A very poor picture taken of Monsieur Thickasshit through a very dirty windscreen

Never before have we seen a dog toilet.

TUESDAY 3-6-26

It was a nice peaceful night on the Aire in Sisteron (there are others but this is the best). Well until about 05:00 when the odd train came through and being so close to the railway lies it sounded as if they were coming right through the vehicle.

We decided to forgo a shower this morning because although there is a dump station here we have to pay extra for it, and having paid seven Euros to park for twenty-four hours I didn't feel like paying them any more money. Having said that if we'd have needed to use it then of course we would have paid.

Because of the wet weather yesterday and our deciding not to go out for a wander it was an outstanding task after breakfast, although I must confess, we didn't hurry. The reason being we were only a couple of hours or so from Grenoble where we were to spend the night on a rather busy and noisy supermarket car park. We've used it once before and although it's convenient it wasn't a good experience.

It didn't take too long to walk around Sisteron. The Old Town looked very historical with a labyrinth of narrow side streets.  The most exciting thing happening in town was the arrival of the funfair which arrived overnight and was being set up in various places in the town depending on the available space.

After buying a baguette we made our way back for lunch. Whilst sat there we got to witness the latest antics of France's most stupid driver, Monsieur Thickasshit. This man arrived in his glorified minibus, I don't know what you call them, and proceeded to park it in just about the last space in the car park. He was parked between two good-sized saloon cars, so there wasn't very much space between them. Then amazingly the side sliding door came open and he then began the task of getting a full-sized bike out of the door. We sat in disbelief as he struggled so as not to scratch any paintwork especially on the car next to him whilst doing so. Honestly, all he had to do was reverse out of his parking space a few feet and he could have got the bike out no problem.

After lunch we hit the road. Our parking space was being eagerly awaited by a Dutch couple who wanted it because the reckoned it would be more shielded from the sun. I didn't quite get it, but that didn't matter to us, once we'd vacated it anybody could have had it.

We didn't have far to go to begin with, just to the Hyper U supermarket out of town. It used to be a really good shop but we weren't too impressed on this occasion, but at least it had everything we needed on the shopping list. Then it was a top up of the fuel tank and away, heading towards Grenoble.

The journey is delightful, if a trifle taxing given the number of twists and turns, and if you're not coping with them it's the villages with their speed humps, traffic lights and narrow throughroads.

We had a bit of luck soon after setting off as we went through a village which displayed a sign for a motorhome dump station, so we were soon in there, in fact it was part of an Aire, nicely tucked away. After using the dump station we took comfort in knowing we had enough of everything onboard to see us through the next few days if needs be.

Whilst travelling along enjoying the views we discussed our options and in the end decided to find a picnic area before Grenoble and spend the night there before setting off again tomorrow for a few hours driving before reaching our next destination. So here we are (N44.78828° E5.63836°), not so very far past one of our favourite views, in fact when we first saw it we vowed to return and go down in to the village of Lalley and spend a couple of days at the campsite.

We've managed to bag a spot under the trees and out of the sun which is rather nice. Behind the vehicle is a view of the mountains. Evenings like this are what it's all about.

MONDAY 2-6-25

By the end of yesterday we had found ourselves sharing the campsite with too many Italian campers. It's the beginning of June and the start of the campsite's busy period and as Italy is only a short drive away I suppose they like to come to France and enjoy the cuisine here, like snails, frogs legs, pizza and McDonalds. We were glad to be going.

This morning was the day of rebellion. For two weeks now we've been obeying the rule about taking shoes off before entering the shower area, though for The Chef and I they were replaced by flip-flops carried under the arm. But today We walked up to the shower block and then straight in. My thunder was stolen as I had the whole section to myself and Reception who were within view hadn't yet opened.

After scrubbing up we set about preparing the vehicle for the road before popping down the road for some shopping. Whilst there, I took a look at the filling station. In the past the forecourt has been designed with lots of tight bends and narrowing deliberately making it difficult for larger vehicles such as motorhomes from using it. But thankfully all had changed and it was now possible for us to use it.

Once back at the campsite with our booty we finalised our leaving and away we went. Our extraction from the pitch was made easier because Harry & Meghan had left earlier which meant I could use some of their pitch to manoeuvre the vehicle. Then it was down to the supermarket filling station for a top-up before heading north.

There were two options. Firstly use the toll roads going via Aix-en-Provence to get to Sisteron, and the second was to do it the hard way (our speciality). This involved climbing through the mountains on the  6085 road through Grasse, Castellane and Digne-les-Bains. On reflection the toll road route would have been far, far easier, but where's the fun in that? we've made this crazy trip before. It does offer amazing views but it is very hard work and the driver is continually up and down the gearbox and concentrating on navigating the nasty hairpin bends, or switchbacks, which are negotiated whilst also climbing steeply. I have to say, the vehicle was faultless. Sadly there are no pictures from the journey as The Chef isn't a fan of heights and I didn't want to give her the responsibility of taking the pictures looking downwards.

We reached today's objective which is the Aire at Sisteron (N44.191344 E5.945802). Unfortunately as we left the Cote d' Azur in lovely warm sunshine and blue skies, so we have arrived to rain showers and thunder.

So now we're holed up at the Aire for the afternoon. Tomorrow is forecast sunshine and so we'll have a look around the town before visiting the Hyper U Supermarket before continuing north.

When researching and planning each trip I used to try and find out a little about the places we visit, mainly thanks to Wikipedia, but because I hadn't planned on continuing the blog on this trip, rather to let it expire in May, I find myself wanting. So as I found myself twiddling my thumbs this afternoon I've compiles a bit about Sisteron.

Sisteron is situated on the banks of the river Durance. It is sometimes called the "Gateway to Provence" because it is in a narrow gap between two long mountain ridges. Despite its relatively small population, it serves as a long-distance navigation reference point, routinely signed as far away as Grenoble.

Sisteron has been inhabited for 4,000 years. The Romans used the route through Sisteron as can be shown by a Latin inscription in the rocks near the road to Authon. It escaped the barbarian invasions after the fall of Rome, but was ravaged by the Saracens. It was first fortified by the Counts of Forcalquier in the 11th century and later was the northern boundary of the domain of the Counts of Provence. In 1483 during the reign of Louis XI, Sisteron re-joined the kingdom of France. Around this time there were seven plagues that killed two thirds of the population. Between 1562 and 1594 the town and its citadel was fought over by Protestants and Catholics including two sieges. During this time the walls of the town were built. The plague returned in 1630, and typhus in 1744, killing many of the town's population.

During the French Revolution the town remained Royalist. Consequently, when Napoleon arrived on his march north after his escape from Elba in 1815, the town ignored him and let him through.

On 15 August 1944 French B-26 Marauder bombers and American B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 42nd Bomber Wing tried to destroy the railway bridge and the road bridge which span the Durance. The weather was unfavourable and the bridges were not destroyed. A bomber during a manoeuvre to avoid a collision accidentally dropped several bombs on the town, including a full church, causing about 100 fatalities and seriously damaging the citadel. On 17 August the French aircraft returned and destroyed the bridge.

The Aire is getting pretty busy now, as tired campers arrive to rest their heads for the night. Pays to get here early Matey's, pays to get here early.