Yes I remember you asking about the Haute Savoie region Islay. Some spectacular scenery and the roads are very good.
The only tip I can give is try and drive on the right Seriously though, as in all areas of France, many of the locals know the roads and give very little respect to a dodderer who is completely lost despite the foreign number plate.
Randa

Since we arrived on Wednesday we’ve had some “exciting” weather with quite a lot of rain and overnight on Wednesday we had thunder and lightning storms all night. The Eriba is dry and the new Isabella SUN shade is doing fine. We finally resorted to the old method of dropping the centre of the shade down to create a valley for the water to drain off the roof. We employed our trusty drain pipe clipped onto the roof to send the water away from the edge of the roof by about 1 metre. Worked a treat. The only drawback with the Shadow 360 is that the large hole in the centre front to accommodate the third pole also drains some water. Not a lot though. On our Shadow 300 there was no third pole supplied so we introduced one and fitted it into the orange triangle.

S IMG_3125.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Yesterday, Thursday 2nd June, we took a drive out to visit Chambery and Aix-les-Bains (Aches and Pains) but the weather was not good and it showered for most of the time we were there.

Plenty of parking in Chambery and very close to the places of interest. We were given a map by the Tourist Office and told to follow the brass Elephants fixed into the pavements. A very interesting city with lots of contrasting architecture. A shame the weather wasn’t better. Chambery is surrounded by mountains and is accessed from the west by one of two tunnels each about 3 kms long. The mountains are still snow-capped.

S IMG_3139.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)S IMG_3141.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)S IMG_3144.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

S IMG_3145.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)S IMG_3147.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)S IMG_3151.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Aches and Pains is an altogether different type of City with large, imposing buildings probably from the 19th Century. We didn’t stop there as there was no opportunity to park in the centre which is a good walk from the carparks beside Lac du Bourget. We returned by a second tunnel through the Mount de Chat (not sure which one’s supposed to be its a***) into some really hot and fine weather on the west side of the mountain. We had some really nice weather all that evening and the weather over the next week or so promises to be hot with showers and some storms.

S IMG_3138.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)S IMG_3160.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

There are many pretty villages around here but they are not equipped for tourism so no trendy arty shops etc. One village in particular was really charming. Glandieu, about a ten minute drive away, has a very pretty cascade running through the centre.

S IMG_3165.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

A really fine campsite so more pics. There's supposed to be some exceptional cycle ways around these parts too.

S IMG_3134.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)S IMG_3136.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)S IMG_3137.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Now waiting for the Whitsun Weekend rush.

Randa

I look forward to seeing pictures of you on a bike and going down that twirly water slide, although not at the same time.

Colin

We've stayed on the campsite yesterday and today because of the weather conditions. Yesterday it was so warm and humid that it was just a pleasure to stay under the sun canopy and relax. This morning it was a different proposition as soon after 9am we had a really large thunder and lightning storm that sent everyone to seek cover. The weather is lovely again at the moment.

We've met so many interesting people in the course of our travels this year like a young man camper/hitchhiker who we shard a bottle of wine with in the Loire and also a lovely young lady with a small campervan who was travelling around France and Spain.

On this campsite to our right there is a Dutch couple who speak a little English. He is 80 year old, his wife is probably in her 70s, and most days they go out cycling on racing bikes and do around 40 kms. He told us that they had been doing it for many decades and they have cycled up most of the mountains of the Tour de France in their time. He showed us photos of them at the summit of Mont Ventoux. A fan of Tommy Cooper.

To our left yesterday two men in their 30s turned up in a rented camper type van. Both were of Chinese origin and they proceeded to erect a free standing fly sheet with much difficulty. It took them over an hour and every so often there would be a phone call from a lady attempting to give them instructions.

Once they had finished they drove away in the camper but returned a few hours later with a crowd more individuals. It turns out that they are originally from China but spent three years in Canada before moving to live in Geneva. They and their best friends each have a charming little girl with them who are around 5 years old. We had a lovely few hours chatting with them and the little girls were loving Mrs Cat. They are staying until tomorrow.

Around the campsite there are now many tents, caravans and campervans from the cute to the cor blimey. There are few photos below. See the bus that looks like it was designed by Lego and the huuuuge twin axle caravan that accommodates loads of kids who have left their own graffiti on the paintwork. The final picture is of the Chinese family from Geneva's set up.

S IMG_3183.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)S IMG_3180.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)S IMG_3179.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

S IMG_3181.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)S IMG_3208.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Randa

Tuesday 7th June.
Having further explored the several villages to the north of the campsite around Belley, we decided to move on today to the little town of Vonnas which is between Macon and Bourge-on-Bresse. This is where the red, white and blue rooster comes from.

