Then after surfacing in Calais, I drive all the way across France to Provence!
Sounds simple doesn't it.
It's actually over 1,000 kilometres (626 miles) which is nearly 12 hours of non-stop driving. Personally speaking I stopped doing non-stop driving on my own after a consultancy assignment lasting several months which involved me driving for five hours from London to Penzance in Cornwall every Monday morning - and then put in a full day's work.
These days I like to make steady progress but break it up.
I've actually driven across France before - but never done it both ways having previously let the motorail take some of the strain, mainly to save time. All navigation came courtesy of the big yellow book otherwise known as the Michelin atlas of France. This time my new satnav comes too.
Current plans are to stop in Epernay, the capital of the Champagne world, on Thursday night, somewhere on the south side of Lyon, the the capital of gastronomy in France, on Friday night before getting to my destination on Saturday. You may have guessed by now that I like the way the French value fine food and wines!
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| Driving down to Provence - click this link to see more of the route |
You can follow what we all get up to on Four Go Painting in Provence. You can follow all the places we paint in Places We Painted which also includes possible prospects for painting.
Today's post is about The first time I went painting in Provence - when the BBC came too!
I'm also planning to post my sketches to Travels with a Sketchbook. Not sure if I've quite got a hang of mobile posting yet but I'm going to give it a go.
I'll be back writing this blog normally again after 4th July - which is when I'm due back home after I've driven all the way back to London!
sounds like loads of fun; have a good time, looking forward to your sketches!
ReplyDeleteCher Katherine,
ReplyDeleteJe te souhaite un bon voyage :-)
If you can go a bit further try the Tarn region near the Pyrenees.
The Loire is also great, I guess.
José
Have a good trip!
ReplyDeleteBon Voyage! Sounds like a lovely trip! We drove to Switzerland (interlaken) and back a few years ago and it was completely worth the effort. On the way out we stopped over but on the way back we slogged out all day/night driving and ferry. We camped too so it was the only reasonable way of taking all the stuff we needed- planes and trains seemed too much fuss compared to sitting in your own space following a satnav. Were hoping to do it again next year with a (by then) two year old and a 6 month old but at a much slower pace. I wouldn't fly out of choice now. Too many memories to miss from the trip!
ReplyDelete1000 km only gets us 500 km away from the biggest city. Yellowknife is far away from anything. I looked at your map and was amazed all the the towns you will go past. Have a safe trip! Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteOh, that's nice, bon voyage, bonnes vacances et bon appétit !
ReplyDeleteDear Katherine,
ReplyDeletePlease take care. Safe trip and enjoy them allʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ!!
Best wishes, Sadami
Have a safe trip and a wonderful holiday. I look forward to reading all about it.
ReplyDeleteI second José's recommendation of the Tarn region, with great wistfulness for reasons I won't bore you with - instead, I shall simply wish you 'bon voyage', 'bonne route' and 'bonnes vacances'!
ReplyDeletebon voyage!
ReplyDelete