From Cinque Terre we started the long drive north. Initially we headed west along the Italian coast past Genoa – the road was amazing, alternating between tunnels and viaducts high over valleys that ran down to the sea. We crossed into France driving past Nice and stopped for one night at a campsite at Le Muy, close to Fréjus. The next day we set off north, around Lyon, and stopped at the municipal campsite in Auxerre. We had a shock on arrival as the road outside the campsite was full of police in riot gear! It turned out that the site was directly opposite the town’s football stadium and the local team were involved in a play-off against St Étienne for a place in the French equivalent of the Premier League (Auxerre eventually triumphed after a penalty shoot-out!). In the first picture the small building on the right with a red roof is the entrance to the campsite! We walked past the crowds into the town along the river – it seems well worth a future visit.

After a surprisingly quiet night we headed north again, stopping this time for a four night break at a site on the Seine between Paris and Rouen in the town of Les Andelys. It’s a very attractive town used as a stopping point for Seine river cruises. Looming over the town are the ruins of Château Gaillard, a castle built in the 12th century by Richard the Lionheart. It’s a steep climb but the view is worth it!