Why would you need a fire exit sign on the inside of your motorhome door? We'll leave that one with you. After two nights of respite from Marge's 'issues', it was time to once again set off, but not far, just a few miles along the canal to Grisolles. The young couple opposite seemed sad we were leaving. We stopped packing up to talk to them for a while. It seems they have lived in their big old Hymer van for a year and a half now. Can you imagine. Two adults and two young children all housed in such a small space? Her family lived over Avignon way, and they had friends in Toulouse. She was a tatoo artist, probably a give away as she was adorned in quite a few herself. At the moment the husband was unemployed. Their circumstances financially weren't great, but a lady in Grisolles, of all places, had agreed to perhaps allow them to rent a property from her. They seemed such a nice family, we hope everything works out for them. They waved frantically as we drove off, but not before gifting us two slices of chocolate chip cheesecake. Well Angela wasn't going to refuse that. Our first stop, Norauto of course. We couldn't leave Toulouse without ensuring Marge had a large container of coolant onboard. John is convinced she'll be O.K. now, as long as we go slow and steady. Do you hear that Marge?
Grisolles is a small town that sits alongside the Canal Lateral de la Garonne. The Aire is just near the road bridge that crosses into the town, right by a picnic area we stopped to lunch at many years ago. This Aire is free. 'Freemans' as Angela's father would say. Why? We're not sure. More and more of the Aires in popular areas are becoming payable. We think that maybe they are being taken on by private companies, instead of being run by the municipality. Because we are still relatively close to Toulouse, and the Aire is free it is busy. We arrived early afternoon and took a spot really more suitable for a larger motorhome. But hey, the early bird catches the worm. and in Marge's case, the early bird catches the rays. After being on the campsite at Toulouse with not much sun for two days, and no electrical hook up, and only driving a short distance today, our leisure battery needed a top up, from solar. As the vans began to arrive we soon realised we would be outnumbered by the French. Besides us, there is a Dutch and Spanish van.
The Spanish camouflaged in zebra print probably should have been on safari. Late afternoon, yet another huge French van arrived. Out jumps madame, stands at the rear nearside and with a limp wrist waves her hand about. And that signal means what exactly what? Monsieur, as they always do, ignored his wife. There was a reversing camera on the rear of the van, and we thought he just let her feel useful by helping out. When the van didn't stop reversing when she wanted it to, she tried to push the van forward. Excellent! We have seen this scenario unfold time after time, and wonder how many of these woman end up in hospital, or worse. Next, as we expected, the television aerial goes up, then the husband cleans the windscreen. Job done, step inside van and close door until the morning.
As for us, well a walk into town this afternoon.
Then an evening walk alongside the canal. We're just simple folk, with simple needs.
