Since Phil and Kathy were heading back to Roanne today, we had time to sit and relax. So I did various odd jobs around the campervan but still had time to sit and watch the local birdlife again. Around midday, after a few hours work on her thesis, Rita jumped on her bike and headed for Lac Camboux, just up the mountain a little way, to go for a swim. She returned around 1500h just before the weather turned, and a thunderstorm arrived, bringing much needed rain for the local area. We took shelter in the van and waited for it to pass.

Around 1800h, the rain stopped and so we ventured out of the campground and crossed the little river, Gardon d'Alès, to go for a walk around the local town.

While we were walking around, we spied a little restaurant, which had a large outside terrace area. There was no one sitting there, after the thunderstorm, but we asked if they were open for dinner. They said they were, and started drying and cleaning a table and chairs for us, under the awning just in case it started raining again. Rita had a chat with the waiter, who had recently moved to the area to start running a small farm just outside of town. After he took our order, we noticed other regular patrons start to arrive, and by the time our food arrived, about a dozen people were sitting at various tables. It was a very informal and casual dinner, after which we wandered back to the van.