Charlie Time, Enjoying the Free Motorhome Aires in Rural France
Zagan the motorhome has been filled with all the pomp and ceremony of the Royal Wedding this morning. All this while parked up in a free motorhome aire in Saint Saturnin in the centre of France (N46.50457, E2.23573), which even provides free electricity.
Back in Loches, we realised that going to look around towns and cities isn’t happening while it’s warm. Charlie’s heart medication makes him struggle in any temperature above 22°C. We have tried taking it in turns to stay with him in shade near the van while the other explores, but it’s just not working as he likes the pack to stay together. So we have come up with another plan, which is probably Plan C. Plan A was Croatia, which was scuppered as soon as we realised Charlie’s increased aversion to warmth. Plan B was pootling around France sightseeing. Instead of finding places and things to go and see, we’re making Plan C ‘Charlie time’, and going places that are good for him instead. This has meant that for the past few nights, we’ve been in aires in tiny villages with very little happening, but lots of shade and grass for him to amble about on.
This new plan brought us to La Tranger (N46.95619, E1.23998), which is just a tiny dot on our map. The marie (mayor) has kindly put in a sign that allows motorhome parking by the river, next to a picnic area under trees – perfect for us. We parked up and headed into the shade for the day. Jay got in a half marathon training run, testing out his new ‘camel pack’ (a back pack with a water bag in it and a tube so he can get a drink while out running) which proved to be a hit after a few modifications, while Charlie and I kept our cool in the shade.
Charlie getting a hug as he’s struggling with his walking these days and it stresses him out
In the evening Jay and I went for a walk around the village – it took us less than ten minutes, including five minutes standing on the bridge watching the swollen river gush under it. In the morning we set off for what would be an hour and a half drive, the longest we’ve done in a while to get us somewhere that we could stay for a couple of nights and watch the Royal Wedding.
We stopped off in La Chatre, which is in our free guide book that we picked up at a campsite (it includes motorhome parking places in each of the towns listed), but it was too warm to leave Charlie. Instead we stopped in the Super U car park and made use of the launderette. While all our bedding, seat covers etc spun round in the huge 18kg machine, there was chance for a quick nip to the Lidl next door for a couple of bits we needed.
La Chatre Launderette with Flot Bleu Service point on the left
Whoever lives here is right between a Super U and Lidl in La Chatre, France
Once the washing was done, we drove the final half hour to St Saturnin. We chose this place because it has plenty of shade, and when we got here it turns out it has free electricity too (we can’t work out why). Yesterday evening Jay and I went for a walk around the place once the air had cooled to Charlie snoring temperature (his snores are sweetest noise in the world at the moment as it means he’s cool and happy). Once again, there isn’t much here. A marie office, of course, a war memorial, a church and a shop/bar. That was about all we could find. Yet this small community has chosen to invest money in an aire for us motorhomers, and a really nice one at that. We still can’t get our heads around it and just wish a tiny bit of whatever it is would rub off on councils in the UK.
This morning we fired up the satellite and I enjoyed the Royal Wedding on the TV (Jay half watched and read a book at the same time). Travelling in Dave we got rid of our TV after the first year as we never watched it (it had a normal aerial, so would only pick up terrestrial channels). When we got Zagan he had a satellite system fitted and we did think about taking it out, but then remembered how we would have loved to have seen a bit of the London Olympics, so we decided to keep it. So while we hardly watch TV, I’m glad we kept the dish and events like today make me proud to be British, as they show what we do so well – the whole pomp and ceremony thing. I loved being able to sit in a small corner of France and watch it all, especially having missed the weeks of hype beforehand.
Ju x
Ah yes, St Saturnin…. I read the name in your post and a little voice in the back of my head said “goalposts”. A careful look at your photos (those little voices cannot always be trusted!) revealed yes… goalposts. I’ve had to double check my past whitterings to confirm that we did indeed stay there for a night in Feb 2016. It only struck me after Mark parked that we were right behind said posts and a team or two of keen schoolkids could show up at any moment! Funny how the old grey matter picks out odd little things to remember about a place……
Just in case we saw anything good nearby that’ll be on your route:
https://dossersdiary.com/2016/02/14/volcanoes-a-pope-and-monky-business/
(do of course feel free to delete this last bit from our comment before approving it; we’re really not saddos hunting for publicity for our efforts!)
Jo
Hey, your efforts are great, gave us a good laugh! Thanks! Cheers, thanks for the info and if you don’t mind I’ll add your blog to our fellow travellers list? Jay
Sure, thanks 😀
Would Charlie accept a kind of pram(?) with an umbrella to be taken with you, not feeling left alone?
