I had an interesting experience with a French tool booth today. On the way back from Les Sables D'Olonne in the Vendée there is a short section of péage (toll motorway) up to Nantes. You drive into the booth, collect a ticket, then pay at the other end. Depending on the vehicle's height and/or weight you play a different toll. I arrived at the booth in the car with two bicycles mounted vertically on the roof rack and waited for the ticket, and waited, and waited... it was then I noticed the big green arrow pointing up and hey presto there is another ticket dispenser about 2 meters off the ground. The booth must have thought I was a lorry and the extra high slot was positioned for a lorry drivers cab window.
The thought then crossed our minds that we might be charged extra for being a lorry. However when we arrived at the end of the péage it was obvious the situation was not uncommon. The credit card payment lanes had a height restriction and a HUGE sign waning motorists with bicycles on the roof not to proceed through the auto payment lane, but go to a manned payment booth, hence we got charged as a car not a lorry.
Another learning experience about France.
No further mishaps meant we got home in plenty of time to mow some of the lawns and put the welcome packs in the gites ready for our new guests this week.
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