Eppingen, Germany – Bitche, France

The drive to France was easy enough, but getting to Bitche was a tad difficult due to a diversion which was signed in rather an ad hoc manner. If that wasn’t bad enough, when we eventually found our way onto Route de Bitche, we got behind a doddery old campervanner, with no chance of getting past for the last 9 miles of our journey. If that wasn’t bad enough, we followed him to the aire, where he took the last place!  We parked up on the rough ground next to it and had lunch, whilst at the same time trying not to look like a couple of vultures waiting for their prey to die, or in this particular instance, waiting for one of the other 4 ‘vanners to leave. Just as we poured our after lunch coffee, Rachel shouts “One’s going”! A quick swivel round in the driver’s seat, and with some rather rapid, yet impressively smooth driving, we managed to bag our much treasured prime overnight location without spilling so much as a microlitre of coffee.

We are parked in the shadow of The Citadel, as far as citadels go this is big, it was 1 mile to walk around it, and if that isn’t impressive enough then you will recall that during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871 (9 months and 3 weeks, call that a war? It’s a skirmish, which the Germans won again on penalties) Louis-Casimir Teyssier, its commander and chief, held the place for 8 months with 3,000 men against 20,000 Prussian and Bavarian soldiers. We’re not surprised, the place looks impregnable. 

Eppingen

Bitche

Harry in prime spot with 2 happy campers

Pre afternoon thunderstorm

Obviously not!

A roundabout with a difference!