France
A visit to Loire chateaux of Chenonceau
Gite landlady Susie Kelly accompanies a foodie guest to the Loire chateaux of Chenonceau, stopping at the chateau at Ussé on the way. I am up just after 6.00am to see to all the animals. The guests in Lavande have kindly agreed to keep an eye on the dogs until we get back. By 8.30am we are on our way to Fontevraud Abbey, 100 miles away. It's a vast and splendid building with a fascinating history, but Brad is only interested in looking at the tombs and effigies of Richard and Eleanor. We're out of there in half an hour and heading towards Chenonceau, 60 miles (100 kms) away. Brad, I have realised, is the historical equivalent of a train spotter. He isn't bothered about riding on the footplate, he just wants to be able to tick off the numbers. ... Full story
A Picnic To Remember At Nouaillé Maupertuis
Poiteau Charentes holiday gite owner Susie Kelly is invited on a trip to a local chateau. ... Full story
A Lucky Star - guiding a path across France
La Bonne Etoile - Today was going to be a challenge with the steep climb up to Septmoncel and on to Lajoux, at 3,840 feet the highest village in the Jura. The campsite gardien came and asked where I was heading for. When I told him, he remarked that it was a distance of at least twelve miles, and did I think I would be able to get that far. I hoped so. He didn't look convinced. ... Full story
The Galloping Valkyries of Port-Manec'h
By sheer chance and great good fortune we arrive at a small, pretty car park in a grove of trees just a few metres from the beach at nearby Port-Manec'h. A friendly French couple come over to tell us that campervans are allowed to park here overnight. They have been here four days, but are now leaving. We must be very careful, they warn, because two nights ago a gang of drunken youths had attacked them. No damage was done, mais quand même ….. ... Full story
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Huntsville - a touch of southern comfort.
The city of Huntsville, nestled amongst the hills of north Alabama, is certainly not the backwater southern town that I perhaps expected. It manages to combine a delightful historical old-town with a state of the art high-tech modern city built around the U.S. space programme. ... Full story