An unwelcome wake up call......

Chateau Chambord
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Sorry, accidentally put the same date on the last blog but I am sure you figured it out for yourselves.  Tried to change the order but it wouldn’t let me.  Very slow connection out here in the French countryside.

A security guard armed with his........

Chateau Chaumont
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Watched the scab grab again, didn’t keep anything but a Caisse D’Epargne hat, as we don’t have one of them.  Gave it all to some kids from Paris watching with their Grandparents on school holidays.  Parked on the side of the road near a village called Nohant, then after cheering Cadel on we drove on to the Loire Valley, stopping at a campground about 8.30pm at a town called Bracieux, so we could top up water and electricity and dump everything else.  The place is full of Irish holidaymakers for some reason (and they say the Aussies are loud and obnoxious).

the scene of the crime, Chenonceau
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We spent a day looking at the chateaux of the Valley today.  Only did 3.  Chambord, Chaumont and Chenonceaux – the famous one built over the river.  Disappointing, very small and expensive (but they aren’t charging us to stay the night in the carpark), lots of people and very touristy.  The others were better.  We drove through some very nice villages, I think the Loire Valley is France’s version of the Rhine. 

IMG_2074.JPG
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Well, our adventures really began later that night.  A security guard armed with his torch, woke us and everyone else and told us to get out, at 3am.  Nice.  Don’t know the reason as he spoke very little English and we speak very little French.  But everyone else was starting up and moving, so we thought we had better as well.  I think their signs are a little confusing, even for the French who were also camped there!  So we ended up on a motorway for an hour before we found a roadside stop for the rest of the night (morning).  We didn’t know where else to go, bit more difficult in the pitch black of night.  Won’t be recommending Chateau Chenonceau to anyone!!

here they come!
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Anyway, have now moved on to Mont St Michel, staying in a campground 1.5 km away.  Will go over first thing in the morning when it is quieter, before all the buses arrive, to have a look around.

Then back to the tour over a couple of days.