"Hauterives..... is a small village with a remarkable creation, the manic surreal 'Palais Ideal".
This according to my ancient copy of Rough Guide to France is also a "truly bizarre creation defying any categorisation". Created earlier this century by local postman Ferdinand Cheval over a period of 20 years it, to me, became a 'must see'. There also, conveniently happened to be a Motorhome Aire in the village. That is how it became the destination on the day Tanya decided to become a very sick and pathetic little doggy. Her wellness prescription involved curtailing the planned trip early afternoon and diving instead into a nearby lorry park where we settled in for some recuperation. she really was quite sick and for a time had me worried. However; she walked OK and her poos were not alarmingly abnormal. We stayed where we were for the night and by morning she showed signs of improvement which confirmed my suspicion it was just a bad sicky bout either through something I had given her, which was unlikely as I am aware of her delicate tum, or something she had picked up while out walking. Either way it was now morning and a bloody cold and wet one too. I decided downhill toward the Rhone river valley would give better weather rather than toward higher ground which 'Hauterives' (High rivers) suggested. So that was my first failed attempt at viewing 'Palais Ideal'.
My second attempt was today. Friday the 13th and a full moon at that. The day looked good with sunshine and dry roads. I also had a fully recovered Tanya. A good day, or so it seemed, to continue our slow meander south with but a wee diversion uphill to view 'Palais Ideal'. And it was too, a pleasant drive that is. We arrived lunch time at the perfectly adequate Motorhome parking area deciding to stay where we were and put kettle on for a spot of lunch before wandering into the village. The sun had disappeared by now and a bit of a wind arisen but we were snuggly warm and halfway through lunch when snowflakes started their lazy dance in the wind. A wee snow flurry I thought as I tidied lunch away. Then, without warning it was a howling gale with horizontal thick snow and everywhere suddenly white.
"I'm outa here Tanya before we get stuck fast".
Which is exactly what happened and is why my second attempt at viewing 'Palais Ideal' on a Fri 13th was also abandoned. The escape was not uneventful either. Motorhomes are not designed or known as good slitherers on snow covered roads with Foxy10 being no exception. Some hairy moments in virtually nil visibility ensued before finally the downhill direction fetched us out of the storm.
Later on parked up by the River Rhone safely behind an InterMarche supermarket, in, I may add, cold, clear evening sunshine, I reflected upon the day. All in all, I thought, seeing as how it was Friday 13th and a full moon, I reckon I got off lightly. Plus; and this is the important bit, Universe in all it's wisdom had decided I was definitely not meant to see 'Palais Ideal'. Who am I to argue with that.
A walk by the river & visit local village and church..... Spot the dog!!
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