Yes, EVERY country in Europe should learn from France, how they invite motorhomers in their communities.
Heide from Herne, Germany
Hi Heide
We have thought about a dog pram for him. He hated the one he had that went behind our bikes, he would whine the entire time he was in it. We’ll see how we get on with the rest of this trip. At the moment we’re just adapting as we go and are happy to hang out with him at the van, enjoy his company and let him snuffle around in the grass – which he loves.
Ju x
Our 4 legged friends getting older is a game changer, but we do what we can. 😊😊😊
Hi both you wouls like then Tournon St Martin in aires book very rural and a small town nearby and Esse in Camperstop and St Germaine de coudre. Lovely village aires for Charlie time. We are on a cheese farm in rural brittany at Erdeven and another loverly one at Sarzeau which has a great resturant too.
Wishing you well with Charlie, been down that road so to say with our last Jack Russell, our latest Jack is finding it a bit hot at the moment as we are in Saint Remy Du Provence right now.
Wow Derv is dear!
Have fun,
Richard
Ahhh thank’s for your post we are just coming up from Spain and Oscar the briard is struggling so Oscar is sending his sympathy with Charlie now avoiding going to pine forest /wood area if it is jot the heat for our much beloved pooches it is the flees ticks and now caterpillar 😠 enjoy your trip
Oscar sends a woof to Charlie and is sorry for trying to sniff him costantly lpl xxxxx
Hi Gill
Great to hear from you. I’m pretty sure it was this time last year we were chatting away in Rincon! Hope you are all well. Charlie sends snuffles to Oscar and says he was honoured to be sniffed by him, even if he didn’t show it at the time.
Safe travels and keep cool.
Ju x
So sorry to hear Charlie is struggling- give him an extra big hug from me. So glad you’re able to take the time to make sure he’s ok & happy- that really is the most important thing. Take care all. xx
A good call not to head to Croatia. We are in Njivice and it is 25/26° at the moment. Thinking of you both.
By the way, that is a great photo of Ju and Charlie.
Hi both, my husband bought a Knuffelwuff functional textiles dogs summer cooling coat for about £15 before we left for Croatia. Just soak it in cold water and keeps our Jake cool for hours. If you have anyway of picking up parcels I can defo recommend it.
Enjoying your blog
Julie
Hi Julie
Charlie has a cool mat which is great, and we pop a cold wet towel over him too when it’s too hot, which works well too.
Cheers Julie
We’ve yet to try out the supermarket laundrettes but kudos to the French for making life that bit easier for the motorhomers.
British villages are slow to realise the benefits of having motorhomers spending money locally (although many Pubs are very welcoming. Some of our best overnights have been via BRITSTOP pubs).
We just bought the “All the Aires” books at Newbury MH Show and, although it’s basically 1,000 photos of tarmac and drains, I can’t wait to put it to use in July.
Depending on where Our Tour are in late July we may stalk you and track you down. You still owe me a lot of money for convincing me to buy a Hymer B544..money well-spent though, we’ve yet to see a layout better suited to our needs than Humberto. The only motorhome envy I’ve had is over a 2015 B544 but I’d hate to be the one to dent/scratch something so expensive. In some ways it’s good to have a pre-scratched model.
Keep ’em coming
Lee at Go Humberto!
Our plans have been put on hold due to a virus but hope to set off within a week or so. One of our Springer Spaniel is having leg problems. Nearly 13. We are thinking about a cool mat or vest to protect against the heat in France. Maybe Charlie might benefit by one. Sadly all our furry friends start to age but they still give us lots of fun and affection.
Keep safe.
John and Susan
Hi John and Susan
Charlie has invested in a cool mat which he loves (we have no idea how it works, it’s like magic), and we pop a cold wet towel over him too when it’s too hot for him. These certainly both really help to keep him comfortable.
Julie
Great to see you both back on the road enjoying the delights of France, I had read your post about the front springs and decided to have ours changed over the winter on a B544 Signo 100. What a difference when coaches or large trucks pass! No more holding on to the wheel and counter steering. Just wondered if you had found any difference other than the ride hight ? Best wishes to Charlie.
Hi John. The way we drive, neither of us notice any big difference in the handling of the van. It **seems** more stable around bends and in the draft of large vehicles, but I can honestly say this isn’t just a mental improvement rather than anything the springs physically do. The lifted front end is proving better for avoiding kerbs and ramps, and for getting level. My feeling is the ‘bottoming out’ problem would also be fixed, but the UK and French roads we’ve used have been too level to know for sure. Cheers! Jay