France & Spain October / September 2025

Week 5 – The Rhône valley and a bit more…

Day 29 Monday 20th October – Day 3 Camping du Pont D’Avignon (0 miles)

Wet, wet, wet .. and I’m not talking about the pop group! Heavy, heavy rain from the early hours until well after lunch with 3 or 4 inches of water running down the campsite roads at some points. So a whole morning planning some options and overnight stays for the rest of the trip plus booking the ferry home on the 30th October.

Once it did stop raining we went back into Avignon to stretch our legs and I also needed some deodorant as running low.

Back to the van to sort out chairs, wet outdoor carpet, grey waste removal and fresh water top up. That was it really … A quite relaxing day due to the rain.

Expenses day 29

Site fees £17.36 (£264.21)
Coffee etc £0 (£164.65)
Fuel £0 (£432.80)
LPG £0 (£30.08)
Groceries £0 (£362.17)
Eating out £0 (£90.64)
Total £17.36 (£1488.07 – £51.31 ave)

Day 30 Tuesday 21st October – Avignon to Gordes via Châteauneuf du Pape (36 miles).

Leaving just after 10am with empty waste tanks but a full water tank, as we would be staying in a car park with no services tonight, we headed for Châteauneuf du Pape. It is a very attractive and well kept village full of Wine cellars selling expensive wine (we’ll stick to the supermarket!) and some nice cafes and restaurants. The original Chateau at the top of the village is now just a ruin but must have been magnificent in its time.

What was very surprising was just how stoney the ground was where the vines grew.

We then headed for the hill top village of Gordes, one of many typical in this part of Provence but also one of the more famous, it was also where we were planning on staying for the night in a car park nearby. Had a mini mare trying to get the two nearside wheels up on ramps as slipping on the gravel, managed to get the rear one on which helped with the slope but gave up in the front one.

The village was stunning and property obviously owned by the wealthy as holiday homes but it hadn’t lost its charm and again plenty of cafes and restaurants. A 30 minute ish walk from where we parked which also gave a good view as we approached it.

Then back to Bertie by about 4pm for a cup of tea. 🙂

Day 30 expenses.

Site fees £0 (£264.21)
Coffee etc £0 (£164.65)
Fuel £68.21 (£501.01)
LPG £0 (£30.08)
Groceries (bread & X2 buns) £3.56 (£365.73)
Eating out £0 (£90.64)
Randoms … Honey £8.58 Thetford Blue £16.22.
Total £96.57 (£1584.64 – £52.82 ave)

Day 31 Wednesday 22nd October – Gordes to Soyons via Montélimar – (93 miles)

After a noisy night with heavy rain, cars beeping and traffic we were on our way around 10am. The plan was to cut across the country a bit but Garmin had other ideas and we went half way back to Avignon and past Châteauneuf du Pape again!

We got lucky with a quick stop at a Patisserie where we stocked up on bread, pastries and a takeaway coffee, which was supposed to be a cappuccino but turned out to be a Mocha. It was very nice though.

We decided to stop in Montélimar which is supposed to be the capital of Nougat and after going to a horrible Motorhome Aire we parked in a E.Lecerc car park and walked about 20 minutes into the town. Epic fail… Not a Nougat shop in sight and just generally a bit of a nothing town. You win some, you lose some…however, the Lecerc proved to be a good supermarket as usual and we topped up on a few bits plus bought Côte de Rhône wine and happily some Nougat 🙂.

The most interesting thing about Montélimar.

From there it was about an hour to Soyons which is on the Rhône and the cycle path into Valence which is supposed to be well worth the visit… If it stops raining! Pouring down again this evening ☹️.

Day 31 expenses

Site fee £12.95 (£277.16)
Coffee out etc £6.95 (£164.65)
Fuel £0 (£501.01)
LPG £0 (£30.08)
Groceries (inc. wine for home) £68.21 (£433.94)
Eating out £0 (£90.64)
Total £87.31(£1671.95 – £53.93 ave)

Day 32 Thursday 23rd October – Soyons to Boulieu Les Annonay (35 miles)

After a wild night of very heavy rainfall, thunder and so much lightening we were up to some more rain but a bit quieter and the promise of some dryer and brighter weather. When it brightened up a bit I went and got the bikes out of the garage and off we set just after 11am following a purpose built cycle path running down a large chunk of the Rhône and right past our CCP. It was, in theory a straight forward journey but as usual the signage was not the best and we ended up going a very strange route away from the Rhône and eventually over the main bridge, which although had a protected cycle path was very busy and noisy! Then we had to work our way through a less than desirable part of town, sometimes with a cycle path but often without.

