Eymet & Northward bound.

"Well Tanya. This is the exact spot where all the trauma of last year began. This is where I ran you over."

I hadn't planned to return but a missed turn and a re-route by Mrs Sat Nav plus Universe  herself made the decision for me. I have a large blue mug in Sadie which I use daily for my tea and coffee. It was a going away present given to me by a dear friend and former work colleague. On the one side it reads; 'Trust the Process'. Turn it around and you read; 'The Universe knows'. So true on so many occasions.

This return visit to Plum Village Buddhist centre, with the circumstances leading up to it, and the actual happenings and energy upon arrival once again left me in no doubt whatsoever as to the profound and wonderful truth of those words circling my favourite drinking mug.

Later we slowly meandered down from 'Thenac' and 'Plum Village' toward the town of ' Eymet' and in particular the crossroads by the reservoir at 'St Sulpice' where I wildcamped last year while Tanya recovered from her dislocated hip operation. A beautiful spot and very different this year with the reservoir full to the brim.

I really like the area around 'Eymet' (pronounced 'Amy') and the town itself. It helps that there are a lot of Brits in the area which made the return visit to 'Kismet cafe' very pleasant with a lovely meal and lots of conversation in English. I was so stuffed afterwards it took a good two or three kilometres on the bike for 'things' (like muscles!) to start functioning again. In total it was about seven or eight Kilometres back to Sadie via the back roads and scenic walk/bike route round the reservoir. All in all a very pleasant day.

Tonight we are in 'Vezins' which is way North of 'Eymet' Sadie has been carrying us via the smaller roads slowly toward 'Cherbourg' and a ferry to the UK at the end of this month. 'Vezins' is nothing special but has the advantage of being 'en-route' while having a very pleasant 'Complexe de Sportiff'. All French towns and villages have these good, well maintained and well used facilities which have bags of parking space where no one seems to mind the odd motorhome stopping the night. They also usually butt onto the village or town park which Tanya especially enjoys as they are doggy walking zones with of course doggy-sniff stories every couple of paces.

This one had a good lake too where Tanya did her usual by mistaking green algae weed on the surface for solid ground. 

OH! What a laugh! 

She was running at quite a lick and went careering into and under the green slimy looking water with such a splash as to frighten the ducks at the other end of the lake who immediately took flight upon noisily flapping wings. She climbed back out, shook herself off vigorously and carried on running and sniffing around as though nothing unusual or humorous had happened at all. I, on the other hand, am still laughing now. One of those funny moments which really make a day as they continually regurgitate hilarious laughter.

'Mayenne' was also en-route enough to warrant a visit. Why? 'Mayenne' is the home and manufacturing base of 'Rapido' Motorhomes. Impressive site it is too with row upon row of new motorhomes, some under different names, lined up in the finished area which was right next to an equally large area containing all the different manufacturers base units awaiting their turn to have a spanking new Rapido home bolted to their chassis.

I did attempt to get a look around the factory but accepted the fact they only allowed visits for pre arranged groups via their dealer network. All the same quite impressed. Tonight we are wildcamped not far from the factory and right on the edge of the Mayenne river.