When you say that you agree to a thing in principle, you mean that you have
not the slightest intention of carrying it out. -Otto von Bismarck
We were both up just after 8:00 am and when I'd made Her Ladyship her tea and a Café Turk for myself I took a very, very full bag of wine bottles, [not all ours, Dear Reader], to the recycling station outside Migros. Only a few drops so I didn't even unfurl my brolly. Back home to do last of my packing as things I'd washed the night before had dried nicely. Had a quick shower and as soon as I was out Lady Dar added the eggs to the remaining vegetables we had in the fridge, [leek, red pepper], and garlic I'd diced before showering, and we sat down to a hearty breakfast. Knew we'd have a reasonably long day ahead, although, at that point, we didn't realize just how long, Dear Reader!
Shortly after 10:00 am we descended, carefully, the 68 steps to leave the key to the apartment in Fiona's letterbox and walked across the street to catch the Number 11 bus to the station. Only had to wait a few minutes and it whisked us to the Bahnhof and we were in such good time that we were able to catch the 11:00 am departure for Geneva. Originally, we thought we would catch the one at noon but decided we might as well wait in Geneva. Train ride was pleasant enough although I was quite surprised that there was no WiFi. Had my book so I was fine and countryside was interesting, particularly as we approached Lausanne with its hillsides covered in vineyards.
Bit of a milk-train with stops every twenty minutes or so and when we came to Grenoble we thought we were home free. Had the carriage all to ourselves as everyone else disembarked. Not thinking much about it we waited for train to start up again. When a conductor came aboard we found out why the exodus!
Had missed the announcement, in French, but due to a strike we had to take a bus to Valence TGV! Couldn't believe that I had run into the same lsort of abour action that had plagued me a year ago. Anyway, we collected our baggage and made our way to the bus depot, at the far end of the train station. Not all that far away so we didn't have to lug our things a great distance.
We had been led to believe, from the conductor, that a representative of the SNCF would be at the departure gate to sort things out. This was not the case so all of us, en route to Valence, were left wondering when we would be collected. Each time a bus drove into the compound people would rush to see if it was the shuttle but either it was a local bus or going to another city. Finally one arrived that had a sign for Valance TGV but it was not to depart until 21:55, [10:00 pm!] By this time it was close to 9:00 pm and we should have been collected by Rosemary and Andre already! We assumed that they would find out about the delay but as we didn't have a phone we couldn't contact them. If we weren't spirited away, at some point, I would have found WiFi, probably in the station, and contacted them about the situation.
While we were waiting I struck up a conversation with a mother and her son, waiting for a bus to London. They had come from Marseilles that morning and they still had a nineteen hour trip ahead! Anyway, we enjoyed chatting and when their bus arrived they thought they could board but had to wait almost another hour until the driver had had his break, I assume! While still waiting another bus arrived and it was also bound for Valence TGV. A young mother, with her two-year old son, spoke some English and she asked this driver when he was leaving and relayed this to us. He said he was off in 10 minutes but we had to bring our bags on board instead of stowing them in the luggage compartments. According to the sign on the other bus it wasn't leaving for another forty minute so we opted to take this vehicle and hauled our bags into the bus, piling them on the seats beside us as the seats were so close to each other that there was hardly room for one's knees, let along bags of any size!
Anyway, we were pleased that we would be underway shortly when the other bus pulled out, a full ten minutes before we did. At one point I thought we would be stuck in Grenoble for the night as our driver couldn't get the bus to start! I imagine that he had been called out, on short notice, and perhaps was not familiar with this particular vehicle and its starting sequence. Anyway, he finally managed to engage the engine and we were off. Again, we understood that the trip would take about ninety minutes so I estimated we would arrive in Valence TGV at around 11:30 pm. Hoped our "chauffeurs" would have learned about the shuttle and planned accordingly. At any rate, both of us dozed for a goodly part of the trip and I woke up when we were 40 km from Valence. Now I was reasonably sure we would be there shortly after 11:00 pm, so hoped R/A had figured this out.