Eventually we made our way to the town centre which was really impressive with a large park and terrace area overlooking the Rhône and large grand buildings.

We had a good wander around the centre which was very nice and full of boutique shops, bistro’s and cafes, one of which we had an excellent coffee.

The cycle back was far less eventful but still a bit tricky at one point but much better and all on the cycle paths. The sun had also shone for the afternoon making it a very pleasant trip out.

Sorted a few things, dumped grey waste and decided to fill up with water so I didn’t have to do anything at our next stop.

Really nice drive down a D road and in the sun to tonight’s stop which was down some back roads by playing fields with a good view. Although there were some spaces between hedging the gaps were very narrow and the ground muddy so we opted to park up the side where there were a couple of other Vans and used the ramps to raise the rear.

Expenses Day 32

Site fees £0 (£277.16)
Coffee etc £11.64 (£176.29)
Fuel £0 (£501.01)
LPG £0 (£30.08)
Groceries £0 (£433.94)
Eating out £0 (£90.64)
Total £11.64 (£1683.59 – £52.61 ave)

Day 33 Friday 24th October Boulieu Les Annonay to Domblans via Pont De Veyle (142 miles)

Rained a bit more in the night but not as much as the previous night

The morning was much cooler than before and only just 10 degrees but we have come up to nearly 500m and further east and north. At least it was dry and a bit brighter.

We had a walk up into the village and had a laugh with some locals who didn’t speak English (much) and obviously I don’t speak any French…

The village was really lovely with some very grand and very old buildings and a tourist trail you can follow with a QR code explaining what each bit of interest was. A real effort from a small town which was kept in really good condition.

We then got on the road, in the rain to drive the 2.5hrs to our proposed overnight stop in Pont De Veyle with a stop on the way to have a Raclette burger in Macdonald’s as we kept seeing them advertised and just had to try one! They were very good but also €13 each! (With small fries…) In fact the whole menu must be 20% more expensive than the UK 🤷🏻.

Arrived in Pont De Veyle at about 2:15pm and while it was okay it was cold and wet so we decided we may as well just continue driving for a while to take us further to our main destination of Nancy. 1.5hrs later we arrived in Domblans where there was one other Van (German) in what was a small parking area. Something of nothing really but seemed very quiet and free with all services so what’s not to like!

Day 33 expenses

Site fees £0 (£277.16)
Coffee’s out etc £0 (£176.29)
Fuel £0 (£501.01)
LPG £0 (£30.08)
Groceries £0 (£433.94)
Eating out £22.73 (£113.37)
Total ££22.73 (£1706.32 – £51.70 ave)

Day 34 Saturday 25th October – Domblans to Camping Car Park (CCP) Charms (147 miles)

A nice and quiet night disturbed only by some more rain first thing. By 9:30am it had stopped and once I had put away the screen cover and dumped our grey water waste we were in our way by 10am.

A high mileage day but mostly on nice D roads or fast smooth N dual carriageway so didn’t feel so bad. Also stopped for fuel and then at a Lidl to stock up on some bits and pieces including some fizzy for Xmas. Had a cinnamon roll thing and a hot chocolate in Bertie and then set off for Charms.

Easy remainder of the journey with improved weather arriving just after 2:30pm. The site was a large one which stretched down the side of a canal next to the small town.

Since the sun was at last shining, albeit still chilly, we walked up to and around the town which was okay but nothing special and walked over the bridge and back to have a look at the river as well.

Then back to Bertie to write this up and have a cup of tea. 😊

Day 34 Expenses

Site fees £12.43 (£299.59)
Coffee’s out etc £0 (£176.29)
Fuel £87.36 (£588.37)
LPG £0 (£30.08)
Groceries £27.27 (inc X3 fizz for home) (£461.21)
Eating out £0 (£113.37)
Total £127.06 (£1833.38 – £53.92 ave)

Day 35 Sunday 26th October – CCP Charms to Amneville via Nancy (73 miles)

As usual off the site by 10am and made our way to Nancy and yes you guessed it, it was raining again…. It had rained loads during the night but now the air was cold as well and only 6 degrees!

Managed to park in a free carpark on the edge of the town centre and we waited for a while for the rain to ease a bit and then walked into the old town which was very grand. Rain started again so we went into a café and had coffee to sit it out in the warm for a while. Very nice coffee.

Bit more wandering around the old and newer old towns which were both very grand with plenty of cafes and restaurants. Definitely a very nice place to visit but to an extent similar to many of the towns and cities we have visited in France so probably ready for different locations and adventures! I am a real fan of France and the French though and will always look forward to travelling through it.