Motorhoming is certainly a life of contrast.

One more site to go before we do a bit of wilding and back to dealer yards. We decided to do the other side of Annecy to what we normally do. This one just outside Talloise.

Unusually we tried to book this because we thought the area would be full. But couldn't. So back to just turning up, which hasn't let us down yet.

"Do you have a pitch for the nights?" "Yes we've got one on the lake, do you want to have a look first?"

No need.
IMG_20230706_123459839_HDR.jpg

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And with the best tasting freshly baked bread in the morning yet.

Got taking to a Yorkshire chap who used to live in Chamonix, who gave us a nice wild stop idea just outside Chamonix. That's where we're heading next.
 
Normal free, nada, zilch, wild camping has been resumed. Got this one from a chap who lived in Chamonix. It's also on p4n. Wouldn't call it a dealers yard exactly.

There are amazing views out of each window and it is peaceful. We were the only ones there last night. Apart from a chap in a hammock. I kid you not.
IMG_20230709_183603630_HDR.jpg

You can just make out Mont Blanc in the distance.
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I've saved the best until last. It was quite hot last night around 31 degrees at 9pm. The battery took a bit of a hammering from the AC. But this morning we woke up to an amazing view. Possibly our best yet. To be honest you could pay to stay in a site and have a hedge to look at. That's the amazing benefit of wild camping. Sometimes!

IMG_20230710_093646008_HDR.jpg

I'm not an expert but I'd say this was paddle boarding nirvana. But you might think different. This was 20m away from the van. Mind you I'd rather have my a**se rubbed with a brick than paddleboard:) IMG_20230710_103206128.jpg
 
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The bottom photo is literally that. A window view of the dealer yard motorhome parking at Chamonix town. We stayed for a walk around Chamonix then moved to a site outside of town. Even we say that 35 degrees is too hot for a car park. And at €25 for the night they're taking the p*ss.
 
After a very short stop at the much worse than a dealer yard aire at Chamonix. We decided that for not much more than the €25 car park charge, we could get a pitch at a site just out of Chamonix. We found one with a Google search and headed off. Now Chamonix was rammed with people and we thought we'd have a hard time finding somewhere with space. We ended up following a German van on route to the site. Who was obviously lost without a forward platoon (sorry) and was going terribly slow. We took our chance when he dithered for too long trying to avoid a 2.4m bridge. So we took our chance and overtook him.

We arrived at the site about ten seconds before him to get the last pitch. His wife didn't look too happy as Mrs daveclare emerged from the reception office triumphantly, with a site map in hand. This site was about 1.7km from Chamonix with a nice walk through the trees along an alpine stream into town. Charlie the Labradoodle also liked it for the amount of trees and sniffing opportunities. No need to add anything about Chamonix, that hasn't been said before. Other than to say its a place we'd visit again.

After two nights there, we decided to head Switerland way. On route we found a decent p4n just outside Thonon, on the French side of what we call lake Geneva. It was a huge supermarket which had free water and emptying facilities. Plus a launderette. We decided to stay the night and wash everything we could. As usual there were a few French taking the mick with the free electric. Each one had their own Heath Robinson adaptor to get their electric fix. We parked well away from this fire waiting to happen. Especially when the tropical rainstorm hit. It had been in the mid to late 30's for a few days. So it was a welcome downpour, which lasted seven hours. Mind you even this freebie was much better than the glorified car park at Chamonix.

After a peaceful night's sleep in a supermarket car park. We decided to balance this out with a couple of nights around Montreaux. We decided on the way into Montreux, to play 'Smoke on the Water' very loud. If you know, you know.

Anyway, we couldn't find anywhere with spaces. Even p4n was failing us. As Montreux turned out to be nothing special, we decided we were missing nothing. So headed off. We stopped to allow Charlie the labradoodle to shake his wotsit in Vevey. This was also the place Mrs daveclare wanted to stop to buy the famous Läderach chocolate. It was a nice little Swiss town.

