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Quote: Originally posted by Kelper on 18/6/2011

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Love the picture Intenter.

Though it just shows that you've scared everyone else off! What's your secret?

Or maybe it's just the sign at the bottom of the Lighting pole ... i.e. no fun in tents is tolerated here!!

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Quote: Originally posted by intenter on 18/6/2011

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Bread and milk YES . Croissants NO.
Not bothered cos I im'e not keen on Croissants , they don't taste nice with bacon on them.

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Quote: Originally posted by dickdasdedly on 18/6/2011This is quite along post to read through. We were in the Loire 3yrs ago near sumaur & Blois I think. We weren’t that impressed I must say. We expected plenty of French restaurants in the villages and towns but there didn’t seem to be that many about in our area & those that were closed early. There are some nice chateaus like the one at chenonceaux there was one quite near to us I can’t remember the name but the roof looked like chess pieces quite spectacular. The weather wasn’t that good either the middle weekend was hot but most of the last week was cold and damp just like being at home in Rotherham this was 1st week in aug. At the same time 100miles further in to France the weather reports was glorious. But that hasn’t put us off this year we are going to the ardeche and trying a different holiday with canoeing and pony trekking and anything else we come across. Fingers crossed we like the area better and I don’t drown trying to canoe.

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Richard W

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I too enjoy the suburbs of Sheffield () but I wouldn't want to camp here. The Loire Valley has its good bits and, generally, we've found the restaurants in the larger towns and cities to be amenable to our tastes. There are lots of things to see and do but I don't think we'd want to spend more than two/three days in any one place but, for history, art, architecture there's plenty to do in that time.

With regard to 'too old' for tenting (I'll get my state pension this year unless the Cleggeron steals it) - we eouldn't want to set up tent for less than three nights but it's well worth the effort for the mobility and the price savings ....

Quote: Originally posted by intenter on 18/6/2011
... Phew , it's not just me then

Interesting you come from The Rother VALLEY . Im'e just 1 junction up M1 at Birdwell. Rotherham has some superb spots round the canals for painting Narrow boats etc( I always distroy my works of art so no one can buy them ! ) OK , you have to seek those places out.
Clifton park can also entertain anyone and the young ones for a day and more. Not long ago we dropped on a Brass band concert in the park with several bands playing over about 4 hours. Grandkids had a super time on all of the rides and also enjoyed playing with the water stream through the sand building dams. Fantastic. Ended the day in The Red Pepper Lounge and had a wonderful meal with superb service. Im'e also a frequent visitor to Pak, Asian supermarket. Theres fresh stuff from all around the world.

I hope you have a great time in The Ardeche, please let us know how you got on when you come back.

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Not wanting to hijack this thread, but I'd agree with Kelper about water levels.  We've just come back from the Ardeche area - and have been many times before.  The Ardeche is the lowest I've seen it in over thirty years!  We were alongside the Ceze, just a little south, and the river there was low.  We have our own canoe, and we'd intended to canoe the Ceze, but in the end we just pottered about up and down river for a few kilometres in either direction, from the campsite. 

Our neighbours from the next pitch tried the canoe trip from St Ambroix and found that for more than half the distance they were doing 'portage' (ie carrying the canoe)!  This is possible on the Ceze because the banks in most places aren't in a steep gorge, but it could be very different in some of the narrower places in the Ardeche Gorge where you'd have to carry the canoe whilst actually still in the river.  Make sure you have slip-proof soles on your shoes!

The problem is that with low river levels the obstacles look more obvious, but there are more of them and accidents seem to happen more in lower river levels than when there is more water.  That's purely an observation, from watching canoeists at the rapids at Charlemagne, just up from the Pont d'Arc, in various water levels and conditions.

Have a great trip - the Ardeche is lovely, and in villages such as Ruoms, Vallon, Salavas, Barjac, and many others, you'll find lovely village restaurants.  One of the cheaper ones in Vallon - the Pont d'Interrogation, does great food including some regional specialities such as Caillettes (like a mini-haggis).  Also opposite is La Rocaille which does a very cheap and cheerful and more limited menu including one of five courses for 10.00 euros.  These course are (1) a dressed salad, bread, (2) terrine, cold meats, (3) an omelette, then (4) steak/frites or alternative choices, and (5) ice cream or creme caramel.  Their pizzas are also very good - thin and crisp with just the right amount of toppings!   Yummmmmmmmmmm!  Can't wait until August when we might be back!