Friday 14th December 2007

Today the journey home starts in earnest with a four and a half hour journey north. But first, on my way to buy some bread (a pleasant but surprisingly unusual task as we were often a long way from a bakers), I noticed that the Abri Pataud, a site next to the museum and only 100m from the camperstop, was shown as being open. So we decided to delay the journey slightly with a visit to it.
After breakfast we walk to it only to find that it was closed on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at this time of the year – the three days when one would expect most visitors! I had said to Jane that there was no chance of it being closed on a Friday!
So, a little disappointed, we set off for Lussac les Chateaux and another camperstop. It was still very frosty but this time dull and misty although it didn't take long for this to burn off and most of the journey was blessed with sunshine. Although slightly hazy, the views were good and we passed, as ever in France, many impressive chateaux. One of the most impressive was seen from our lunch stop at a picnic area (see photo) although the local cattle did not seem to be interested!
We arrived in Lussac les Chateaux (without any chateaux!) and attempted to find the camperstop without success. We enquired at the tourist information office to find that it was in the car park where we had parked – about 100m from the tourist office. Strangely designed in that Henrietta overflowed the parking space (and other larger motorhomes would be worse), but good enough for the night. Given that we were in the centre of a village, it seemed like a good opportunity to have a meal out, until we took a look at the options. The tourist information office supplied us with a list of the restaurants and we checked each one out whilst it was still light. The only one that appealed (Les Routiers recommended and with a capacity of 80) turned out to be closed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings – shades of Abri Pataud and quite unbelievable! I have never heard of a restaurant that was closed every weekend evening! So, back to Henrietta and a home-cooked supper.
Photos: The crowded Eyzies camperstop!; Picnic stop view; The cows were more interested in the photographer than the view.