2018-04-09 Northern Italy and Southern France Labruguiere to Mende

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Northern Italy and Southern France Labruguiere to Mende

Northern Italy and Southern France by Hymer Motorhome

Labruguiere to Mende

Bizarre dreams plague me, someone signing up for a 10,000 years contract on ridiculous terms, people throwing spectacles into the air and me hitting them with a large stick . . . our brains do strange things when we leave them to their own devices.

We have slept late until 8.00am, we must have been tired. We breakfast and discuss our route north, perhaps towards St Etienne and the Loire valley. Yesterday we contemplated heading to Andora, but dismissed the idea because of poor weather. As usual we have not booked a return crossing, that leaves us flexible both in the length of our trip and the route that we take when returning to the UK. We are in the south of France, so it will take us a few days regardless of route. I compare options, driving to Calais, Caen, Santander or Bilbao, add in the costs of diesel and ferry or tunnel and come up with some figures. From here to Calais is around 13 hours driving, then £108 for the tunnel or £51 for a ferry. Caen is 10.5 hours driving, Bilbao 8.25 hours and Santander 9 hours. Caen to Portsmouth ferry around £240.

Apart from the costs there is our preference, which is to explore the Loire Valley to remember and other possible stops along the route, we discuss possibilities, weight up what we would like to do and decide that Calais is the best option and book the ferry. [Later note: The ferry crossing is nowhere near as convenient as the tunnel. If we were deciding again we would take the tunnel.] 

It is a plan, today we will begin to drive north and put some miles behind us. We service the camper and get on our way around 11.00am, from Labruguiere take the D1012/D612 north to Albi, then the N88 to Rodez where we stop for lunch on a good picnic area (Aire) overlooking the town. Back on our way on the N88 to Severac D’Aveyran, then the A75 and back on the N88 along the Route entré Lot et Truyere, following the Lot river all the way to Mendé. Here we find the Aire de Camping-Car Mendé which overlooks the river Lot. There are 25 places and 20 campers staying overnight. It is car park style parking but quiet and pleasant.

We have chicken stir fry for tea and afterwards walk into the town. Everything is closed, I’m not sure where we would eat if we hadn’t cooked our own.

Our Hymer motorhome trip to Northern Italy and Southern France

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Summary of motorhome journey – Labruguiere to Mende