Lac St. Cyr (between Poitiers and Chatellerault) to Montfort-le-Gesnois (east of Le Mans)

 Thursday 2 March

We left St. Germain-les-Belles around 9.30 this morning, where the grass was frosty and the little lake was partly frozen over ....Brrr

So we continued our journey north, stopping off for our lunch at the Camping-Car Park at Moulismes where we'd stayed a night on our way south - seems ages ago - well it is 5 weeks.  We had come off the motorway and followed the River Vienne, passing the Chateau Touffou on the opposite bank.

We came to another CCP at Lac St. Cyr - yet another lake - a big one this time.  Although still chilly, the sun shone all day, so a very pleasant walk this afternoon.

A standing stone near the lake.

We are not sure what birds they are, but they entertained us for a while as they formed and reformed various shapes above us.

This is quite a busy evening here but there are still quite a few spaces left.  In fact there's one between us and that black-fronted van behind us.  

 

At around 8 o'clock, when dark, and we were sitting in our van minding our own business over a jigsaw puzzle with freshly poured drinks, we were suddenly pushed from the front of the van.  No crash sound, but made us jump and John's coffee slopped over the table (I'd already drunk half of my tea).  We leapt out of the van with the torch to find a French van trying to back into said space in pitch dark with his lady still sitting in the passenger seat and not out giving him necessary warnings!  Monsieur was looking very sheepish as the torch was shone on both vans to inspect any damage. We couldn't see any on ours in the dark.....

 Friday3 March

 .... but found a minor indentation on the front bumper this morning in daylight.  The two chaps shook hands that all was well and we got on our way.

Today we've come to Monfort-le-Gesnois, east of Le Mans, to yet another CCP.  Unlike the busy one last night, here it is more like a very spacious camp site, with a huge pitch and picnic table - and there are only 2 of us here.  The sun was just about warm enough to sit at the table with a cuppa when we arrived.

Our short walk took us to a lovely park

with an enclosed area with a goat that looks like he's been sitting in a pot of paint ...

some chickens

and a donkey.

We are a bit ahead of ourselves for getting to the tunnel for Tuesday, so we are staying another night.  Planning to walk to the nearby nature reserve tomorrow.