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Off the Autoroute: A Personal French Travel Memoir
Introduction to Le Tour
Once more I want to inspire you to travel – to France. I have been delighted at the lovely responses I have received to my books and have enjoyed supplying more precise suggestions to some of you personally. This book ties together our journeys in France as a cohesive tour de France.
Most of this book comprises of fresh writing but to make the tour flow I have included relevant excerpts from my four book French Travel Series. If you are unfamiliar with those books, I hope you will go on to enjoy the full story of our experiences in French regions such as Provence, Languedoc, of course Paris, and our wine touring amongst the French vineyards throughout the country. Paris I do not include in this book as I have treated that marvellous city as needing a book of its own.
If you are familiar with my French travel book series, you will be aware that I began to travel abroad somewhat later in life than most of my contemporaries. My initial forays abroad were to the south of France by coach, staying at an exceptionally fine coastal campsite near Perpignan. It would be about five years later before I had the courage to strike out under my own steam. For that first excursion into the unknown, we chose Normandy. I imply that I accomplished this extraordinary feat of making my own way to France all by myself but that is not strictly true. I had help. I used the expertise of a travel firm that specialized in hotel and travel arrangements for Normandy. They very efficiently did most of the planning for me. It would be another couple of years before I started to be more adventurous and ambitious in my travels, able to do all the planning work myself. This is something that I have really enjoyed over the years. Initially, I still wanted someone to hold my hand. All I had to do on this first trip was to get some French francs and drive the car in the right direction at the appropriate time, which was easier said than done.
This book is a compilation of stories and memories from our twenty-five years of touring France. I take you on a more or less clockwise tour of the country and it is a trip that can be reproduced over a two-week period – or just be an inspiration to savour one or two areas for a couple of weeks. Provence for instance repays a longer stay. In fact it is difficult to take your leave after a couple of weeks. It is by no means an exhaustive tour and I have areas I still wish to explore for the first time or to return to discover much more.
It is a country and people that have never disappointed, and we begin our tour in Normandy, just driving off the Cherbourg ferry.
Once more I want to inspire you to travel – to France. I have been delighted at the lovely responses I have received to my books and have enjoyed supplying more precise suggestions to some of you personally. This book ties together our journeys in France as a cohesive tour de France.
Most of this book comprises of fresh writing but to make the tour flow I have included relevant excerpts from my four book French Travel Series. If you are unfamiliar with those books, I hope you will go on to enjoy the full story of our experiences in French regions such as Provence, Languedoc, of course Paris, and our wine touring amongst the French vineyards throughout the country. Paris I do not include in this book as I have treated that marvellous city as needing a book of its own.
If you are familiar with my French travel book series, you will be aware that I began to travel abroad somewhat later in life than most of my contemporaries. My initial forays abroad were to the south of France by coach, staying at an exceptionally fine coastal campsite near Perpignan. It would be about five years later before I had the courage to strike out under my own steam. For that first excursion into the unknown, we chose Normandy. I imply that I accomplished this extraordinary feat of making my own way to France all by myself but that is not strictly true. I had help. I used the expertise of a travel firm that specialized in hotel and travel arrangements for Normandy. They very efficiently did most of the planning for me. It would be another couple of years before I started to be more adventurous and ambitious in my travels, able to do all the planning work myself. This is something that I have really enjoyed over the years. Initially, I still wanted someone to hold my hand. All I had to do on this first trip was to get some French francs and drive the car in the right direction at the appropriate time, which was easier said than done.
This book is a compilation of stories and memories from our twenty-five years of touring France. I take you on a more or less clockwise tour of the country and it is a trip that can be reproduced over a two-week period – or just be an inspiration to savour one or two areas for a couple of weeks. Provence for instance repays a longer stay. In fact it is difficult to take your leave after a couple of weeks. It is by no means an exhaustive tour and I have areas I still wish to explore for the first time or to return to discover much more.
