2024 September: France and Spain – Bellegarde to St Armand

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On our second morning at Bellegarde the day is cooler and a little cloudy, time to move on. We service Hymer, having to fill with watering cans (arrosoir) as there are no hose fixers on the taps! However, we have already paid for the water in our rent and it does not take very long. Over to the Aire to empty the toilet cassette and grey water and on our way by 10.30.

We call at Inter-Marche at Bonnée for milk, we also buy wine, cheese and jambon ham! Taking D59 to Isdes then D77E, a narrow country road through Brinon and D55 to Salbris where we stop for lunch. The car park is next to a painted water tower and overlooks the lake, a super spot to stop. The weather is closing in, large storm clouds are gathering and rain is threatening but does not fall… yet! Back on the road, A71 to Vierzon then A20, a good fast dual carriageway via Chateauroux, Argenton to the small town of La Souterraine. We find the small village of St Armand Magnazeix and the Aire de Camping Car quite easily.

The aire is the former municipal campsite which has been downgraded to an Aire, now about 30 level gravel pitches each with grass arranged around a central circle. There are about a dozen motorhomes already here so we find a spot at the far end away from most of the others (they are next to the toilet block!). We park up about 4.30 and almost immediately the heavens open and it pours down. The rain that has been threatening all day finally arrives. It is torrential and pours off the roof like a river. It pours down most of the evening and all night! I get out and take a couple of photographs before the rain starts and take a quick look at the toilet block, only one toilet and a shower, plus emptying facilities of course. When I get back it is pouring and Mr C. never gets out of the vehicle the whole time we are at this site… it never stops raining!

We cook French sausage with tomato and mushrooms and watch as more motorhomes arrive, parking up as the rain pours down. Mr C. comments that he has (likely) mosquito bites on his hand and arm. We comment that we haven’t seen or heard any which is unusual, and don’t normally find them a problem in France but must be vigilant.