'Footprints in the snow'

Quote: Julie Grafo wrote in post #46

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Not only are there some lovely campsites, we stayed at one years back with the PuckL BUT Millau is the French glove making capital. They have a glove museum and it’s free, spent half an hour there on a rainy afternoon 😂

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The past two days have been warm and sunny, around 21 degrees.

Yesterday as it was market day and we needed some items of food, we decided to walk into the village of Nant. The church can be seen clearly very close to the far side of the campsite but the 800 metre walk turned out to be more like 1500 metres each way.

Anyway, a nice little village with not much to see but we bought a little food and had a mosey around. The Welsh word Nant means brook or stream and evidently Nant in France is an old Celtic word so we assume that as there are so many brooks running through the village, the meaning must be the same.

Today we decided to set out on a big food shop and the biggest centre round is in Millau. However it was pointed out to us that the small cliffside village of Cantobre was worth a look see. It's about 10 minutes drive north from Nant. What a spectacular place. Originally a fortification but over the centres was converted to a village before being almost deserted and then resurrected. I think we are right to assume that all 25 houses are now Gites as there is no commercial business taking place there.

Walked around the place and found the Cathedral but no tomb of Becket there ( wrong Canterbury).

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=cantob...6&bih=625&dpr=1

Then it was a beautiful scenic drive along the Gorges de la Dourbie to Millau. A really deep valley between the high mountains and rock faces with occasional ancient hamlets at the river side. When in Millau we tried to find the way UNDER the Viaduct. There is a road on the map but the Sat Nav and the phone failed to get us there. We eventually gave up as there were road works sending us off on various detours. So annoying because you can't miss seeing the bridge in the near distance.

Afterwards we climbed back up the D809 road out of town and remembered all those years ago, mile upon mile of stacked up traffic trying to go north through Millau in the exhausting heat. We estimated that it was probably 90 minutes wait whereas we were fortunate to only have a 20 minute hold up going south.

Very near the motorway and on the D809 is another very attractive village, La Cavalerie is an old Knights templar and Hospitaler town with narrow lanes tied together by a surrounding high ramparts. The lovely lady in the Tourist information Office was very helpful indeed but we decided on only a short visit as time was getting on and it was very hot.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=la+cav...6&bih=625&dpr=1

The one thing we noticed again this year is that the roads between Aurillac and Millau and also on towards Nant are a delight to drive. We noticed the same several years ago while driving from Millau to Rodez. On the way down the very steep road back into Nant we could see how they must maintain them. There's no fuss and bother with one man and a shovel and a team of 5 support staff drinking tea. Coming up the other way was a maintenance van flying a red flag with the driver on a walkie talkie. This was followed up by two tarmac lorries and two smaller gravel trucks. Then three small road rollers and another red flagged maintenance van at the rear. All done and dusted in one day.

What has annoyed us this year however is that campsites no longer have dustbin and recycling bins on the campsite. They are all on the road outside somewhere nearby. Don't know if we've just picked 5 campsites that do it that way or whether it's a national thing.

Randa

Thursday 28th April and another fine , warm, sunny day.

We've just got back from a short drive of about 20 minutes south to a place called La Couvertoirade and what a fine place it is. Another Knights Templar fortified town with very high ramparts for protection.

At first we thought it was going to be a rip off as the final lane to the destination was barred to anyone other than villagers. Then 100 metres further down there was a left hand turning indicating the visitors car park. 4 euros admission. Doesn't sound much but we presumed that there would be an added charge on top to visit the village (fingers burnt at Warwick Castle a few years ago ). Also, it appeared that the village was quite some distance away.

We need not have feared however for the barrier to the car park was at least 700 metres from where there was a very large carpark, in partial shade and only 100 metres or so from the ramparts. The added bonus was 4 euros to park all day and free entry into the village.

What a lovely place with plenty of nooks and crannies to look around. Many artisan shops and a couple of cafe/restaurants.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=la+cou...6&bih=625&dpr=1

Randa

Friday was a blisteringly hot day so we relaxed in the campsite. That is until Mr Campsite Owner donned his ear protectors and jumped aboard a large grass cutting machine with a huge grass box, and proceeded to charge around many of the vacant pitches giving each of them a crewcut. The strange thing about this campsite is that although there are several dozen pitches, very few of them have electricity and the ones that do have to share EHU posts that are quite some pitches away. We have our 25 metre cable fully extended and weaving round the hedges that surround the pitches.

