Derek's Treat

Lake Lucerne

26th April 2013

Woke this morning to the sound of the dawn chorus! Spring has definitely sprung here. Then at 8.30am was a loud noise coming from behind our motorhome we looked out the window to see a huge cement mixer!!! Spreading gravel .Lovely sunny morning, just what you need on an idyllic campsite.Everyone is out of there Motorhomes with there hands on there hips and bellys pushed forward not impressed, looks so funny so you just gotta laugh.Just when we thought it everything had gone quiet,the Swiss Air Force decide to do an air display for about an hour.Like watching the red arrows.We cycled in to Lucerne centre and had a walk round very picturesque ,stopped for coffee and on the way back we sat on a bench overlooking the lake to admire the view and watch the Air Force display again.

Montreaux Chateau to Lake Lucerne

 25th April 2013

Lovely sunny morning sat out having breakfast admiring the view for the last time. Packed up emptied our tanks and filled up with water.Set off and stopped at the local supermarket for gas.This would be our last purchase of gas till we get to Barcelona in 7 week time.We have got half a bottle Spanish gas,one bottle British gas and one French so we hope we have got enough.We leave France today and are heading for Lucerne in Switzerland.We have also paid our first toll .We stopped at the Swiss border to purchase a vignette which allows you to drive on the roads it's similar to a toll but covers you for 12 months,got our first site of the Swiss Alps.When we arrived at the site in Lucerne it was stunning! The views of the lake with the alps in the background was breathtaking.

Montreaux Chateau

24th April 2013

Woke today with the sun shinning,after breakfast we got the bikes off the back of the motorhome and went for a bike ride down the side of the canal, shorts and t-shirts on. It was a lovely peaceful ride only other cyclist and walkers to be seen, we cycled from the side of the canal through the lovely little villages in the area about 8k altogether.On the way back we stopped at a cafe called titanic two ! Well it was a kebab shop which was open during the day with tables and chairs outside. We then cycled back to the motorhome and sat in the sun for a while. At about 4ish we headed for the supermarket cos that was the time it opened and bought pork chops and salad for tea so we could get the George Forman out and cook outside.

Thaon les Vosges to Montreaux Chateau

23rd April 2013

Woke up to a lovely sunny morning with the birds singing, After breakfast we set off, stopping at a Lidl for some provisions. Still heading south east towards Epinal. The road from Thaon les Vosges to Thann was absolutely stunning very picturesque and looking very alpiney, going past lots of ski resorts, we are now very close to the Swiss border. We topped up with fuel along the way and arrived at the Montreux Chateau Aire about 2.00pm. Derek went to pay and decided we were going to stay here for 2 nights, we got the chairs out and sat out admiring the view of another canal. While we were sat out a young Belgium lad came up and embarrassingly asked us for toilet paper as there was none in the toilets on the Aire, we got talking and he told us he was cycling from Belgium to the centre of France and was volunteering to work on an Eco farm. Gotta take your hat off to him we must have been 200 miles from Belgium, after chatting for 10 mins he was on his merry way waving to us as he cycled away with a pack of our Aldi tissues. We spent the rest of the evening with a glass of white wine (or two)  watching the sun go down.

Pont a Mousson to Thaon les Vosges

22nd April 2013

Sunny morning, had breakfast overlooking the river then packed up, filled up with fresh water, emptied all the waste and set off for Aire Thaon les Vosges. We arrived at this Aire about lunch time and parked right alongside the canal. A Very peaceful location. Went for a walk in to town but as per usual for a Monday in France everywhere is shut. So back to the motorhome for a spot of lunch. Finished reading my book (A street cat named Bob) sitting next to the canal. Sat out by the canal for an hour then went to get a baguette for tea. After tea we watched the sun go down with a glass of vin rouge.Got a message from Chris saying Manchester United had won the premier league again so Derek had a few beers to celebrate.

Pont a Mousson

21st April 2013

Had a lie in today.While having breakfast admiring the lovely view of the river marina and the swans gliding by on the water, we were reminding each other how lucky we were to have this opportunity to travel in the motorhome. We decided to stay another night here. There was hot water, clean showers and a washing machine available too. Had home made cheese and onion pie for tea.