If you're off to France tomorrow

[daveuprite]

If you're off to France tomorrow/Sat/Sun be aware that it's the first of the big traffic weekends out here. Big cities like Paris virtually empty out all at one go and hundreds of thousands hit the roads on their way to the coast/countryside. Our local N-road (the RN147) becomes a river of white fibreglass as huge numbers of caravans and motorhomes drive south. Then there's usually a kind of 'cross-over' weekend in early August when the first lot return and the next lot leaves, followed by a grand return later in August.

It could be bad this year. SNCF are on partial strike this weekend so there will be fewer rail journeys and more car use. And the lower speed limit on many roads away from motorways might mean that more people stay on the Autoroutes and clog them up even further.

C'est la vie...

[chunky butt]

Just to add if your coming over to stay in the charente, best give a call first, as huge storm hit yesterday, 1000 homes have lost there roofs due to hail stones, the size of eggs, east of angouleme. 23mm rain, in one afternoon........blimey

[daveuprite]

We heard from friends in Chabanais today whose car has been smashed to bits (every window broken and every panel damaged), and who will have to replace hundreds of roof tiles. Some have pretty much lost the use of their house and car completely. Rock hard hail stones like cricket balls apparently. Feel really lucky to have got away with it, just 30/40 kms away - all we had was lots of lightening and a big downpour.

Are you OK over there, Stevey?

[chunky butt]

Yes thanks Dave, our Tom has put tarpaulins on eleven properties out that way now......and we're only 25km away...lucky. I was going to angouleme and have seen hail size of ping pong balls, thought my windscreen was going to bust

[PHILinFRANCE]

Bugger !! it was forcast here but never happend , got the very strong winds before the storm and as black as hell in the west , lost a few branches but didn't even rain
On the bright side Steve , you wont be short of work

Click on pic for vid

20180704_181333 by Philip Parkinson, on Flickr

[Andi_Archer]

I thought it was always good weather at Villa Phil

[chunky butt]

Havnt had a call as yet Phil....bit far for me......go on charente libre web site.....one of our friends car had all four windows smashed and looks like its been hit all over with a ball pain hammer .....written off

[Tramp]

Lol.... Our camper roof looks like a hammered effect brass plate, was caught out in autumn years ago.... And that aint windy phill... Normal summera day in uk.... The weather is mad this year...

Good old jet stream

[3BsBiking]

We lost our electricity for about 36 hours, Weds/Thurs in the Haute Vienne. Lots of trees down, taking out cables. Arnie’s digger has been in great demand to help clearing roads as it has a grab. Our nearest neighbour still don’t have their electricity back on and in some nearby villages they are being told it will be out for at least 5 days.