However, Fate had other plans as we first drove into Romans, about 22 km from Valence, to drop off one passenger! Of course this took over thirty minutes as the huge bus had to negotiate tiny streets, etc. Back on the auto-route we made for Valance and I was still optimistic until we made for the railway station, in Valence itself, not the TGV station which is outside the city! To make matters worse, the driver didn't really know how to get to the station and most of the other passengers were yelling out directions as we went around one round-about three or four times! Another long, slow ride through the city streets, a ride I knew well when we took much the same route in 2010 to the same station where we had to drop off our rental car. At the time I didn't realize that the return was in the parkade below the station and although I dropped Mme Coriandre, [It was not until 2015 when we traveled to India that she became Lady Darjeeling, Dear Reader!], there, with all our bags, I had to park on the street, a fair way away, to come back to the station to find out where the office was, not realizing that the drop-off point for rental vehicles was almost right next to where I let Cora Lee out!
By the time I returned to car and dealt with paper work we had about 45 minutes to wait so I thought all was well until Mme informed me we'd come to the wrong station and had just missed the shuttle bus to the TGV station! Hailed a cab and told driver I'd give him a €20 tip if we made it in time to catch our train. He zipped along and we were at the proper station with 15 minutes to spare. Found our platform and took the elevator down three levels to wait for the bullet. A few minutes later an announcement informed passengers that the train was delayed and would now be arriving on a platform two floors above! No need, as it turned out, to have tipped the cabbie!
At any rate, I recognized the streets close to the station and knew we'd be at least another half an hour before we were out of Le Centre de Ville and back on the highway making towards the TGV. Dropped off mother and child and one other passenger who told the driver how to get to the TGV. Even so, he missed the turn-off at one of the round-abouts and we had to circle back for the right exit. Finally out of the city and back over ground we had already traversed.
Why he had not dropped people off at the TGV, earlier, when we passed the exit, coming from Romans, we'll never know but ordeal was not over even when we were parked in front of the TGV. No sign of either Andre or Rosemary so I went inside to see what I could see. Station was empty, and ready to close, except for two SNCF employees and three railway security polizei.
[TheRE appears to be a problem with the trains. We are now heading back home. Here is our local cellphone number. Country code 0033 and drop the zero. We will return to the train station at 21.30 to meet a bus scheduled from Grenoble to Valence TGV. Rosemary XXX Dear Corinne and Patrick, We are back home again having waited for the special bus from Grenoble put on because of the train strike but you were not on it. I will keep my email open and our local phone close by - we will await news of your plans. Looking forward to seeing you, hopefully tomorrow. Rosemary XXX]
One of the policemen was very helpful and offered me the use of his phone to call Chabeuill. I had to look up Rosemary's number in my email address book so quickly signed on to the free WiFi in the station and as soon as I had her number, he dialed number for me. Andre answered on the second or third ring and we told him we'd be waiting just outside the entrance to the TGV. He said they'd be about fifteen minutes and the friendly gendarme said that was fine. He even escorted Lady Darjeeling to the biffy as toilettes were already locked. I watched the drama, around a chap in a wheelchair. Not sure what his story was but Andre had noticed him on their second run to the station. He was still there, talking to the ambulance attendants who had been called, for the second time, again, according to what Andre had observed.
I was worried that the gate to the car park would be closed so I walked out to the street level to see if I could meet our gracious hosts but could see no sign of them so I walked back towards the station and observed them accompanying Lady Dar down the ramp to their car. They came through the entrance to the car park further along and I was at the far exit. Anyway, relieved that we had been rescued we climbed into the car and relayed the events of the past few hours from our individual perspectives, on the drive back.
Home to Chabeuill and inside by 12:30 am and Andre presented us with his home-made quiche and a green salad, all the vegetables from his garden. Lady Dar couldn't eat the quiche so he warmed up his own pumpkin soup and a couple of bottles of wine later and some catching up we were all ready for bed. It was 2:30 am and it had truly been a long day for us and a worrisome evening for them so everyone was happy to hit the hay. Thanking them both, again, for collecting us and for the delicious late meal we said goodnight and went downstairs to our comfortable gite on the ground level and were soon in bed and fast asleep.
I don't mind a dead bird but this last one was flying around your house. I was afraid he would break something.We were able to rescue it, calm it down and aet it free. Now I know why there were feathers everywhere last week. Duke is being very rubbing towards me today. I think he knows I was upset with him. Lots of cuddling wanted.
Fall is definitely here and frost is on the pumpkin for sure. Picked the last of the tomatoes and am enjoying coffee by the fire. Kira had a sleep over here with me last night. Hope your last week is as wonderful as the rest of your holidays. I loved France. Take care and travel safely. Judi
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