and locked them to the bike rack and waited for the train to take us into Paris.  We had to change to the Metro system once we were in the city and went to les Puces, the flea market which is apparently the biggest in the world.  After about looking around for a while, we stopped for a lemonade and then caught the Metro to the Champs Elysee where we met Debbie and Kym, who’d arrived early this morning from Perth.  A couple of beers and a sandwich and a couple of hours of catching up and they were beginning to flag from their long journey.  We were also hot and tired by this time so we headed back ‘home’, managing to catch a train straight away and after 25 minutes were back at our station only to find that my bike was missing…some thieving b…...d had managed somehow to cut the chain and taken my bike, leaving Mike’s but as he said, one person can’t ride two bikes.   It leaves a nasty taste in the mouth, as we like to think that most people are honest…obviously not.

Sun.21^st : Last day of le Tour de France and the reason we’re here.  It’s not finishing until about 9.45pm so we’re not going into Paris until 6ish.  We’ve spent the morning reading, relaxing in the shade, moving every so often to keep out of the sun…it’s 36 degrees inside so as little time as possible is spent there.  The heat wave is set to continue for quite a few days yet.