16th June 2009 - Uzerche

Today after doing the chores we spent a couple of tourist hours wandering around in this delightful town. Churches, crypts, viewpoints it really does have enough to keep you busy. As usual the town is well kept and clean.

15th June 2009 - Uzerche

For people not looking to move house we do keep bumping into towns and villages that we could happily live in and Uzerche is no exception.

We had a couple of short walks between rain showers some of which were very heavy. On the footbridge to town we were a little surprised to bump into a Ninja turtle! No we had not been drinking! We did however enjoy the company of Jean and Robert tonight and over a few glasses shared some stories and tips. Of course at this point we are still very new to all this it being our longest trip so far!

14th June 2009 - Oradour sur Glane

Happy birthday grandson Jack! So off we go again to find Oradour sur Glane. It is possibly the most powerful place I have ever been. At one point after being in the martyred village only a very short time I did wonder if I could turn the corner into the main street. Really steeling myself I did this and let out a small gasp. I really do not have the words to explain. For personal reasons I struggled with this 'reminder' of the horrors of war but would not want to have missed it. The journey back to see it was worth every mile. If you have time I would just say you really must go!

For obvious reasons the Aire here is very busy.

13th June 2009 - Treignac

We pulled up by the riverside to enjoy a night in the company of some German fulltimers who had the hugest motorhome we had ever seen. They seemed, despite having superior facilities aboard their 'home', to be enchanted with the idea of bathing in the nearby lake. Maybe something was lost in translation and they meant swimming, but I definitely would have gone for the soft option as it was chilly in the water despite the fine June weather we were having.

The Aire is by a stream just up from the lake and a fairly long up hill walk to the town. On our way up from the Aire we were truly plagued by flies. A combination of the sudden very fine weather, being close to water and trees possibly all I can say is that they made what could have been a pleasant walk became a bit of a strut to get out of their way - and we were not looking forward to the journey back!! Rubbing salt in the wounds our fulltiming neighbours came flying past on their little scooter and waving as if really pleased to see us. Maybe they too were just waving the flies away? The town however was lovely with loads of cafes bars and stuff.

12th June 2009 - Meymac

We decided that we would make a move today and go and find a laundrette. The tourist office had advised we would find one in Ussel and so this became our destination where we would also stop the night if the aire there was to our liking. Of course when you find the laundrette its really handy but after several attempts to ask we spotted the local tourist ofice. The building works round the college did not make it easy to reach even the information - parking once we had established its location proved impossible. So a long walk carrying two very large loads of washing we found the place and the washing commenced. The motorhome was, at this point, quite along way away parked in a fairly quiet area a bit away from the main town. We were not too happy about this so I stayed with the washing while OH babysat the 'home'.

Our admin needs did not allow us to do the town justice but it seems a very pretty place with (at that time) a buzzing little centre.

The washing all done and now slightly heavier it seemed, we headed straight back to the 'home' and made tracks to the aire. Placed right outside a campsite we decided against staying as it was a quite a long way from town and really nothing much there when compared to Meymac, so that is where we returned to for another night at this lovely lake location. We aired our washing, went for a walk around the lake, had dinner and settled down for the night. ready for our return journey back north! We really did fall for Meymac it is a wonderful small town with lots of interest around.

11th June 2009 – Meymac

On our way to Meymac we called in at a municipal campsite with a view to stopping and maybe getting the laundry done. The pitches there however were very boggy so maybe another time in less wet weather. On our visit to the town centre which is a good walk from the Aire we found out to our embarrassment what we had missed at Oradour sur Glane. Particularly embarrassing for us is the fact that we had been discussing this very place (but not by name) with my father before our departure. So it was that after Meymac we would return and visit. Quite literally onwards and upwards. Slightly odd on a journey south. Oh well , only a few kilometres north again and the beauty of this way of travelling comes into its own again.

Anyway back to Meymac.

What a wonderful medieval town and yes we think we could live here. The first falling in love of this trip!

10th June 2009 – Felletin

We found this place by accident after not really liking the car park that served as the Aire in Aubusson.  We very nearly stopped by at the municipal campsite as it was getting time to do our first lot of washing and it had a washing machine. So on we went until we found Felletin.

It had not been on our list which just goes to show how wrong you can be to ‘judge a book by its cover.’ Although of course this can work both ways as in the case of Aubusson.

We will most certainly visit there some other time as our drive through showed a very attractive town.