Lenny's on a Short Winter Break

[Lenny HB]

Oi - less of the OLD ​

More of the STUPID then.

 

[Lenny HB]

Vineyard quite pleasant, parked up then went for a cycle ride by the canal.

We are at a vineyard parking is free but for some reason my wallet is empty and I'm skint & the van is a lot heavier.

 

[Lenny HB]

Nice calm evening and I was able to do some of the cooking outside.

 

[klaatu]

Went up the 9 locks at Fonserannes many years ago, in a boat with five other blokes. We had a 'rule' that we all had a large glass of wine to celebrate the passing of each lock. It got quite interesting by the time we approached the top.

 

[Lenny HB]

Went up the 9 locks at Fonserannes many years ago, in a boat with five other blokes. We had a 'rule' that we all had a large glass of wine to celebrate the passing of each lock. It got quite interesting by the time we approached the top.

It says 9 locks on the info, I don't think the French can count, both of us only counted 7.

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[klaatu]

It says 9 locks on the info, I don't think the French can count, both of us only counted 7.

I think you're right, some of the original locks are no longer used.

 

[DBK]

Had a look at Chockswahay spot, pleasant but cars parked there and we don't do over nighting on the road.

Went on to the vineyard near Beziers, now that was interesting, poxy satnag. Took us down a single track road to a 2.4m high bridge, it looked higher but me no risk it.
Of course directly we go down the road and start to reverse back there are vans and cars coming at us in both directions. Had to reverse back about 700m stupid French bloke behind starts honking his horn I send the boss out the sort him out. There was a sheer drop to a gully on one side and a big wall on the other.
Poxy dash cam playing up again it's the SD card this time, only place for a Nextbase dash cam is the bin but I did manage to take a photo while reversing.


View attachment 366638

I've come across bridges like that. It's a railway I suspect. Put in when it only needed to be big enough for a horse and cart.

 

[Lenny HB]

I've come across bridges like that. It's a railway I suspect. Put in when it only needed to be big enough for a horse and cart.

It was over the canal like you say built for a horse & cart in the 1700's.

 

[rb62]

Is the old inclined boat lift still there? built to replace the locks but driven by hydraulic motors that leaked so much oil onto the tracks it couldn't move,French engineering at it's best

 

[2x2camper]

Nice calm evening and I was able to do some of the cooking outside.

View attachment 366646

Where did you get the bbq from Lenny?

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[Lenny HB]

Is the old inclined boat lift still there? built to replace the locks but driven by hydraulic motors that leaked so much oil onto the tracks it couldn't move,French engineering at it's best

View attachment 366665

I thought that's what we saw, we are going down to have a look in the morning.

 

[Lenny HB]

Where did you get the bbq from Lenny?

It's an Outback one, picked it up from Robert Dyas when they were flogging them off for ½ price at the end of the season. Works well can get a bit too hot, a pig to clean. Uses the same gas cylinders as the single ring portable burners.

 

[Lenny HB]

Had a wander down to the canal this morning to have a look at the Fonseranes Water Slope. What a weird idea, invented by a German but only the French were stupid enough to build it.

In the tourist office by the locks the wine from the vineyard was considerably dearer - result.

 

[Lenny HB]

On our way north now, stopped off at La Couvertoirade for lunch and to have a wander around the Knights Templar village.
Gave up on walking around the village, the heavens opened and a big squall came through.

Now at Ruynes en Margeride, a big Concorde is the only other van, nice Scottish couple but not Funsters.

 

[Lenny HB]

Cheated tonight, frozen paella, well if wasn't frozen after I cooked it.

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[DBK]

The water slope is intriguing. Pity they couldn't get it to work.

 

[Lenny HB]

The water slope is intriguing. Pity they couldn't get it to work.

It was in use for 6 years before they gave up in 1990. Opened in 1984 finally got it working in 1986. It was meant for larger commercial boats that were too big for the locks but they were already in decline in 1984 and almost non exsistant in 1990.

 

[Lozsing]

on our way back up last year stopped at an aire at Vichy , lovely place

Aire der Camping Car Vichy · 60 Rue Claude Decloitre, 03700 Bellerive-sur-Allier, France

★★★★☆ · Mobile Home Park

goo.gl

 

[Littlewheels]

Nice calm evening and I was able to do some of the cooking outside.

Lenny I’ve taken particular notice of your gastronomic ability and just wanted to say if we are ever parked next to you and you say, do you fancy coming round to ours foe a bite the answers ,YES .

View attachment 366647

 

[Lenny HB]

You just need to be right shape & age.
In Croatia a few years ago a hot young French chick was trying to cook on a single burner in the dark, I had a chicken casserole in the pressure cooker so I invited her in for dinner and she accepted.
Only two problems-
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Her boyfriend and my wife were there as well.

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[Lenny HB]

Snowing this morning, I got all excited but it didn't lay so I couldn't try out the new snow chains.

Tonight's stop on the banks of the Loire at Cosne- Cours-sur-Loire.

 

[Lenny HB]

 

[triky]

Not a sign of it, not even any on the mountain peaks, a bit disappointing.
Because of the lousy grip of the Michelin Camping tyres I even bought a set of snow chains last week, that was a waste of over a hundred quid

I have always used 'Pirellii Zero' mud & snow !! On my Autocruise Sunnindale & Volvo V70,now on the V90r too.But the tyre's on this 'Concorde Charisma' have yet to prove themselves !! ??

 

[Lenny HB]

I have always used 'Pirellii Zero' mud & snow !! On my Autocruise Sunnindale & Volvo V70,now on the V90r too.But the tyre's on this 'Concorde Charisma' have yet to prove themselves !! ?? View attachment 367151

Got crap Michelin Campers on my van at the moment absolute rubbish grip on tarmac, that's why I bought the snow chains will be fitting winter tyres soon.

 

[Robert Clark]

Got crap Michelin Campers on my van at the moment absolute rubbish grip on tarmac, that's why I bought the snow chains will be fitting winter tyres soon.

Been very pleased with our Vanco Camper winter tyres

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[PhilandMena]

You just need to be right shape & age.
In Croatia a few years ago a hot young French chick was trying to cook on a single burner in the dark, I had a chicken casserole in the pressure cooker so I invited her in for dinner and she accepted.
Only two problems-
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Her boyfriend and my wife were there as well.

Bet you chained up her blind dog outside too.

 

[DBK]

Too narrow even for you Lenny? Or is the dashcam still not working?

 

[Lenny HB]

Been very pleased with our Vanco Camper winter tyres

I thought they were four seasons on yours not camper.
Had Vanco Campers in the past 10 times better than Michelin's.

 

[Lenny HB]

Cheated again, Tarte Chevte Tomate, I did cook the jacket potatoes what more could you want.

Fired up the pressure cooker and made another rice pud.

 

[Lenny HB]

Panic stations this morning at an ungodly hour (8:45am) ½ dozen cars arrived with loads of people in high vis vests, ye gods must be an event on we are going to get blocked in if we don't get a move on.

Phew! Panic over only a group doing litter picking along the river bank, we can relax and have our coffee in peace.

Just north of Rouen at Montville tonight very nice Aire.

Whoops forgot to turn coordinates on.
49.54724, 1.07218

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