We returned to France a little earlier than originally planned as they’re finally getting ready to do the paving on the lower shared part of the driveway. As we didn’t want to get ‘trapped’ at the house we decided to just get going.
Once again we took our new preferred route, heading north from Murcia and past Albacete before going northeast then over to Pamplona and up to the French border. We spent the night in the lower parking area of the largest shopping mall – there were at least 25 other campervans there and it was, as usual, very quiet.
Several days after our return we helped out at another of the local cycling club’s events. This one was a mountain bike race for the younger riders, starting from quite little ones (six years old or so) to the older ones in their mid-teens.
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I must say that for a town the size of Mansle there are many areas and facilities for sports and other things. In addition to the hippodrome and kayak centre down beside the campground they have a swimming pool, library/exhibit centre, sports fields and tennis courts and the very well laid out cyclo-cross/mountain bike course.
Colin and I were in charge of the beverage and refreshment table and did a good business in coffee (for the adults) and water or pop for the kids, which was free for them if they were riders.
The event took several hours in all and it was a very nice day – the weather held as it wasn’t too hot or too cold, and it didn’t rain.
One day we took a friend out for fish and chips in Confolens – a bit of a drive just for lunch but we all enjoyed it. I think it’s one of those things that seem great at the time but a few hours later you kind of wonder if you ate too much.
A couple of weeks later we went up to a race of a different sort – the ‘Chrono des Nations’ in Les Herbiers.
It was a nice drive up and we found a great overnight parking area within walking distance of the finish. It’s strictly time-trialing for all the age groups and is on the final day of a four (or five) day agricultural fair/exhibition in the town.
In the morning we walked up to the exhibition and strolled around before stopping for a beverage and a small bowl of sausages and cheese.
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We then returned to the campervan for lunch, as the elite men we came to see were the last to go.
We made our way back to the course in time to see the last few ladies, then the junior men before the main show arrived.
The crowds were pretty good – we were right at the 200 metres to go mark…
Remco was the last racer to leave the start, and he actually passed the racer before him, ending up winning by over 2 minutes – very impressive!
On the way back to the campervan we passed a man and his son with a Jack Russell puppy – it was only eight weeks old and both the boy and the puppy were just adorable.
We had a nice quiet night where we were, and made it back home early the next afternoon.
The bar has begun to offer lunch on Wednesdays, so when duck was on the menu we had to partake. It was very simple but just delicious – duck flambeed in Armagnac with potatoes and olives. Of course I took half of mine home and enjoyed it again the next day for lunch.
They’re almost finished the beautification project in the main square in front of the Mairie and the bar – it will look great when it’s finally finished.
