France 4th and 5th - Drive across to the Alps

We left our campsite in Val-de Vesle the next morning and went back through to the main roads, passing this rather pretty canal basin on the way. 

That was to be the last of the photography for the day. We drove south and east, finally hitting the Jura in the afternoon. It was getting preternaturally dark and starting to snow. As we crossed the heights of the Jura the roads became exceedingly icy, the snow came down, and there were few other cars about. It was not a nice experience in the camper van which has very small wheels for the size of the thing. But, hats off to Alan, we made it to the other side in one piece.

We drove through Geneva, and then it was time to find somewhere to stay for the night. We called at a couple of campsites but they were closed for the winter. We could not find even a pull in at the side of the road, so when we got to Bonneville, getting higher again with mountains rising up into the gloom, we were desperate. My guide said that the Camping Municipal was open all year so we duly presented ourselves there, only to find it had become the overwintering spot for numerous traveller families. Needs must, however and so we braved the entrance and found the last remaining spot. Someone came out from one of the very large caravans and demanded money to stay. I said that we would pay at the accueil and duly walked over there to find, not surprisingly that it was closed. Presumable the staff had fled. I was followed there, and back and so I told the man we would pay in the morning when the office opened and went into the van and shut the door. I did not emerge again until morning but Alan went out and one of the travellers helped him connect to the electricity, which had been majorly hacked in to and get water. Alan also visited the toilet block and reported back that pipes and wires had been run in to service the trailers of washing machines and driers that accompanied the travellers.

The night passed without incidence and we left the next morning, at least getting a free night's accommodation for our troubles! Getting towards Annecy the road went through some pretty wooded slopes and we passed a castle on the left.

We arrived in Montchavin around lunchtime and unloaded into our apartment . This was next door to our friends Derek and Steffs' house, at the top of a steep road leading up the mountain. We need not have worried about the snow as there was very little here. We unpacked our things, had lunch and were then ready for an excursion.