Ardennes to Vosges

Han sur Lesse to Luxeuil les Bains - 218 miles

Thursday saw a bright sunny and warm day so we took our time getting going again. More motorways today, still quite busy but no holdups although we spotted a tremendous queue going the other way due to what looked like a breakdown.

From Belgium we crossed into Luxembourg but we were taking the shortest distance across this diminutive country, which we've explored before, and it took us less than an hour. But not without stopping for some nice cheap fuel although we didn't actually need to – but half a tank full at less than 95p per litre was worth having. Once we'd crossed back into France we checked the prices (albeit at motorway service stations which tend to be expensive) and realised we'd saved €20 just on what we'd bought.

Lunch near Nancy on a rest area and it was now very warm indeed, so much so that when we set off again we needed the aircon. Checking the diary later we are almost exactly one month earlier than last year but it is 5-10 degrees warmer! It's taking a bit of getting used to!

We were now entering the Vosges, a hilly wooded area and our route took us along the Moselle river for quite a way. We haven't been to this area before and it looked quite attractive so we'll keep it in mind for the future.

Planned stop was working out just fine but we were only 10 minutes away when Jamie started whimpering – he's usually very good so there was obviously something he was trying to tell us. A quick stop in a layby and he made a dash for the grass – needed a poo!

Luxeuil-les-Bains is a quite ordinary small town and like many has an Aire de Camping Cars, this one really just a car-park on levelled gravel but with plenty of room and basic facilities. But best of all it's free! However we'll contribute to the community tomorrow with some shopping at Lidl. Meanwhile it was awning out (not supposed to but most of the other dozen vans already pitched were doing so) chairs out and, despite a temperature we estimated at 30 deg, a cup of tea was most welcome.

As I write at 9.15 pm it's now dark but we've still got all the windows and vents open!

We stayed at:

Aire de Camping Cars, Rue Gambetta, N47deg49.012' E06deg23.183' - Free, basic facilities. Water by token.