French Map 12.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

The journey was only 75 miles and took us a little over 2 hours. The campsite is Camping Le Renom (ACSI 1874) and is within walking distance of the town. 16 Euros a night. It’s supposed to have free Wifi but at the moment our phones or laptop won’t let us use it as they refer to it as being unsafe. Eventually we found out how to get onto the free website although it is unsecure.

The campsite is next door to the local sports ground and has some fine large emplacements, some next to a small river. The owner of the site, an ex-rugby player, is very friendly and we pitched up he said that we could take the whole double pitch which once had a chalet on it so our car at the moment, has a pitch of its own. A little shabby in places but 3 very good toilet blocks all open. All are cleaned regularly but the middle one pongs a bit.

S IMG_3236.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)S IMG_3237.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

On our journey to Vonnas we noticed this area of France ( Dombes) on the Map Book so decided to explore today:-

S IMG_3238.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Although not that apparent from the roads, there are many lakes surrounding the various villages. Here’s what Wiki have to say about it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dombes

We then stopped off in Vonnas on the way back and were surprised at how much there is to see, mainly thanks to Georges Blanc https://www.georgesblanc.com/en/

We'd never heard of the place before. The revitalised square now consists of several very expensive hotels and restaurants, we are talking about 3 Star food for 350 Euros plus 250 Euros for complimentary wines. We didn’t bother to ask for the Menu du Jour and two beers.

S IMG_3245.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)S IMG_3255.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)S IMG_3262.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)S IMG_3263.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

There is a public garden just behind one of the buildings with many sculptures in it and plenty of places to sit and relax. Vonnas also boasts a large supermarket.

The campsite is only about 300 yards away from the square but a bit further to the supermarket. On our way back to the campsite we watched a helicopter landing in the back garden of the restaurant. Obviously someone popping in for a business lunch. For the record we had a baquette (they call it ancient and judging by how hard it was it must have been). The cheese and pickle softened it up a bit though

S IMG_3266.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)IMG_3239 A.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Randa

Looks posher than the site we stayed at outside Bourge en Bresse back in 2003. I remember them cooking a dish in a 2m wide pan over a very big gas burner. Boiled pots, onion, lardons and lots of Brie melted into a very tasty mess.
This was our first year with an Eriba and we ended up down near Florence.

Colin

Quote: Islay Corbel wrote in post #129

---

Another one of those hidden gems in France!

---

Macon.

A lovely city alongside the River Soane. Plenty of cheap parking places in the shade of the trees along the river front to the south of the bridge and only a street away from the Tourist Information centre. Many narrow streets to investigate and some very interesting buildings including the Maison de Bois built in around 1500. Lots of renovation work going on in various parts of the city at the moment.

S IMG_3289.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)S IMG_3286.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)S IMG_3284.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)Looking back across the bridge.

S IMG_3290.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)S IMG_3273.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)S IMG_3278.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Friday 10th June.

75 kms north on the A6 motorway to Chalon-sur-Soane. The car and the Eriba seemed to enjoy the motorway as they were bobbing along at speeds up to 70 mph. I had to hold them back. They've not done much motorway driving at all this trip. Seems like we've passed the Snoozers somewhere on route as they are now camping somewhere north of Macon

French Map 13.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

We are at Camping Du Pont de Bourgogne (ACSI 1590) Chalon-sur-Saone which is to the east of the city alongside the River Saone. (fenced off though). It appears to be a nice campsite which is long and narrow with some huge pitches and a good proportion of tree shade. Did nobody think to mention the loud road noise coming from a secondary road just over the hedge to the south?

S IMG_3301.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)S IMG_3306.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte) A Tall Pop top on a 420

S IMG_3303.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)S IMG_3307.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)S IMG_3304.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

S IMG_3302.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Anyway, a nice toilet facility and they suggest a 15 minute walk into the city. Free WIFI all over the campsite.

A hot a dry day today so we've been able to find plenty of shade.

Judging by the amount of campervans coming in this afternoon this must be a favourite stopping off point as it is very close to the A6 motorway. Plenty of room though but I wish the old geezer in the T4 who had just arrived on the opposite pitch would stop bloody whistling

Randa

We stayed at another site near you back in 2010. The area has lots of war history. The Germans had a large WW2 submarine yard on the river, amazing when you think how far inland you are.
It was a year when we were without an Eriba. We had an excellent Camplet trailer tent, but unfortunately it was a bit wet towards the end of our stay. It was so wet the awning fabric took 72 hours to dry out when we got home. Our return to Eriba ownetship for 2011 was most welcome.

Colin