From La
Fleche we head south to Saumur. This is the first leg of our trip where we
don’t have a fixed destination in mind and where our true dedication to wild
camping begins. No more campsites for us - we are determined to stay at as many
beautiful and isolated spots as possible. Saumur might not seem like the
obvious choice, being such an historic place and with so much going on, but
we’ve earmarked our resting place for the night outside Saumur, a disused
campsite admittedly, but now an overgrown and wild Aire by the banks of the
river. Both Saumur and aire are beautiful.
We park up
in Saumur by the Chateau to have a mooch around, the Chateau is mind blowing –
originally built around about 1370 it looks like a fairytale castle perched up
on high with the town and the river snaking their ways underneath it. The medieval town is picture postcard
whichever way you look. Even the post office is in the original postal
building… ancient signange in old stone across the top proclaims “TELEGRAPHES
POSTE TELEPHONE”, with a statue in front proclaiming “honour and Country” and
there’s a even a ‘back to the future’-esque clock tower and everything.
Marginally more impressive than the post office in WHSmiths on Worcester high
street. Only just mind.
With
reluctance we leave and lake our way to our free aire. We follow the river
there on the way and it seems low with its sandy flats, perhaps it is always
like that? We don’t know.
We arrive
at the aire and park up, the view, while not medieval, is hard to beat. The
dogs pronk off into the grass and we settle down for some sun. Not so very bad
really. And free. Or so we thought. It turns out there’s an aire mayor and he
wants an aire fare! €5. Exorbitant. Sigh, perhaps not so wild after all. Once
again, the (new edition) magic book of knowledge reveals itself as a possible
contender to the title of book of fiction. Campers beware. Idyllic spot nonetheless and everyone sleeps
like babes.
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