So on we go to Troyes. Champagne, shopping, Lacoste and chocolate. Yesterday we enjoyed a lazy day in camp after walking what felt like fifty thousand miles around Paris. My poor feet! It was a chance to catch up with some personal admin, updating the blog and so on. We also finished off the last of the ox cheek stew and very nice it was too.
We had planned to stopover at an Aire north of Troyes but decided to travel directly to the campsite at Camping Aux Rives du Lac. The Lac in question is one of three man made reservoirs and the third largest in France. But, it may have sprung a major leak as there was very little water in it when we went down to have a look before supper. Maybe they used all the water to flush out the Seine for the Olympic Triathlon.
The campsite was sparsely populated with a few campervaners, one or two caravans and one guy sleeping in his car. The place presented a somewhat post apocalyptic atmosphere and the heavy, leaden skies above only accentuate that feeling. There were very few people around anywhere. It felt as if there hed been some kind of extinction event and the small group of people at Camping Aux Rives du Lac were the only survivors. Could it be that when civilisation does collapse, it will be rebuilt by small, ragtag tribes living on campsites? Heaven help us!
But to be fair, it was well outside the main holiday season and camspite owners can't be blamed for the weather. The truth is that this is a lovely site with great facilities. The shower block is clean and heated. At reception there is a shop but fresh produce such as bread and milk is only available during the normal holiday season. The pitches are plenty big enough with hedges providing privacy. To say that it is handy for the lake is an understatement. It's immedialtey opposite on the other side of the road.
Lac d'Orient is a Summer Activity Centre. Bike and Segway Hire, a sandy beach, a restaurant and Crazy Golf amongst other things can be found at Plage Geraudot right outside the campsite gates. Other activity centres exist all around the lake offering boat hire, paddle boarding and so on and so on. The forest around the lake is full of wildlife and has miles and miles of hiking trails.
On Friday morning we got on our bikes and went down to the beach to start our ride around the lake. The plumber had clearly not turned up as the water was still leaking out somewhere. The voie verte around the lake is 28kms long and pretty much flat, completely off road and well paved. It was a joy! We also found a Carrefour express, a very nice boulangerie/ pattiserie and a boucherie/ charcuterie in Lusigny-sur-Barse, just eight flat kilometres from the campsite.
It was cold though. Just eight degrees along with the associated windchill on the bikes. Thankfully we returned to a warm, cozy, comfy campervan for hot tea, a sandwich and a flapjack. There's no Banana and Chocolate loaf left. That finished yeaterday. We have also broken into the Parkin.
During our circumnavigation of the reservoir, we saw very few people. One was a mushroom hunter who disappeared furtively into the woods when he saw us, looking back to check that our covetous eyes were not following him to his fungal treasure. The best champignon hunting grounds are jealously guarded secrets. We passed three cyclists on the track, one runner and a four or five walkers. I reckon this could be a hive of activity in the summer though.
I wonder if reservoirs have a plug? Could it be that someone left the plug out?
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