Awaycation Autumn 2023 - France

I saw last year on a forum that there is an overlay for Google Maps that shows where there are veterinary clinics across Europe that can handle the need for animals coming to the UK to have their paperwork stamped and also administer their worming tablet.

It has to be done between 120 hours and 24 hours before travel.  The grey area seems to be whether that 24 hours in before they get on the ferry or train to the UK, or before landing in the UK. No one seems to answer this question with any authority.

So we have always done it around 48 hours before travel. That means that I have been looking at Day 14 or the 16 day trip for a vet.  One that appears to be popular (and too popular if you read the reviews on Search4sites!), is the clinic at Buchy in Normandy - Clinique des Cateliers. I have the co-ords in the Ohrex satnav already.

It's on the east side of the Seine in Seine-Maritime. Department 76..  I emailed them as their online booking wasn't working properly,  I have booked us in at 5pm.  This gives us plenty of time to make our way to the area.

Many of the "regular" Moho travellers recommend staying in the free aire in Buchy itself. As I am expecting to stay in a few Camping-Car Park (CCP) aires  on the way across from the Ile de Ré. CCP aires in general have no loos or washing facilities other than in the van itself, I'd rather have a campsite.  I have found one in nearby Neufchatel en Bray - Camping Sainte-Claire! Reasonably priced and so I have reserved a pitch. It should work out at about €22 with electric hook-up.

So where to go when we leave the Ile de Ré?  It will be the morning of Day 9 and that will give us 5 overnights to look at before we have to be in Buchy.

We have talked about the Loire Valley. So many places and chateaux to see!

I read on a forum (!) that it is possible to stay in the parking area at the Chateau de Chambord. We have been in the car before, with Reggie, and walked around some of the grounds and I thought that this might make a nice stop. It will be off-grid though!  

There are CCP aires at Saumur, Bléré, Chenonceaux, Montrichard and Amboise and all of them on or near the River Loire. Some might get crossed off if there are fewer EHU's that pitches.  It avoids the rush to get on that pitch!  It's tantamount to rushing down in the morning to put your towels on the sunbeds...

I need to have the map books out to see where everything is and decide later.  Nothing to be booked!!