On the way out of Vevey Clare was playing with the Samsung tablet and announced that she'd booked us a two night pitch at a site just outside Neuchâtel for..........€155:Eeek:. Holy sh*t moly, that's the most we've paid since rv'ing in the drug and homeless infected sh*thole that is California.

This had better be a gold standard site then......
 
The contrasts continue in the dealer park tour of France. After a week's rest in a villa in Le Bar Sur Loup. We arrived via a week in Grimaud, at the slightly tired, hot and dusty car park come aire at Cavalaire Sur Mer.
View attachment 775361
€25 for two nights including electric. I think our French host got the price wrong. However, the contrasting beach 50m away, was lovely.
View attachment 775363
Cocktails were not too bad either. Charlie the Labradoodle was happy too, checking out the French totty.
View attachment 775364
Where is that please. Can't find an Aire at Cavalaire Sur Mer.

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One more site to go before we do a bit of wilding and back to dealer yards. We decided to do the other side of Annecy to what we normally do. This one just outside Talloise.

Unusually we tried to book this because we thought the area would be full. But couldn't. So back to just turning up, which hasn't let us down yet.

"Do you have a pitch for the nights?" "Yes we've got one on the lake, do you want to have a look first?"

No need.
View attachment 780324
View attachment 780325
And with the best tasting freshly baked bread in the morning yet.

Got taking to a Yorkshire chap who used to live in Chamonix, who gave us a nice wild stop idea just outside Chamonix. That's where we're heading next.
What's the name of the site on Lake Annecy please, it looks great.
 
Camping du Lac. There are three in a row, if that ones full. Have a look on Google maps.
 
After a very short stop at the much worse than a dealer yard aire at Chamonix. We decided that for not much more than the €25 car park charge, we could get a pitch at a site just out of Chamonix. We found one with a Google search and headed off. Now Chamonix was rammed with people and we thought we'd have a hard time finding somewhere with space. We ended up following a German van on route to the site. Who was obviously lost without a forward platoon (sorry) and was going terribly slow. We took our chance when he dithered for too long trying to avoid a 2.4m bridge. So we took our chance and overtook him.

We arrived at the site about ten seconds before him to get the last pitch. His wife didn't look too happy as Mrs daveclare emerged from the reception office triumphantly, with a site map in hand. This site was about 1.7km from Chamonix with a nice walk through the trees along an alpine stream into town. Charlie the Labradoodle also liked it for the amount of trees and sniffing opportunities. No need to add anything about Chamonix, that hasn't been said before. Other than to say its a place we'd visit again.

After two nights there, we decided to head Switerland way. On route we found a decent p4n just outside Thonon, on the French side of what we call lake Geneva. It was a huge supermarket which had free water and emptying facilities. Plus a launderette. We decided to stay the night and wash everything we could. As usual there were a few French taking the mick with the free electric. Each one had their own Heath Robinson adaptor to get their electric fix. We parked well away from this fire waiting to happen. Especially when the tropical rainstorm hit. It had been in the mid to late 30's for a few days. So it was a welcome downpour, which lasted seven hours. Mind you even this freebie was much better than the glorified car park at Chamonix.

After a peaceful night's sleep in a supermarket car park. We decided to balance this out with a couple of nights around Montreaux. We decided on the way into Montreux, to play 'Smoke on the Water' very loud. If you know, you know.

Anyway, we couldn't find anywhere with spaces. Even p4n was failing us. As Montreux turned out to be nothing special, we decided we were missing nothing. So headed off. We stopped to allow Charlie the labradoodle to shake his wotsit in Vevey. This was also the place Mrs daveclare wanted to stop to buy the famous Läderach chocolate. It was a nice little Swiss town.

On the way out of Vevey Clare was playing with the Samsung tablet and announced that she'd booked us a two night pitch at a site just outside Neuchâtel for..........€155:Eeek:. Holy sh*t moly, that's the most we've paid since rv'ing in the drug and homeless infected sh*thole that is California.

This had better be a gold standard site then......

€155 !!!

That is 5 times what we spent total on parking over our 10 week trip ending yesterday, through Poland, Germany and France.
 
