Nogent-Le-Roi

The prospect of a warmer day today, it was 18c when we got up this morning.

The view across the river Loire was stunning, with the bridge reflecting perfectly in the still water, whilst the cormorants stood guard on a nearby sandbank.

After breakfast, we took a walk along the river bank, the withered leaves like taffeta rustling under foot. Heron’s a plenty, fly towards us from all directions, then scared away by our footsteps, flee to the other side of the river, fighting amongst themselves for pole position. Amongst them, the swans are squabbling, but unperturbed the cormorants sit quietly, stretching their wings in the morning air.

We leave the riverside, and the birds, to get on with their day, climbing up towards the town, we walked through the avenue of trees, turning to look back at the view across the river, and a house on the opposite bank.

In the town we stop to photograph a living wall, based around two old pallets, and admire someone's artistic streak, flowers made from plastic bottle bottoms, and painted, then planted in plastic troughs. Simple but pretty.

It was midday before we left, bidding farewell to the English couple in the only other van left on the aire. Our destination for today was Nogent-Le-Roi, northwest of Chartres.

As we motored along through the flat land, with large expanses of fields on either side, we sympathised with the farmer who had to plough them. Acres of fields, mile after mile, some still having their crop of sweetcorn harvested, others being ploughed for planting, a tapestry of carpet samples.

We arrived at tonight’s aire mid afternoon, ready for lunch, after an uneventful journey. Yesterday, when we stopped for lunch, we had to investigate why Marge had developed a squeak, on her clutch pedal, fortunately, a spray of WD40 on a spring cured the problem.

The aire is meant for four vans and has free electricity. We are in V.W. heaven, out of the four vans, three are V.W.’s, and not just any old Volkswagens, we are all English (and we are the yougest)! There is not really enough space for the larger vans (even though they are still coming in). So Mr Englishman, from a couple of days ago, with the ‘big unit’, thankfully we won’t be seeing you here!

The van next to us is owned by a young Australian couple, they have been in Europe for two months and have travelled through France, Spain, Portugal and Italy. When they arrive back in England, they will be selling their van and returning to Australia.

Late this afternoon, we walked into town, someone had left a chair out on the pavement, free to anyone who wanted it. It wasn’t Ercol, but I could see John was tempted, luckily upon our return it had gone.

We took a look at the church, and some interesting medieval buildings, then after a quick shop in the supermarket for some Toulouse sausages and ice creams, we walked up to the Chateau du Parc.

A fantastic public space, complete with free deckchairs.

Back at the van, the temperature was showing at 26c. After a shower and a sort out, ready for tomorrows stop at a supermarket for wine to take home, we settled into the evening, watching the sun set behind the trees.

Tomorrow will be our last full day in France. A message from home says ‘we won't want to come back’. Of course we miss our family, but, the urge to carry on travelling with Marge is strong.