Orleans

Thankfully, it all quietened down about 11:30pm last night. Up until then there seemed to be motorbikes and cars with big exhausts doing circuits around the big square we were parked in. We were really lucky to be able to get out this morning as well, as the whole world had turned up to shop in Saint-Flour. We were completely surrounded by cars. On the way out, we stopped to walk Rufus and looking back up at the town thought it was quite impressive sitting up on the hill.
Ploughed our way through the middle of France – it’s a very scenic drive through the Massif Central and the volcanic Auvergne region.
We came off the motorway at Saint-Amand-Montrond for a Lidl shop and then found perfect motorhome parking by a river with clean services to use. The weather was getting warmer but the skies were black and we just missed the worst of the thunder storm as we drove off – very windy though.
Apart from a quick coffee stop, we carried on up to Orleans to try and get on the €6 motorhome parking by the river Loire. Last time we came here it was closed. This time the payment machine said the parking was full – so frustrating as we could see empty spaces but the barrier was down. ☹️ We’ve ended up just along the track a little, where there’s loads of parking so shouldn’t be a problem. Had a walk with Rufus to look at the river and then back to our private bench for a glass of wine…this has to stop 🛑!