Where is that please. Can't find an Aire at Cavalaire Sur Mer.
Apologies, it's the Plage de Cavaliere. Got my pages mixed up. The place we stopped is called Campering Cavaliere.

It's only a hop,skip and a jump away (13km!!!!!) from Cavalaire Sur Mer. It's a good job I don't do the directions.

Sorry.
 
€155 is a lot to pay for two nights stay. Here is the pitch.
IMG_20230714_175046388_HDR.jpg

Well, what can I say but the place reminded me of a very expensive version of some shitty places we've seen in Spain. The type that reminds us of a caravan shanty town. Here's some obvious long termers.
IMG_20230714_103702937_HDR.jpg

Nice💩

The site appeared to be on public property. Which allowed hundreds of people and thousands of kids to pass by on route to the lake. So no security either. If we went out for a walk or ride. We'd come back to find a family camping for the day in front of the van. With a pram blocking access for the scooter.

Nice 💩

Mmmm, Switzerland. A place to be seen leaving. Not impressed by Neuchâtel either. It was a bit boring.

The previous stop in a supermarket car park was more secure and had less kids🙂.
 
€155 is a lot to pay for two nights stay. Here is the pitch.
View attachment 784735
Well, what can I say but the place reminded me of a very expensive version of some shitty places we've seen in Spain. The type that reminds us of a caravan shanty town. Here's some obvious long termers.
View attachment 784736
Nice💩

The site appeared to be on public property. Which allowed hundreds of people and thousands of kids to pass by on route to the lake. So no security either. If we went out for a walk or ride. We'd come back to find a family camping for the day in front of the van. With a pram blocking access for the scooter.

Nice 💩

Mmmm, Switzerland. A place to be seen leaving. Not impressed by Neuchâtel either. It was a bit boring.

The previous stop in a supermarket car park was more secure and had less kids🙂.
It looks and sounds heavenly Dave ;) :ROFLMAO:
 
😂 about as heavenly as getting your a**e rubbed with a brick.

Anyway back to travelling. We've visited Colmar before, but never in a camper. So we thought we'd try the Aire. Well it was definitely contrasting to grass. Back to the gravel of some municipal sites. I'll never again complain about the gravel the CAMC use. This was proper grade one hard core. But right near the centre of town so the Yin and Yang keeps going.
IMG_20230716_075544456_HDR.jpg

Not to self. Keep forgetting about the German influence on this side of France. When the menu says Pork cooked in local ale. It really means a ham hock smoked to death and then drowned in beer.
Should've kept to my favourite 'tarte flambé'.

I've never experienced heartburn AND indigestion at the same time before!

Next stop Langres.
 
Back to grass, at Langres. It's a small town but the ramparts are very impressive. The site is right on the ramparts 200m from town. First place we've visited in France, where the water taps near the pitches are switched off.

IMG_20230716_150300962_HDR.jpg

From Langres we were off to Avallon. To a site at the bottom of the town. It was quite empty so we chose a pitch right next to the pool.
IMG_20230717_143610149.jpg


Getting to the town was a bit of a trek. It looked like the ancient road up which was a bit overgrown but vehicle free. However, it felt like a 30 degree incline and involved a few hairpins. Got to say when we got to the top, we were a bit underwhelmed with the town. Nice walk and tower, but little else inside.

Bit like a Christmas present you get from a rich aunt. Big, box with expensive paper. When you look inside, there's a bleedin dictionary. Just our opinion.

Then it was of for a night to Mehun-sur-Yèvre. A nice open municipal site with large pitches. What is it when your find a nice, open, empty site. With 99% free pitches and someone goes and parks next to us??

So the washing line came out and the complete underwear wardrobe was pegged out. Plus the sheepskins were aired. Making a very nice, but colourful screen.
IMG_20230718_130143929.jpg

Pre new French limpet neighbours.

The ruined Chateau in town and it's grounds were ok. But again not much else here. Two bars, a Patisserie and that's your lot.

