A couple of years ago we were parked on a free Aire a few hundred yards from a village.
We were at the side of the wide river L'Isle and were the only ones stopping there overnight.
Very peaceful, rabbits, birds and other wild life on site but as quiet as the grave after dark.
After a few drinks we retired to bed about midnight and soon dropped off to sleep.
I was disturbed around four in the morning by a car door being shut quite close to the Motorhome.
Then another door shut, possibly a car boot as well, and quiet voices whispering nearby.
Then another car door being shut and more voices.
Someone started laughing and I heard the sound of people moving around.
I got out of bed and tried to see through the windows but it was misty outside and couldn't see anything or anyone outside in the gloomy half light.
I knew the van was locked so laid back in bed with my ears tuned for any movement outside that would spell danger.
Over the next hour or so more car doors were shut or slammed and more and more voices, laughing and joking in French, as the group seemed to grow.
Daylight started to illuminate outside and gradually I could make out people moving about.
Was I brave enough to venture out ?
Then I could smell food being cooked and that made up my mind for me – I must go outside and see what was happening.
As I opened the habitation door a large man approached.
This was it !
He stuck out his hand and shook mine with a great degree of vigour.
“Bonjour, Monsieur” he said.
He then explained that I was parked on an Aire car park that they were all using to park their cars and vans for an all-day fishing match.
Yes, a Fishing match !
“Would you like some food ?” he said (in French)
I realised we were in the middle of dozens of vehicles and if I didn't move the Motorhome soon we would be stuck there all day.
I politely declined his offer of food and explained that I thought I should move to the edge of the Aire to avoid being trapped.
Margaret and I were both relieved that there wasn't a direct threat to us and I manoeuvred the Motorhome out of the way to the edge of the Aire..
And that is the biggest worry we have had in numerous visits to rural Aires, many remote and only us on them overnight, and long may we get the opportunity to go to France and sample the stopovers the French authorities provide.
Worries ? What worries ?
https://youtu.be/abTKZf5MSHg
We were at the side of the wide river L'Isle and were the only ones stopping there overnight.
Very peaceful, rabbits, birds and other wild life on site but as quiet as the grave after dark.
After a few drinks we retired to bed about midnight and soon dropped off to sleep.
I was disturbed around four in the morning by a car door being shut quite close to the Motorhome.
Then another door shut, possibly a car boot as well, and quiet voices whispering nearby.
Then another car door being shut and more voices.
Someone started laughing and I heard the sound of people moving around.
I got out of bed and tried to see through the windows but it was misty outside and couldn't see anything or anyone outside in the gloomy half light.
I knew the van was locked so laid back in bed with my ears tuned for any movement outside that would spell danger.
Over the next hour or so more car doors were shut or slammed and more and more voices, laughing and joking in French, as the group seemed to grow.
Daylight started to illuminate outside and gradually I could make out people moving about.
Was I brave enough to venture out ?
Then I could smell food being cooked and that made up my mind for me – I must go outside and see what was happening.
As I opened the habitation door a large man approached.
This was it !
He stuck out his hand and shook mine with a great degree of vigour.
“Bonjour, Monsieur” he said.
He then explained that I was parked on an Aire car park that they were all using to park their cars and vans for an all-day fishing match.
Yes, a Fishing match !
“Would you like some food ?” he said (in French)
I realised we were in the middle of dozens of vehicles and if I didn't move the Motorhome soon we would be stuck there all day.
I politely declined his offer of food and explained that I thought I should move to the edge of the Aire to avoid being trapped.
Margaret and I were both relieved that there wasn't a direct threat to us and I manoeuvred the Motorhome out of the way to the edge of the Aire..
And that is the biggest worry we have had in numerous visits to rural Aires, many remote and only us on them overnight, and long may we get the opportunity to go to France and sample the stopovers the French authorities provide.
Worries ? What worries ?
https://youtu.be/abTKZf5MSHg
