France 11 - Beautiful Mountain Roads & Wonderful Cheese!

So, we did it; we winged it just as we should have done in Die, and guess what? We just gave up and booked into a lovely little campsite at Porte-de-Savoie, right beside the small Lac de Saint Andre, and lovely it was too. It had been a day of beautiful winding mountain roads, and so with no signs for any type of camping, we just played safe. It was a very nice little site, and as many do, we had fresh bread delivered to the office for us in the morning, and delicious it was too.

I’m no fan of just pitching up on our own, especially in a country we don’t know; after all, there is safety in numbers, and I would rather be with other like-minded people than in a layby on a strange road in a strange country on our own! If you’re not that bothered, you will easily find somewhere to stop, but it’s not us; remember, we are a bit older than younger! Maybe if we were able to do it in England, we would try it and expand to France; I have no idea. Meanwhile it’s safety first for us!

As I write, we are on a campsite in the small town of Sevrier, just south of Annecy, and we went into Annecy yesterday afternoon, and it looked lovely, as you can see from the photos. We opted for a quiet night in the motorhome last night, and it looks like a good choice. Again, as I typed, it was 5.30, and it was raining. It might not be the barbecue we discussed, but we’ll be just fine. The only TV we have watched in the last four weeks was the Champions League final, other than DVDs (maybe 3,) and I can’t say I’ve missed it. And I’m not sure I want to set an alarm for 3.00am on the 14th to watch the football either, but we’ll see. I’m sure we will return to normal habits when we are home!

We have had a beautiful drive since leaving Die. I was looking for rolling hills, but our ears have popped several times; we have driven so high and back down. The route from Porte-de-Savoie to our site here over Lescheraines and Leschaux was slow but beautiful and one I would recommend if you were ever up this way. Just check restrictions, because coming into Sevrier, we came up a road that had a 3.5t weight limit and an 8m length limit! Always check.

What else? Well, I have told you about the toilets in France and the ‘just get on with it’ principle. They are mixed, and that’s the way it is in here. Since arriving exactly four weeks ago, it’s how things have been: on campsites, in bars and restaurants, and wherever. So yes, it is only me who could walk into the ladies' loo the night before last on the campsite for a wee!

Because it’s how things have been, I went to the site loos, and I saw a lady walking into a cubicle, and I just went into the one next door and had a quick wee, and it was only when I came out that I saw the sign for the ladies, and I was mortified. Why was this site different all of a sudden? So forget my ‘just get on with it’ principal. And I have already checked on the site we are on, and they are separate facilities again, so is it an area thing, as we are further east? No idea and not bothered; from now on, I will just double-check the toilet signs. But the strange thing is the campsite at Die was an ‘Onlycamp’ campsite and assumed a franchise-type setup, and the one we are on tonight is also Onlycamp, but the setup is different. And talking with motorhome friends back home in Shropshire, we believe it is the same site they stayed on when they visited the area!

I’ve given up on the road signs, especially the flashing warnings, as I have seen all sorts of variations. The approaches to speed bumps across the roads are different. Some are six feet in length; some are nearer 26’. Some have white arrows painted on the approach, some have that light brown cardboard colour, some have nothing, though I believe that is lack of maintenance, and if you get it wrong in a motorhome, there can be a jolt with that ‘shake, rattle & roll’ effect.

I have seen more town exit signs upside down, some on the right and some on the left. I also assumed speed limits were in odd kmph numbers, 30/50/90 & 110, though main roads are 80. But in the last two days of driving I have also seen my one and only 40 & 60 kmph sign. I should have asked the co-pilot to take a photo, as these are a rare example of motoring signs in France.

If it makes you look twice, it can’t be a bad thing.

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How about pedestrian crossings? Well, we have come across a couple of examples that are nothing like the UK but that makes you look and take note and that makes you think differently for that split second whilst you are driving, and that can’t be a bad thing anywhere.

Do I have any more tips that might be useful? Well, the first is on a long trip like this, don’t bring 28 pairs of boxer shorts, 16 t-shirts, and seven sweatshirts with seven pairs of shorts! You will need to do a washing with bedclothes and towels, so just do your other bits too, as we are doing tomorrow for about the fourth time. My record for a t-shirt is 4 days, boxers are 2 days, and I have just changed my shorts after 7 days, and who cares? If you are clean enough with showers and washes and deodorant and aftershave, no one knows, and no one cares. Obviously, my good lady wears perfume and not aftershave - but that’s a personal choice! Remember, in a small unit like ours, clothes = space, and space is needed! I am presently wearing my favourite t-shirt for the third time (washed twice,) while I have some untouched in my clothes storage.

But for practical motor homing, how about the kitchen area? And remember, ours is small. The best thing we did was find this board that we can put over the sink to make more worktop area, as you only need the sink for water! It just helps us and gives us more room when preparing food – sorry when the good lady is preparing food!

When we went to the motorhome show earlier in the year, we found this expanding drinks bottle, as a standard 5-litre one won’t fit in the fridge. You can fill it to whatever level you want to complement the space in your fridge, and you let the air out by simply opening the tap and squeezing, sometimes by pressing as it helps, and it fills up until you turn the filling vessel, tap, or hose off.

And what do we do on holidays? Well, we tend to have a lasting memory or find something we will never forget, and it has happened to me on this trip already, with a few weeks (hopefully) to go. I already have over 1,500 photos on file, so many, many memories, and so what have I found? Well, would you believe it is cheese spread?

It’s called St. Moret, and it is absolutely delicious. I like my cheese spread, you know, Philadelphia, or even Dairy Lea or Primula. But this stuff is a different level, and the best thing is that thankfully I believe I can get it on Amazon when I get home, as I can’t find it for sale elsewhere online, but that’s a win - win situation! And an eating habit that must continue when back.

I could eat it with a spoon!

The second one is for sale in most supermarkets in the UK and is one of my other favourites! However, what we have found is that you can’t seem to get a good old-fashioned slab of cheddar. There are French options, but not like the UK version, and remember, you can’t bring it with you!

I could eat them together

Thanks for reading

DJ