Calais
Sunday evening, 30/6

It's our last night in France (for this trip, but we'll be back!). 

We've had two days just sitting and driving (and for some hours, just sitting, because of the terrible traffic jams we encountered approaching and in Lyons!).

We kept on extending our stay at L'Isle sur la Sorgue (LISLS); having originally checked in for two nights, we ended up staying six (and aren't we lucky to have that flexibility).  During that time we revisited some old favourites (Fontaine de Vaucluse, Apt, Saignon) and found some new ones (Roussillon, Lacoste, Menerbes, Gordes*, St Saturnin). 

[* Unfortunately we had only a brief and cursory look at Gordes; parking issues meant we didn't get to walk around in it]

We had quite a few 'plats du jour' or 'menus du jour', sipped local wine or cidre in some great places, cycled, walked and drove along narrow roads through ancient villages.   Rob needed to replace some boots that wore through and luckily found the ONLY pair of size 48s in all of the shoe or sports stores in LISLS and Apt.  We made new friends and have added to our French.

With all of this, we have fallen in love with the Luberon area!  It was such a wrench, yesterday, to leave those warm sunny days for the clouds and occasional rain we came through as we crossed France diagonally.

We used French toll roads for the first time this trip and are still reeling.  They are so expensive, especially as our van is so high.  We spent 120.60 Euros (about 172 AUD) on tolls, more than we spent on fuel, to come from Provence to Calais.  And at one point there was a vast toll-collection area, with many staffed as well as automated toll booths.  We asked why we were exiting the toll system, as we were continuing on toward Calais and the answer was that there were three kilometers (yes, that's right) of 'free' road before the next toll section began.  What a huge infrastructure establishment, (and inconvenience) for 3000 metres of freebie!

And speaking of the Autoroute system, see if you can answer this without any knowledge of the French highway system....  
           What highway took us to Reims?   (Hint: Say the question aloud)  Answer below.

Tomorrow we're  booked on the 11:35 ferry to Dover and the next phase of our trip.

And here's one view of colourful Roussillon, a place we really loved.

Cheers,

Judy and Rob

Answer to highway question:  The A4 of course.