A lovely holiday in Europe once again – my kind of thing – but sadly, another holiday without Lily. Approaching 24, she’s started her full time career now and the luxury of ten days off work hasn’t got to her just yet.
Elsie and I drove down vial (ferry to) Calais in boiling hot England, and arrived at midnight-ish to drive for a short while to an Aire de Camping in the small town of Aire sur la Lys. I would definitely use these very informal stopover sites again. Especially with just a couple of you. Quiet, tidy, simple, and very restful.
After a very hot c. 3 hrs south we headed to our 2015 and 2016 stopover fave site at Lac d’Orient. This time, because of the heat, we just headed to the Lake and frolicked on the paddle board, then set to work in the morning on a lovely 2 hr ride around the infant river Seine. Ace to get rolling again in France with Elsie
After then packing up and having a bit of breakfast, we drove on to Baume les Messieurs. My first proper stopover in the Jura and some stunning scenery, and most importantly, very very French! I bumbled by in broken French and we got pitched up at a lovely quiet campsite. Again, the heat was definitely too much for an evening ride, so we chilled, then headed out early morning for a ride in the hills. Lovely.
Following this we made the final pull down to Annecy, and then checked in to our lovely Airbnb in Sevrier, and got ready to pick Katie up in the evening. 30 mins drive to Geneva and back, then we were all finally in situ.
The week was just great for me. The very enjoyable mix of cycling in the morning, a bit of eating and lounging, playing in the lovely Lake, interspersed with trips into Annecy town, a ride round with Katie (the whole Lake lap on her shopper bike!), a bit of running (too hot), gentle booze, Tour de France on French Tv, World Cup quarter and semi watching, and lovely home-made food.
On departure, we dropped Elsie at Geneva airport, then Katie and I headed to Riems, via lunch in Langres (walled town, v quiet and pretty). Riems was much larger and more ‘capital’-y than I thought. Grand and tidy and organised. Posh shops. Stunning cathedral. Would go back for a Champage tour some time.
Journey back after that was straightforward. Yet more good times!