Friday night it rained very heavily so everything was cool and fresh by this morning.

Saturday 30th April.

A cooler day today but still very warm (about 22 degrees). So we drove back through La Cavalerie to visit yet another Templar Village. This time it was Sainte-Eulaie de Cernon. A very large free car park so they must get a lot of visitors in the Summer but today there were only a few.

There are 5 Templar villages in total. Sainte-Eulaie de Cernon is smaller than La Cavalerie and La Couvertoirade, the other two villages being Saint-Jean d'Alcas and La Viala du Pas de Jaux.

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We're thinking of moving on to Provence on Monday to one of Mr Calder's favourite places, Pont du Gard.

There are two campsites of interest:-
1) Camping Le Barralet at Collias. 18 euros a night ACSI 1999
2)Camping La Sousta at Remoulins 18 euros a night ACSI 2058 AND you can stay for up to 14 nights yet only pay for 7.

I think Mr and Mrs C stayed at the second one many years ago and with an offer like that, it may be our choice if we can get in.

Randa

Glad you liked those Templar villages, Roger. They really are beautiful.

The site we stayed at at the Pont du Gard was 'Camping les Gorges du Gardon' near Remoulins and Vers-Pont-du-Gard. It is located off to the left off the Remoulins to Uzès road. In 2011, the camp was family-run and the atmosphere was so pleasant that a group of Brits that we met there returned to the site at least once every year, in fact the last thing they did before leaving at the end of the season was to book their pitches for the following year.

Shortly afterwards, the site was bought out by a large company who 'made improvements' changing the ambience in the process. We went back a couple of years later when we were in the area and met up with the same group who were bemoaning the developments although the original owners still ran the on-site restaurant. Not being regulars, we didn't see anything to be worried about.

The beauty of the site was that it was within easy walking distance of the Pont-du-Gard (1Km) so access was free whereas if you arrived by vehicle it cost at least €15. It will be more now.

It might be worth parking outside and having a look around before deciding as the location is perfect. Don't miss Uzès market on a Saturday morning it really is lovely and there's also a charming little café in the square at Vers and a boulangerie in the main street. Supermarket at Remoulins.

I've just Googled the site and here's a link. Camping Gorges du Gardon

It looks more aimed a families with kids than when we were there but out of season that shouldn't be a problem. If you decide to stay elsewhere but are in the area, I'd appreciate your impressions if you can spare a few minutes for a walkaround. We still judge all our caravan holidays by our three weeks at that site and although some have come close, we've never surpassed it.

Will try and blag a look at the campsite Brian. As for Uzes, we last stayed near Pont du Gard in 2007 and were very tickled by the shop in Uzes selling what they called "ethnic wear". There in the window was a 2003 Welsh Rugby World Cup Baseball Hat

Just had a look at Google Maps and have circled both campsites. I knew the one you favoured was only a short walk away from the Bridge so that's where I got confused.

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Randa

Camping La Sousta Website states:-
THE GARDON RIVER
Our private beach is a favourite not only with bathers but with anglers too. What more is there to say? You can observe herons, kingfishers and egrets, while the luckiest (and quietest) among you might have the chance of spotting a beaver.
Randa

Monday 2nd May and another warm day.

Only 85 miles today generally along the D999 direction Nimes, before taking the D22 to Uzes and then to Pont Du Gard. About 3 hours in total. A very scenic route but quite unnerving to drive in places with tight bends and mountains.

We are at Camping La Sousta ACSI 2058 which is literally next door to the car park for the Pont Du Gard. Therefore free walking acces to the bridge, a distance of about 800 metres we are told. We were a little worried about this campsite as it looked too shady but upon questioning the receptionist and having a good look around it is, so far, a lovely looking site with dappled shade on large, irregularly shaped pitches. Two large very clean toilet blocks, a Bistro and 30 minutes free wifi per day (if it works). Otherwise it’s 19 Euros per week for wifi on one device. A swimming pool which is open and a private beach on the River Gardon. The bridge is just around the bend in the river.

Here’s the good bit. If you announce that you wish to stay for more than 7 nights (not obliged to) then you get a further 7 nights or part thereof for free except for tourist tax. ACSI price per night is 18 Euros (plus tax), therefore we could stay for two weeks and pay only 9 Euros a night.

So far we see no reason not to do so as there are about 40 rigs scattered around from tents to small campers, caravans, large campers etc. A real mishmash of camping ideas as it used to be in the good old days.

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Randa