Le Guedeniau, France
France is growing on me as we get to know each other better. So many villages, often only 3-5 miles apart..of all sizes. And always clean. No litter. And usually planted with flowers everywhere. And churches with bells that ring when I ride into town! I seem to always be there either on the hour or the half and feel that the bells are announcing my arrival:). But often there don't appear to be any people in the villages or any stores. That seems strange.
I've got the wild camping figured out here to...camp on the village parks. Most every mid size and larger village has one. Mowed grass and picnic tables. Sometimes a river or pond. I've also learned about caravan parking places that have water and sometimes showers, I was told tonight. I need to get more local maps from the Tourist Info places. The one I got today showed these truck symbols down the road I wanted to use today. Darn, I thought...does that mean a truck route? I'm trying to avoid those even if I have to cycle further. No, it's the symbol of a campervan. Where the symbol is is a parking place for campervans and sometimes services. Like where I am tonight. But I've got this lovely park overlooking a pond.
If you look closely left of center you can see my tent. And another thing they do in the villages: turn off the street lights after 10 pm! I love it!! Quiet AND dark!
I have a direction for the immediate future. A Facebook touring friend and his wife who have been traveling through Europe this summer on trikes are in Tours, about 70 miles from me when I found out this morning. He's there healing for a few days from some minor surgery, so I'm heading there to meet them in person:). Such fun to be meeting people you've been internet friends with! Sure helped me pick up the pace today!
September 10, 2014
Luynes, France
Today ended with the most frustration and the best encounter. Frustration was finding a camping place because I went further than I wanted to and ended up in an urban area. Eventually after many false starts and even starting to set up my tent and being told No, I ended up in a town park. And there I met Elise, a 17 yr old girl out walking her dog. She came by my tent, sat down, and shared a bit of her life with me in mostly English. She offered to get anything I might need and also be available by phone tomorrow if I got lost in Tours. So sweet! I hope someday I can maybe help her come visit the USA! Stay in touch with me, Elise!
Livin' the life,
BagLady
Facebook: Kathryn Mossbrook Zimmerman
