Nightingales singing, not in Berkely Square but a Belgian motorway services.

Sitting writing this in a very pleasant hotel room on the outskirts of Nancy in northern France looking out at pine trees and waiting for the first pint and then an evening meal.  Covered 275 miles today of largely good going from the ferry in Zeebrugge.  The ship berthed at 8.45 and we were off and away by 9.15.  Our route took us through Belgium passing Bugges and Brussels before heading over the hills of the Ardennes and into Luxembourg.  Luxembourg was soon behind us taking only a brief 30 minutes to cross the corner and then we weren't long bypassing Metz, which looked very attractive with river, lake and huge Gothic cathedral towering over the town. Soon after this we reached Nancy and began looking for a hotel for the night.  The new Sat Nav was invaluable for this job.  The first 100 miles was very busy especially round Brussels but after this the traffic thinned out and the driving was much more pleasant.  Very much enjoyed the drive through the Ardennes, an area of high rolling wooded hills up to 800m high.  This area would well repay an longer visit.

On the drive it soon became clear that spring was far more advanced here, especially as we travelled further south.  The most noticeable thing was how brightly green the grass was; it had actually begun to grow here.  Trees were also much further in leaf. Cowslips and ladies smock grew thickly on motorway verges and everywhere were huge bunches of mistletoe.  Buzzards as usual were common hunting alongside the motorway but the wildlife highlight of the day was the nightingale singing from the blossom covered blackthorn bushes.

For those with a cycling interest we passed close to both Liege and Bastogne scene of the famous Belgian one day classic cycle race Liege-Bastogne-Liege.  Tomorrow we go off piste and leave the motorway hoping to drive over the Ballon d'Alsace, another cycling favourite that has featured in the Tour de France.

It has been a very warm day today with temperatures in the mid 20s but it is forecast to be cool tomorrow;-(

A good first day.

Norway Maple in flower at the motorway services.

Time for a welcome picnic. (note the bins for nightingale watching!)