Summer holiday 2002
Charente − France


Friday, 10th August

Our departure is planned quite early in the night (03:30), because during this time of the day the traffic will be far less dense then by day. When we set out on our drive down south, the weather is in our advantage. It is fortunately not raining tonight. We drive to Rotterdam and Etten-Leur and from there into the direction of Vlissingen where we take the exit, and follow directions to Antwerp. We take the Liefkens tunnel (Toll = € 3,50) into Belgium and then head for Kortrijk.

Here we have a short brake to take in fuel and a cup of coffee. After about half an hour we set out again into the direction of Lille. Shortly after we have passed Lille we reach the entrance of the turn-pike road. From here we go to Paris, Tours and then Mansle. Having reached Mansle we leave the turn-pike road and take the more scenic route into the direction of Montbron. In total we pay for about Euro 40,00 toll in France.

Having left the freeway we now drive over one-lane roads, which curl through the landscape, following the contours of the hills and valleys, going up and down. At first it is kind of scary driving here, in particular when going upwards through the many hairpin bends. I get used to this new situation quite quickly though.

The motorists in France I have to say, or at least in Charente, are relaxed and polite drivers (with an exception to the rule), who clearly signal when they plan to overtake you. Which is more then I can say for my fellow countrymen. Let's leave it at that.

The road that we follow cuts through forests, circles around meadows and sloping hills covered with grapevines. Occasionally we have an impressive view for many miles around. Eventually we reach the city of Montbron. From here it is only about 10 minutes to the resort le-Chat.

Having arrived at le-Chat, we go to the information desk were we check in. We receive an information brochure about the park and pay the required guaranty (will be refunded two weeks after leaving) and cleaning charges for afterwards.

We then find our way to the small cottage, were we meet some friends of us who have been here the previous two weeks. They point out to us where we can go for shopping, snacks, restaurants etc.. In the evening we all go for diner to a restaurant close by called CHADORLI. The proprietor is Dutch and serves an excellent sate. By the way, if you wonder about the name (we did), it is a contraction of the first three letters of the three provinces that meet here - Charente, Dordogne and Limousin.