Spring Holiday 2025; Wednesday 26 March

La Riviere Saint Sauveur, Normandy, France

We had a lovely walk around Juigné-sur-Loire this morning, something that we hadn't done before, for some reason, although we had stayed there twice before. Actually, I do know - the first time, we had coffee with some friends, and last time the friend, now sadly widowed, came and had coffee with us before we headed on. However, there wasn't time to tell her we were coming this time, as we only decided last night, so there was time for a walk this morning.

It really was lovely - quite apart from the scenery, the birdsong was incredible! The Swan Whisperer and I even thought we heard a cuckoo, but we may have been mistaken. We definitely heard robin, blackbird, chiff-chaff, wren, great tit, blue tit, goldfinch, dunnock, coot and mute swan! Merlin also says we heard a short-toed tree creeper, but we aren't so sure about that! 

We then had a long, fairly dull drive across France to this aire at the foot of the Pont du Normandie. Tomorrow is our last full day, and we get back to Calais in the evening. 

For the Swan Whisperer, the highlight of the holiday have been the huge variety of flowers we have seen on the roadside - today was loads of primrose and cowslips, among others. I have loved watching the trees gradually green out, although here they are far less green than they have been further south. Spring is definitely here, even if winter is reluctant to let go! 

Spring Holiday 2025, Tuesday 25 March

Juigné-sur-Loire, Maine-et-Loire, France

Niort is a really lovely town, but seriously hilly! According to Strava, the elevation gain on our walk this morning was 38 metres! I was delighted not to have got too breathless, although I really didn't want another walk today!

We walked round the town, admiring the donjon, the market hall (a listed building, apparently), the big church, the barracks, and so on, but almost especially the narrow little streets at the top of the hill.

When we had had our walk, and the Swan Whisperer had had coffee, we drove on to the town of Échiré, where we had originally planned to spend last night. After a quick dash round a Super U, we actually went to the aire to see what it was like - very nice, actually, nearly as nice as the one in Niort - and had our lunch there before driving here to this wine merchants near Angers, where we have stayed twice before.

They have opened a shiny new shop since we were last here, and we bought a couple of bottles of wine and some apples! Last time we had had a massive wine tasting with another couple, but this time we just had half a glass of rosé each! Still a warm welcome, though, and we even have electricity! Showers and a loo are also provided, as is water, but there is nowhere to empty the grey or the black. However, we did that this morning before we left Niort, so it won't be an issue.