23-25/07/2014 : Champagne

Thursday

Weather glorious. Heading for Champagne today and identified an Aire by the river at Mareuil-sur-Ay close to Eperyney. It was a very pretty location but full with no prospect of anyone moving. We then did a round robin of possible locations around Eperney. We settled on a very quiet Aire/French Passion stop at a village called Chevigny. The owners were champagne producers and the site was beautifully kept with all facilities in really quiet village surrounded by vineyards and farm yards. It had been a longer than expected day so we had a little explore and then settled down for a peaceful evening at the van. That was until the Dutch guy next door got his Satellite dish out and put the TV on loud. Really pissed us off!!

 Miles today 152 Aire 5 Euro.

Friday

Woke to another glorious morning and so we decided we would spend the day exploring locally. Jo went for a run and me for a cycle .The other two vans departed and so we had the place to ourselves for a leisurely breakfast.

We set off on our bikes to the nearest town,Vertus, and into the heart of the vineyards. They were really quite interesting and beautiful and the regimented order appealed to me. We had picked up some croissants in Vertus and sat amongst the vines eating them for lunch and then we watched some of the weird and wonderful machinery working amongst the vines.

After another lazy afternoon at the van we went for a long walk amongst the wheat and sunflowers. When we got back we settled up with the owner and brought 3 bottles of their Champagne - 1 bottle each for 2 graduating students and 1 for our 25^th Wedding Anniversary.

A few other vans had arrived, including another 22 year old iconic Hymer occupied by a family from Manchester. We chatted with them till dark. It may have irritated the other vans especially the Belgians with our loud and late conversations - but it was fun.

Miles today nil and the Aire free as we bought champagne.