The weather is not improving so we’ve decided to make our way home earlier than planned. It’ll still take us a few days though. It’s absolutely tipping down again this morning so it’s wet work getting the van sorted to move on.

Our next stop is Chartres. Tony really wants to see the cathedral. We’ve found a free aire thirty minutes walking distance from it, so we’re stopping there for one night.

It’s an incredibly windy and sometimes rainy journey. Everytime we pass a truck going in the opposite direction it’s a huge whoosh and the van catches the wind. The first time was a bit scary but we got used to it. T is holding onto the steering wheel hard all the way.

We eventually land mid afternoon and the aire is about half full already. Lots of different size vans and some cars too. After eating we wander into Chartres.

We take the walking route on Google maps and within fifteen minutes are in the town. Wandering through the old town we pass the Vegetable Market which is now being used as a covered outdoor space for restaurants and bars.

The cathedral towers over a small square. It’s impossible to get far back enough to get a shot of it all. One end has two spires the smaller one plain but the taller one is richly decorated and spiky. Inside the roof soars above us and the stained glass windows are lovely especially the 13 century rose windows. The stone choir wall is unusual and ornate. We decide not to pay to climb the tower or visit the crypt.

Outside gale force winds are swirling around strong enough to push us along. After a quick visit to the tourist centre we find a bar to hide from the wind and spitting rain.

We walk back to the campsite through the old town and along the river. It’s still windy but not wet.

Back at the aire it’s now looking full. Electricity is of the 12v kind from our leisure battery so we watch a couple of DVD’s instead of Netflix. I choose Minority Report and we then watch Life or Something Like It, a very old Angelina Jolie and Edward Burns movie.

Wednesday 02:08:23