Day 11 – Still in Nevers

I woke up early; 6 am. It’s still raining!!! Aghh!! I couldn’t get to back to sleep so got up at 7 and made coffee. I can’t stay couped up in this box any more so decided to go into town and treat myself to an early plat du jour. I’m rapidly running out of clothes so need to go to the Launderette before I leave.

Although in the main the Landrover maison is warm and dry, there is this lip around the roof which goes all the way around, ie from the outside at the front and sides, to the inside of the canvas at the back. Water collects here and sometimes runs inside the canvas and drips inside. It was dripping all night into my boots. To make matters worse the only spare pair I bought are too painful to walk to the end of the road in (I only just realised this). Wet boots it is then! I got dressed, pulled back the shutters, undid the zip and emerged into the cold, wet unwelcoming world beyond my cocoon.

I had salad at a bar in Town; outside but under an awning. Now I know what you’re thinking.. Salad... for rabbits right?? I learnt a while ago that French salad is not for wimps! If you’re not hungry, go for the pizza, if you are, go for the salad. The leaves are just there to make it look pretty. Most Salads have meat of some description and if you go for Mediterranean salad, ‘regard’ the mountain of jambon cru (proscuito ham) and sausage under the thin layer of leaves!

While I was in the middle of my gastronomique adventure, the most amazing thing happened. The rain stopped, the clouds parted, and the sun came through with such intensity I felt like Moses must have done at the end of the 30 days and nights. Suddenly the thought of leaving Nevers is a reality.

Back at the camp I did my laundry. I had to wait till 3 o clock for this because as the lady told me “that is when I unlock the door to the laundry room!”. “I see” I said... but see I did not! “Could you open it sooner?” I tried to say in French but soon gave up. It then transpires that checkout is 12 midday so I had to pay for another day. Ok early start tomorrow and another night in Nevers (I’m beginning to see why they call it Nevers!).

I am writing this while my washing is drying. Writing, eating chocolate, drinking wine... great! The sun has gone again and the wind is picking up. There is this line of huge trees behind me – easily 60 – 70 metres high and every time there is large gust of wind thousand of leaves rain down. It’s magical to see it.

You know despite the bad weather, not a single moment of this adventure so far hasn’t been thoroughly good fun.

I couldn’t let today go past without a picture so I took a picture of my sausage