2025 September: Forest Car Park to Bagneaux-sur-Loing
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Our overnight here on the forest car park is quiet, next morning there is a constant stream of hikers and runners using the forest trails, many of them view our Hymer as they pass.
In the night I dream of the cemetery. Not as strange as it sounds. During our escape from Portugal in March 2020 at the start of Covid lockdown (and a drive north of 1700 km to Calais), there was no water available for the whole of that journey. All taps were locked off except… cemeteries. In those strange days cemeteries were our lifeline (parking place and water). Looking on Google maps, we find a couple nearby. We drive to the first at Villiers Adam. Access up a very narrow incline at least 1:4, not suitable for Hymer. I go for a foray climbing the short, cobbled incline and find the cemetery gate. A bit run down but clearly tended because I see watering cans. I search for the tap, in the very far corner I find a large lead tank filled with run-off water, quite clear but unfiltered and with floating bits… but where from? I decide not.
We move onto the next: Cimetière de Mériel… voila! The water tap hidden behind an enormous yew tree next to the gate. I feel very excited and very happy! Mr C. brings the watering can, 3 or 4 cans full is sufficient for our daily needs. To celebrate we have coffee on the cemetery parking area!
On our way again we take N104, the Paris ring road in a clockwise direction around Paris, a lot of traffic but free flowing. We pass Charles De Gaul airport and watch as flights line up as they come into land about one every 2 minutes. South of Paris at Evry we take A5b south towards Melun, breaking our journey at Aire de Galande for lunch. At Melun, a busy city with many concrete high-rise flats we cross the River Seine taking D606 south through the Bois le Roi (Henry II’s hunting ground in 1150s) to Fontainebleau (Henry II’s hunting lodge). Continuing south on D607 and into Forêt de Fontainebleau we enjoy the shaded journey amongst some very ancient trees most of the way to Nemours.
South again following the River Loing and still on D607 to the town of Bagneaux sur Loing. North of Bagneaux we cross the canal of Loing onto the island between the canal and the River Loing and find our campsite for the night: La Riviere Dorée. It is 2.30pm when we arrive, we book a pitch for the night (€25.60) including services and electric. Driving straight to the service column we fill with water, empty the grey water and toilet cassette, then park on Pitch 79. The pitches are grass and a good size with 6ft hedges around each affording some privacy and clearly demarking the boundaries. The service building is behind us with plenty of toilets and showers, sinks and a laundry with a washing machine. It is still overcast with very heavy but scattered showers, but we can stop, take stock and relax.
Although we have only covered about 125 km and not used the paeage, the day has been so much more relaxing! We catch up with the family, emails and journals. Later we sit out, open wine and eat salmon rillette with baguette (the first time this trip). After a tea of jambon salad we walk to the gate of the campsite and onto the canal towpath. It is a sunny evening with no trace of the earlier storm clouds, the forest on our right and the town on our left, it is a very pleasant evening walk. Later at dusk as we walk back the bats are active flitting back and forth in their merry arial dance in pursuit of midges and flies.
Motorhome Trek Ambelteuse, France to Forest Car Park North of Paris to Bagneaux-sur-Loing
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