No problem with the ferry and an uneventful but pleasant drive to 'Bailleul'. Once there I sneaked behind some shops settling myself into a leaf strewn but otherwise deserted car park. Boy was it cold though. Well below freezing albeit dry and still.
"Won't be too bad as long as it gets no worse than this eh Tanya".
Hmph! Famous last words. Today, as I continued travelling South East it has got colder, wetter and dodgy-er. A decidedly dangerous type of wet, misty freezing rain. Roads, pavements and supermarket car parks were transformed into skating rinks. After gingerly passing the third accident, this one complete with fire, police and ambulance and not looking good for the trapped passenger, I abandoned snails pace travel and dived/slithered into the nearest small village. I already had two stops to clear the ice from my windscreen wipers never mind the large icicles hanging from my mirrors.
"Tomorrow we abandon South East Tanya. It's South South and more South and main roads only till we hit warmer climes".
It's not all gloom however; Foxy10 is snug and warm inside and will remain so as long as I manage a couple of hours driving per day to charge batteries.
Our little, 'slithered into village' is a bonus too. 'Evergnicourt' is a grain store outpost with few houses on the vast grain growing plains East of 'Reims'. The local park next to the river on the abandoned railway trail afforded Tanya and I a brisk and pleasurable walk despite the cold and misty gloom. Gravelly paths and grassy verges gave both Tanya and I solid non slippy footing. Unlike the supermarket car park earlier where Tanya, feet flying in all directions, went A over H and ended up on her side with a nasty thud. She was not a happy doggy and let me lift her to deposit her safely back in Foxy10. No harm was done thankfully but we abandoned the walk and gingerly moved on to our present location.
Wonder what tomorrow will bring?
........
I see Britain is in for cold and snow over the next few days and that Europe have been suffering it for the last week. Well I can attestify to that all right. I have used a whole gas cylinder in six days keeping Foxy10 warm and snug plus cooking and having the odd hot water wash too. Well you know what they say the Motorhomers mandate is, 'wash on odd days only'. Shower? Did I hear you say. Ahhh, yes, mmmm maybe tomorrow, or perhaps I'll just wait till I reach warm sunshine. Talking of which I am happy to report I've seen and experienced some. This morning actually, as I was emptying the unmentionables cassette in a proper disposal site on the edge of the delightful Burgundy village of 'Givry'. Warmth on my back is what I felt for the first time this trip. Unfortunately cloud and rain soon returned but did, in a very civilised way, stand aside as we reached the famous pilgrimage town of 'Paray le Monial'. Tanya and I enjoyed a pleasant walk in the Botanical park twixt 'Canal du Centre' and the river 'Digoin' (Loire further on down) before exploring the impressive 'Basilica of the sacred heart'. We crept inside to have a look at the austere but beautifullly vast interior of this former Cistercian monastry. We were so lucky as a service was in progress which consisted mainly of Gregorian type chanting. All I can say is those monks knew a thing or two about acoustics. I had Tanya in my arms and we stayed riveted to the spot as the deep melodious chanting rolled from pillar to domed roof to nave. I remained in unabashed rapture as slowly, the service ended sending the last chanted glorifications echoing their way into every nook and cranny of the Basilica before finally, and reluctantly, granting us a centuries old cold stone silence.
...............
Tonight is different. Parked up among lorries West of 'St-Etienne'. A combination of late start.... Err like lunch time.... and heavy trafffic meant my goal of riverside motorhome Aire was abandoned in favour of stopping..... like now.... due to the imploring look from Tanya who was desperate for a wee and a walk.
Snug n warm & cooked up a tasty stew. Could be worse.
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