It is a country and people that have never disappointed, and we begin our tour in Normandy, just driving off the Cherbourg ferry.
247 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 8, 2022
12 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Neal Atherton
10 books15 followersI am a travel writer specializing in France particularly Provence, Burgundy, Catalonia and Paris with a special interest in Wine touring. I have recently moved to Somerset and can spend more time writing, something I have always wanted to concentrate on as granddaughter time allows. Apart from travels to France I have a love for the English game of cricket and played that for many years, cooking and sourcing produce and music particularly what you might call transatlantic folk/rock.
I have four books in a series already published on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.
The first deals with our initial and it has to be said reluctant start to our French love affair back in 1997 and the second our affectionate tales of our joyous (mainly) times in Provence. The next book is about Paris and our numerous visits there with family and friends and also as a couple. My fourth book is about our tours of French vineyards and wine regions. I hope that will inspire you to visit and taste, enjoying the fruits of your travels back home.
I have also completed a book on Family history from a military perspective which has an extraordinary twist and a great Who Do You Think You Are.
My website is www.nealatherton.com and appreciate any comments via that site
Thank you for your interest and a very warm welcome as a reader
Neal
I have four books in a series already published on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.
The first deals with our initial and it has to be said reluctant start to our French love affair back in 1997 and the second our affectionate tales of our joyous (mainly) times in Provence. The next book is about Paris and our numerous visits there with family and friends and also as a couple. My fourth book is about our tours of French vineyards and wine regions. I hope that will inspire you to visit and taste, enjoying the fruits of your travels back home.
I have also completed a book on Family history from a military perspective which has an extraordinary twist and a great Who Do You Think You Are.
My website is www.nealatherton.com and appreciate any comments via that site
Thank you for your interest and a very warm welcome as a reader
Neal
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 12, 2022
A varied and absorbing tour of France. Combines places, people, food and wine with a background of history to the memoir. Off the Autoroute is well written and edited nicely for Kindle - an easy and enjoyable summer read. His aim is to draw you into wanting to visit France and it certainly achieved that with me. I particularly enjoyed the amount of space he devoted to Normandy, Brittany and Burgundy which are regions that are not overly written about compared to Paris and Provence. One to reread and especially before a visit to France.
July 23, 2022
Another wonderful tour of France with Neal. Taking in many different regions of France: and as usual with Neal, plenty of delicious food and a few glasses of wine along the way. I love the historical facts, as well as the descriptions of the places visited, and Neal's personal recommendations for places to visit and what to eat and drink when you're there. I revisited some of my favorite places; Giverny, Beaune, Carcassonne and Collioure among them. And the moving American War Cemetry in Normandy. I also discovered some gems, which I'd love to visit if I ever get back to France. But best of all is Neal's prose. Never pretentious, always real and down to earth. Thanks for a fabulous tour, Neal. I'd definitely choose you as my tour guide.
August 21, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this meandering journey through the various regions of France with Neal Atherton. His love of the country, it's food and wine and of the people shine through his writing. It was good to revisit some of the places we have been to ourselves - thanks for bringing back happy memories of Perpignon, Canet Plage and Collioure one of our first holidays in France. I loved the historical information and the wonderful descriptions of less well known villages and routes. Together with his delightful take on a whole range of delicious lunches and dinners and of course the accompanying wines make this book a mouth watering read. If I ever get back to France I shall take this book with me.
July 26, 2022
Enjoyable read. It was a stroll down memory lane for me as I had visited all areas and many of the
Places mentioned I’d eaten at or even stayed in coincidently.
Four stars instead of five is simply because having read all of Neal’s previous books I found the filling in of places and circumstances previously written about and repeated in this book a little disappointing.
For folk less travelled in France this will be a useful guide for interesting places to lay your head, enjoy your supper or stock your cellar.
Neal writes a flowing, uncomplicated tale holding the reader’s attention as he never dwells too long on any one place or occasion.