Next, two Châteaux in one day
 
we stayed on the same site at Langres last year for a few nights. Lovely town to visit. Some lovely cafes too

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Our first stop and Chateau of the day was Chambord. The are plenty of photos of the outside, so here's one from a different perspective.
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Whilst the outside is amazing. We found the inside quite featureless and drab. There are plenty of Chateaux in France with wonderful period interiors and less tons of gravel on the outside.

We could've stayed in the chateau parking for the night but had already made our minds up to to revisit somewhere where we stopped on our way back from a Spain in February.

Azay-le-Rideau is a very nice old village with a peach of a Chateau. So we stopped at the Aire nearest to it. Got a nice spot right on the river.
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One of the great opportunities here is to visit the Chateau at night when it's lit up. They also have a mini sound show in the various rooms which in contrast to Chambord, are filled with period furniture. It's also open until 11pm this time of year. Giving opportunity for some nice night-time photos.

The town is also very pretty with some decent bars and restaurants. Here's some of the Chateau.
IMG_20230719_221734704.jpg

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And the town.
IMG_20230719_224442393_HDR.jpg

With regards to stopping here for the night. There is another site next to the aire, if you need full facilities, like showers and washing machines etc.
 
I found the double helix staircase at Chambord stunning... still can't figure it out
 
Freeloading time again with a trip to Dinan. The town has provided a large field for motorhomes in between the town and the port. If you haven't been to Dinan, it's well worth a trip. With both areas deserving a visit.

IMHO this area is better than the Chateau Briande camping area in the town. But without services.

It has one of those roads which can be described as a Hovis advert road. 'By eck' it's steep, but lined with champion little houses.
IMG_20230720_193342554_HDR.jpg

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Freeloading time again with a trip to Dinan. The town has provided a large field for motorhomes in between the town and the port. If you haven't been to Dinan, it's well worth a trip. With both areas deserving a visit.

IMHO this area is better than the Chateau Briande camping area in the town. But without services.

not sure I rate your windbreak Dave, did you wash it and it shrunk a bit mate 😉🤣

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Forgot to add that steep road in the photo isn't the one you drive down to the free motorhome camping. Although the road down does have a couple of hairpins, it's easily accessible.
 
Well we went from one extreme to another. Instead of staying in the perfectly respectable looking aire at Mont Saint Michel (MSM). Well 6km out from it. Because that's as close as you can get. We stayed in another overpriced campsite just over the other side of the road. Well we live and learn.
IMG_20230721_183521241_HDR.jpg

Later on we went up to the Abbey for a dusk light show. Well 900 steps later and a completely ridiculous €8.50 to park just a scooter. We won't be going back there again. If we hadn't already seen one of the best light and music shows at Carrières de Loumieres. Then we might have thought the one at MSM was alright. But it was a bit naff. That's just our opinion. Others might think it's fab. We didn't.

Contrast time again. Normal freeloading was resumed for our trip to Deauville. Which was a bit spoiled by crappy rain, for hours. Welcome to the North. I think we'd only had three days rain in the previous 70 days away. Anyway the free spot along the river wasn't too bad and pretty quiet. It's in p4n.
IMG_20230724_110811610_HDR.jpg

We'll definitely return to Deauville. Hopefully when the weather's a bit better.

Out last night was to be spent at the large aire at Saint Valery Sur Somme. But we decided to go to Le Crotoy instead. Which to be blunt is another dealer yard type aire. But it's close to town and there a little grass around the edge to sit out on.

If you've never stayed at a French aire before. It's not too bad to pop your cherry here. It's close to the tunnel too and the town is quite nice. With a decent number of places to eat and drink. As long as you don't go to the one where Al n Val spent all their holiday money on one round😁.
IMG_20230725_122934656_HDR.jpg

Well that's it. Well for three weeks back home, before we go off again. If anyone interested I'll post a list of where we stayed, after we get back.

Cheers everybody who've been reading this.
IMG_20230725_185237231_HDR.jpg
 
Looks like a great trip.
Thanks for posting.

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