Operation Normandy - Fri 17th April - Day 6

We left Mont saint Michel just after 9am in loveley sunshine. Our next destination was to visit a a well know Chateau in the Loire valley. Chateau Chenoceau spans the Cher river. Dating back to the 11th century the current chateau was used during the first world war as a hospital and during the secord world war as an escape route from the Nazi occupied zone to the free zone on the other side of the river. As we got closer and closer the temperature dropped and the blue skies turned to grey. We arrived at lunchtime, a carpark to the right for cars and to the left buses and motorhomes. According to the signs in the motorhome section we where not allowed to stay overnight. There is an aire next to this parking area which has no facilities but is free. The only downside is the main line track next to it! We decided to park in the main parking area and decide later depending on time as to whether we stayed or moved on. The Chateau is amazing and well worth visiting. You must look around inside as well, unfortunately a large group had arrived which made it difficult to take your time looking round.

It was about 3.30pm after we had finished our visit and the weather was getting worse. According to the forecast we where due more cold and rain. We decided we would rather head back up to the coast as the weather was warmer and better. As we had been unable to get on to an aire we had wanted to visit we thought we would try and get there for the night. 4 hrs later after another long drive mainly on motorways and tolls - which made for a shorter and quicker route we arrived at the lovely aire at La Mailleraye-sur-Seine. There were a few spaces left, one of which was at the waters edge. Heaven. We quickly got set up and headed over the road to the Bistro for a well earned meal. Then a good nights sleep.