Having been intrigued by his experience motoring up Mt Ventoux, it brought back memories I recalled the lower slopes are pine covered but the summit is windswept and barren limestone,
I had to google to see what may have caused his strange phenomenon.It appears that when some vehicles reach a certain altitude they loose power, whether this is just diesel vehicles, which Neal’s was, it did not say....but losing altitude the car regains it’s power. Just in case this happens to anyone else.
I note Neal sports a hat in his Author photo...bravo
Places mentioned I’d eaten at or even stayed in coincidently.
Four stars instead of five is simply because having read all of Neal’s previous books I found the filling in of places and circumstances previously written about and repeated in this book a little disappointing.
For folk less travelled in France this will be a useful guide for interesting places to lay your head, enjoy your supper or stock your cellar.
Neal writes a flowing, uncomplicated tale holding the reader’s attention as he never dwells too long on any one place or occasion.
Having been intrigued by his experience motoring up Mt Ventoux, it brought back memories I recalled the lower slopes are pine covered but the summit is windswept and barren limestone,
I had to google to see what may have caused his strange phenomenon.It appears that when some vehicles reach a certain altitude they loose power, whether this is just diesel vehicles, which Neal’s was, it did not say....but losing altitude the car regains it’s power. Just in case this happens to anyone else.
I note Neal sports a hat in his Author photo...bravo
August 16, 2022
A Gentle Journey around France
Neal Atherton lives and breathes France and French culture, and in this, his fifth book about his travels with his family around France, he leads us on a circuitous tour of the country. Using some of the stories and tales from previous books alongside fresh adventures, this is an interesting summary of their 25 years of French travel. If you want to know the best wine to drink, the prettiest routes to drive, and the must-see villlages and towns off the beaten track, this is the book for you. Neal has an unpretentious, down-to-earth style of writing and it is nice to read a book by someone that started their travels much later in life, allowing for a gentle introspection and a fresh pair of eyes cast over a well-travelled land.
Neal Atherton lives and breathes France and French culture, and in this, his fifth book about his travels with his family around France, he leads us on a circuitous tour of the country. Using some of the stories and tales from previous books alongside fresh adventures, this is an interesting summary of their 25 years of French travel. If you want to know the best wine to drink, the prettiest routes to drive, and the must-see villlages and towns off the beaten track, this is the book for you. Neal has an unpretentious, down-to-earth style of writing and it is nice to read a book by someone that started their travels much later in life, allowing for a gentle introspection and a fresh pair of eyes cast over a well-travelled land.
August 1, 2022
A Delightful Tour of France
Here we are yet again with Neal, having a fabulous tour of France. Written in his unique style, real and down to earth, I love the descriptions of places visits along with all the historical facts. Obviously, there is always plenty to eat and drink and Neal's personal recommendations on where to go. It is looking like another visit to France will have to be on the cards for me, I now have plenty more places to discover.
Whilst visiting friends a few years ago, I too visited the American War Cemetery, a very humbling and moving experience.
Thank you Neal for another delightful tour.
Here we are yet again with Neal, having a fabulous tour of France. Written in his unique style, real and down to earth, I love the descriptions of places visits along with all the historical facts. Obviously, there is always plenty to eat and drink and Neal's personal recommendations on where to go. It is looking like another visit to France will have to be on the cards for me, I now have plenty more places to discover.
Whilst visiting friends a few years ago, I too visited the American War Cemetery, a very humbling and moving experience.
Thank you Neal for another delightful tour.
November 7, 2024
Neal Atherton’s enthusiasm for the byways of France, north, south, east and west, shines through on every page of this travel memoir.
Having enjoyed his “Personal French Travel Memoir”, I’ve made a promise my wife and myself that we will visit France again – after more than 60 years!
Thanks! You’ve re kindled my enthusiasm for France!
Having enjoyed his “Personal French Travel Memoir”, I’ve made a promise my wife and myself that we will visit France again – after more than 60 years!
Thanks! You’ve re kindled my enthusiasm for France!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews