Disasters in Dijon

MIREBEAU SUR BEZE.

Awaken at 6:30 am by the noise of the stallholders setting up their stalls. However, the policeman’s advise was spot on. Took advantage of the market to buy fresh fruit. Purchased provisions for lunch and diesel and set off for Dijon.

From then on things went downhill, fast. We arrived in Dijon at 12:30to find that the garage is closed for lunch between 12 & 2. We idle away an hour in the local LeClerc supermarket. Back at the garage, Rosie explained out leak but THREE mechanics later we suspect that the water heater has broken. Not only a big job but the mechanics are fully occupied until after Easter, and that includes their partners in the south.

The gas bottle had emptied in Vendreuvre so we needed to change it. However, a large wrench is required to open the connecting pipe. Our third mechanic has one and sells us a European pipe so that we can buy gas from a petrol station. He also tells us of a nice campsite by a lakeside.

The first petrol station that we try doesn’t sell the correct bottle. The second one lends us an empty bottle to check the connection.

We find the campsite with difficulty but naturally it is closed until after Easter.

Next, we try an Aire in a small village called Mirebeau sur Beze. Empty but electricity allegedly available for euro 3. Doesn’t work! Struggle to connect the new gas bottle so disconnect the new pipe and try Dave’s bottle. Can’t make the seal so it leaks. Return to new bottle and realise I’m screwing the wrong way. All in temperatures of minus 1. Finally we have heat & cooking.

Never mind, there’s a sports centre nearby, we’ll get a swim and a shower tomorrow. We walk to check out the opening times and learn that it is summer!

Finally, the lighter fails so we can’t light the gas hob. Nowhere seems to be open in the village. A mobile pizza seller can’t help us. Eventually, Rosie cadges a lighter from a kebab-shop assistant.