Saturday 23rd September 2023
We’ve got quite a big drive ahead of us so we were up and at it, leaving the site at 8am. More lovely scenery to take in, the vineyards of the Côtes du Rhône, plus rivers, gorges and mountains. Stopped for coffee and a break around 10.15 then again to fill up with fuel. We arrived at the Camping Carparks Aire in Montrond Les Bains at 12.30. Del got the bikes down and we cycled the 5 minutes to a supermarket to stock up on groceries. Had lunch in the van when we got back. It’s a cloudy day, when the sun is out it’s really warm but when it clouds over the temperature really drops. We decided to have a cycle round and Del worked out an 11 mile circular route.
We called in first at the tourist information centre but that had closed for the weekend! The castle here is open tomorrow so we will visit that tomorrow. Set off on our ride but it was very windy then it began to rain.
I wasn’t feeling it so we turned round and came on back. Ironically the rain stopped and the sun came out again later! Had tea just after 7pm and watched tv on the iPad again till about 10pm.
Sunday 24th September 2023
There are clear blue skies it’s a little chilly first thing and we needed the heating on. After breakfast and coffee we cycled to the Montrond Le Fort, a château built by the Saint-Germain-d'Apchon family in 1302 on a volcanic mound already fortified by the Counts of Lyon and Forez in the 11th century. The castle burnt down during the French Revolution, but was restored in 1969 by the Association des Amis du Château. We didn’t understand much in the all French museum but to guide us around the castle we had an interactive iPad. At certain places we scanned an icon on the wall and the iPad gave us information as well as a reconstructed 3D view of what the castle would have looked like. Lots to see, from the cellars to the top of the lookout towers, well worth the €6.50 each to go in!
Came back to the van around 1pm for lunch and a drink. It’s gotten warmer as the day progresses, the sky is clear and there is no wind. We did an 11 mile bike ride on the quiet, flat country lanes around the town.
Still warm enough to sit outside whilst our pizzas cooked in the ramoska. Del listened to the Wales v Australia rugby game and Wales came out winners, woop woop!
We’ve got quite a big drive ahead of us so we were up and at it, leaving the site at 8am. More lovely scenery to take in, the vineyards of the Côtes du Rhône, plus rivers, gorges and mountains. Stopped for coffee and a break around 10.15 then again to fill up with fuel. We arrived at the Camping Carparks Aire in Montrond Les Bains at 12.30. Del got the bikes down and we cycled the 5 minutes to a supermarket to stock up on groceries. Had lunch in the van when we got back. It’s a cloudy day, when the sun is out it’s really warm but when it clouds over the temperature really drops. We decided to have a cycle round and Del worked out an 11 mile circular route.
We called in first at the tourist information centre but that had closed for the weekend! The castle here is open tomorrow so we will visit that tomorrow. Set off on our ride but it was very windy then it began to rain.
I wasn’t feeling it so we turned round and came on back. Ironically the rain stopped and the sun came out again later! Had tea just after 7pm and watched tv on the iPad again till about 10pm.
Sunday 24th September 2023
There are clear blue skies it’s a little chilly first thing and we needed the heating on. After breakfast and coffee we cycled to the Montrond Le Fort, a château built by the Saint-Germain-d'Apchon family in 1302 on a volcanic mound already fortified by the Counts of Lyon and Forez in the 11th century. The castle burnt down during the French Revolution, but was restored in 1969 by the Association des Amis du Château. We didn’t understand much in the all French museum but to guide us around the castle we had an interactive iPad. At certain places we scanned an icon on the wall and the iPad gave us information as well as a reconstructed 3D view of what the castle would have looked like. Lots to see, from the cellars to the top of the lookout towers, well worth the €6.50 each to go in!
Came back to the van around 1pm for lunch and a drink. It’s gotten warmer as the day progresses, the sky is clear and there is no wind. We did an 11 mile bike ride on the quiet, flat country lanes around the town.
Still warm enough to sit outside whilst our pizzas cooked in the ramoska. Del listened to the Wales v Australia rugby game and Wales came out winners, woop woop!
