We were all up early and on the road, Ralph and the girls heading for the ferry home and Dot and I heading for Siblu's Domaine de Litteau in Normandy.
Our plan was to not take any toll roads at all and to stop along the way for a picnic lunch, I chose Laval for the picnic and planned the route accordingly. The reason for choosing Laval, was that I once saw a photo of the river there and though it would be nice to visit someday.
We made our way via back roads to the D766, then through Château-Renault, Saint-Laurent-en-Gâtines, Neuillé-Pont-Pierre and Beaumont-la-Ronce to Château-la-Vallière where we joined the D959. Driving the "D" roads may allow you to see more of France and pay less but it is harder on the driver than the toll roads are. The road name changed for no reason at all from the D959 to the D306 until Bouessay, where again it changed for no reason to the D21 all the way to Laval.
I had programmed into the GPS a car park by the river Mayenne in Laval, between two of the bridges, luckily there was plenty of room there but it was a pay on exit type of car park.
I hopped out to take some bridge photos while Dot got the picnic from the cool box . I went to walk under the Pont de l'Europe, for a better shot of the viaduct but stopped in my tracks, as there appeared to be a druggie under the bridge preparing his next fix. I went straight back to the car
Instead of having lunch just then, we decided to walk along the river in the opposite direction from the druggie, also I needed to use a toilet, soon. When travelling in the van, the need for the toilet is not a problem, we can pull over any time, just about anywhere and use the one in the van, today I have to find one.
Found a nice square just up from the river, with gardens, a fountain (that was no help), statues, a carousel and to my relief, toilets. Pretty disgusting toilets though and shared as well but when you gotta go, you gotta go.
We then continued to walk along the river, taking photos of the many bridges as we went and the sun even came out.
After taking photos of the 14th century Pont-Vieux de Laval and the Château Vieux, we set off back towards the car and lunch. As the sun was trying to to do its job I took as many photos on the was back to the car as well.
As we sat in the car having our picnic lunch, a guy came and stood in front of our car and had a pee into the river, lovely view.
When we were ready to continue our journey, I took the car park ticket over to the pay machine and found there was no payment due, bargain.
Back on the road and out of Laval onto the N162 to Mayenne, where we switched on to the D23, along the way this changes to the D962. Domfront on this road looks very picaresque, just before Saint-Bômer-les-Forges, we took the D54 to the D924, through Tinchebray then another name change D524. Just before Vire, we turned onto the D407 bypassing the town, the D407 changes to the D674, then on a roundabout under the A84 we turned onto the N2174. In Torigni-sur-Vire we took a right onto the D13 then left onto the D34 until we found signs to the campsite. It was beginning to rain as we arrived.
Domaine de Litteau
14490 Litteau, Normandy
The accommodation was very nice, loads more room than the last place and far superior fixtures and fittings. By now it was raining hard, and I got wet setting the satellite up, as usual there was an England football match on.
There was already a match on when I got the sat on so I watched that before the England game. England beat Wales 1 - 0, not a great game but better than losing and now we only need a drew in the next game to qualify.
No comments:
Post a Comment