From the Loire to the Seine

Decided to try and take in some of more river memories after the memorable one night stay by the Loire and with time on our side, we are able to spend time enjoying the one night stays.  Well, at least that's what we thought until we came face to face with that barrier again.  Remember yesterday the barrier refused to recognize our UK number plate - well this time we couldn't get out!  L went wandering up to the reception on the other side while I was now holding up 2 other cars who were trying to exit.  And this is when things began to fall apart.  There was no one in the reception and the gentleman in the car behind suggested I needed to back up and try again.  He promptly reversed himself to give me room to follow his instructions.  Unfortunately I then heard a loud bang and as I looked in the wing mirror of the van, I saw that the kind gentleman behind had unfortunately omitted to use his mirror and backed his car into the lady behind him!  Naturally I felt bad for them, but realising that the damage wasn't too extensive and after a phone call to the cell phone on the campsite leaflet the barrier magically raised itself, we decided there was nothing we could do to mitigate the situation and whilst we had played a passive role in the collision, we paid our respects and left the gulag to the inmates and their technological wonder barrier.
The journey was pretty uneventful after that and there was also good news on the diesel front - the price of diesel had seemingly reduced miraculously by 10 cents a litre overnight.  We made the most of that and also took a more scenic route for the most part as a change to the monotony and cost of toll autoroutes traveling through Orleans, Chartres, Nevers and finally stopping in a beautiful little town called 'Les Andelys'  Nestled on the far bank of the Seine, we went through several height restricted and narrow roads clearly designed to prevent lorries from entering and found ourselves in an idyllic setting, campsite by the river with a river bank walk into town.  
The campsite people had recommended a really good restaurant but as it was Saturday, when I called they were unfortunately 'complet'.  
So we walked around downtown and found another highly rated Moroccan restaurant which looked great and relatively empty.  However, when we entered and asked for a table they told us they were fully booked but if we came back at 9 pm they could possibly fit us in.  It was then 7:20 pm and so walked back to the campsite to pick up the magic key that would let us in after 10 pm (all gates locked apart from pedestrian access and that only with the magic key.)  Walked back into town and round and round and sat down on a statue and visited the inside of the 13th century church and did some duolingo until finally, rather cold we entered the restaurant once again at 9 pm.  At first the friendly young man (family business, his brother and we guessed their mother were front of house, father probably the chef) told us that we would now have to wait until 9:30 pm, but he allowed us to sit at a table reserved for some folks due to arrive and plied us with a cocktail on the house for our trouble.  Just before the new party arrived, a table freed up and we were able to enjoy some of the best Coucous and Tagine I have ever had in France with a half bottle of Morrocan red.  Lovely evening in the end and after a rather cold walk to the Black Knight, heating was induced and now its time to turn in.  Photo of the castle above the town taken on our initial foray into town and the other on our return post Morrocan goodies.