Tournon sur Rhone to Chateauneuf du Pape

Tuesday April 28th

• starting miles           50539
• temperature              11
• weather                     cold, cloudy but dry (at last)
• time                           10.25

Before we were up the cars and buses began to arrive. We are quite a long way from and large town or city. As we learned later the train left at 10:00

for a whole day trip in the Ardeche.The average age of the passengers made us feel like spring chickens.We were offered a place on the trip but declined. If it had been a half day or less perhaps we would have gone. 

We had scarcely started when we hit trouble - literally. Negotiating some narrow roadworks  Hermione clashed wing mirrors with (ironically) a Mercedes Sprinter which duly lived up to its name and left the scene. no real harm done but all feelings of invincibility have departed.

We followed the Rhone south. It always surprises me just how built up and industrial is the Rhone valley. We reached Montelimar at mid day but had great difficulty finding a combination of parking place and nougat shop. Eventually we succeeded on the outskirts just as we had given up hope of ever finding it. 

After lunch in a wooded aire we were able to park in the middle of Orange to visit the ancient Roman Theatre built in the 1st century BC and the impressive Arc de Triomphe of the same vintage.

Theatre Visit.

We stopped at a very attractive site by the Rhone l'Art de Vivre is 2kms from the centre of Chateauneuf du pape which we planned to visit next day.









Site cost :                              €16

Miles travelled:                        53