Post It from Camping Les Chambons, Argenton Sur Creuse, Berry, France. Tuesday 1st September, 2015.

This is the first of only a few Post It stories from this holiday as we will be staying on many campsites where we have previously stayed and the main purpose of this holiday is to visit friends in Murcia Province, Spain. We had not been there since May 2013 after we first bought our motorhome and went to collect the things we had left there before returning to live permanently in the UK again.

We set off from home on Sunday and have stayed in the Folkestone area before catching the train on Bank Holiday Monday. The striking French ferry workers that night had once again caused disruption by blockading the port of Calais with lifeboats. Fortunately for us we were on the train once again and it caused us no problems at all although I believe it had finished some time during the night.

The Monday was a poor day weather wise and we spent most of the day driving in fog and rain before spending the night close to Rouen where it continued to rain on an off most of the evening and through the night. Tuesday was dry but overcast until we crossed the river Loire at Orleans and the clouds started to break giving the sun the chance to shine through. Is it my imagination or does it always seem to brighten and get warmer when we cross the Loire!

Sharon fancied a little bit of new scenery so for a change we decided to travel via Bergerac so headed south from Orleans picking up the toll free A20 motorway at Vierzon. Having made good time on generally good roads we pushed on and arrived late afternoon here. Having visited the Lidl supermarket on the outskirts of the small town the sat nave took us through the centre of the town, which was fine for us, but the road towards the campsite was heavily congested with parked cars and this meant we had to rely on the goodwill of the locals in allowing us to get through as the road was too narrow for us and the cars to pass together in most places.

We were only stopping the one night so did not venture into the town at all but from what we saw as we drove through it looked a very pleasant place to stay. As the name suggests it sits on the river Creuse, which is dammed in places, and the whole area appears to be excellent for walkers, cyclists and river users. This small campsite is located on the banks of the river and about a fifteen minute walk from the town centre. It is only small and basic but the facilities were more than adequate and very clean and at only £10 a night a bargain which included free internet connection.

There was a good mix of French, Dutch, German and British campers staying in everything from small tents to plush top end motorhomes. The river had what I think is generally termed a weir close by and the sound of the water running over it was very relaxing. I spotted a family of young ducks heading for it then watched as they sat at the top peering at the gurgling water below. The water was crystal clear and I suspect rather peaty from it’s dark appearence.

We camped under the trees for a change as no rain was forecast and enjoyed the warm evening air. Smokee is travelling well but it is plainly clear he is getting old now. He seems to be almost deaf, sleeps most of the time, is losing his special cat agility and does not travel any more on the backs of the side seats looking out of the windows whilst basking in the sun. At the end of the day he is now the equivalent of 80 years old in human terms and we are lucky to still have him with us. He has travelled many miles for a cat and hope he can do a few thousand more before he finally departs.

Off to Bergerac in the Dordogne tomorrow where we hope to stay a couple of nights and see the sights of that medieval town.

Regards, Roy