Next stop Calais

BBQ in Florac near Rouen

Penultimate site before the ferry. The sun has come out again for our last few relaxing days in France.

From Limoges to St Malo

Arrived in St Malo just as the sun was setting. Visited the walled city for lunch on Sunday.

Côte de Beaune

Beaune, the wine capital of Burgundy in the Cote d’Or

The Joy of Camping

First rain in ten weeks!

Bourg d’Oisans, Les Alps.

Now back in glorious sunshine we find a lovely campsite surrounded on all sides by massive mountains. Strangely we hear English spoken for the first time in weeks by British cyclists all here for the Tour De France which arrives on local roads in a couple of days. Talking of cycling, La fell off again and has now been banned from the peddles!

Switch back turns and washed out roads!

Interesteing journey accross the mountains as we see our first real rain since we left home.

Lavender's Blue, Dilly Dilly

Provence at it's best.

Lac de Sainte-Croix

Then in the afternoon we had this lovely view for our picnic lunch bought at the Aups market.

Serendipity in Aups en Provence

By happy accident found this delightful town on market day.

Le Chateau de L'Eouviere

Northern Provence within sight of the Alps (just).

Saintes Maries de la Mer

Flamingos in the Camargue, south coast of France.

Cycling Injury!

La is indicating where her bicycle has attacked her yet again. Paramedics not required, only a large sticking plaster and a strong Pimms.

L'étang d'Ingril

After a nine hour journey from Northern Spain to avoid bad weather we arrive on the French Mediteranian coast to find this wonderful coastal lagoon complex near Montpellier.

Itziar

One of the best locations we have stayed in with idyllic views from our pitch of the Spanish coast near the French border.

Santillana del Mar

The cobblestone streets of this little village are stuffed with a spectacular collection of grand medieval buildings. Inevitably it has become a tourist trap and now has the Disney feel about it.

Picos de Europa

How many vistas can you cram into a half day drive? Any attempt at a record should start here with high mountains, deep gorges, crystal clear rivers, vast reservoirs, lush hillsides, deep blue skies, butterflies galore, eagles and late flowering broom.

Four days relaxation

Costa Verde

Camping La Paz, probably the best location any campsite could have. Lush mountains of the Picos de Europa as a backdrop, a small cove on the Atlantic at it's feet. The pic below is the view from Molly.

Pimms La Paz

Mens's semi-final day at Wimbers

North Coast of Spain

Tight Spaces Near the Spanish Border

This was the access to our campsite. Molly being bigger than the caravan ahead only just made it! Now on our way across the mountains to the Spanish north coast.

Vineyards and Towering Granite Mountains

The beautiful Douro Valley with temperatures up to 105F !

Serra da Estrela, 6,500ft above sea level in central Portugal

Spent a day touring the national park of the Serra da Estrela mountain region. Magnificent beauty around every bend. Molly got to the very top and the views were breathtaking.

Now in a wonderfully green valley with panoramic views of wooded hills. The temperature a perfect 80F and Wimbledon quietly on in the background courtesy of the BBC satellite service.

Sunshine and Sand Dunes

Figueira da Foz

Sartorial elegance on a windswept beach.

Sao Pedro de Moel

One of the loveliest places we have seen. Gorgeous little village on the rugged Atlantic coast.

Approach to Lisbon

The drive into Lisbon over the suspension bridge was breathtaking, worth every penny of the toll!

Foz do Arelho

Gadgets in place, food on the bbq, weather warm, sky blue ...all systems go!

Lagoon on the Costa de Prata

Cycled 1km down to the village and enjoyed a quiet moment on the beach facing a very sheltered lagoon. Sea probably the same temperature as Salcombe at it’s warmest. Air humid and warm (23 C).

Costa da Carapica Nr Lisbon

Villa Nova de Milfontes

Following the Portugese coast north

Lagos in Portugal

Now we are in Portugal we can resume our leisurely pace as we head along the coast. Travelling as we are has enabled us to feel the essence of each country and enjoy the small towns and villages we are passing through.

Caseres and on to Seville

We shot south through Spain to avoid bad weather in the north. Caseres was a one night stop as the site was a little bare. Then on to Seville where we stopped for three nights in a very pleasant campsite with a lovely private pool area. Temperatures now up to 30 deg C, so the plentiful shade was most welcome.

Route Update

Castrojeriz, Nr Burgos, central northern Spain

Stayed one night on this Spanish campsite with very small pitches between trees. Molly a bit of a squeeze to get in! Lovely old town. Then on further south to catch sunnier weather.

Moliets Plage Nr Biaritz

Campsite on the beach amongst sand dunes and big Atlantic rollers.

Lac de l'Uby (or is that Louby!?)

Camping on the shores of a rowing lake in the south west of France.

Spot the flower pot men impersonations!

Route so far

Montignac in the Dordogne

Another great location on the banks of the Vezere river. Market day today and Liz was able to have her hair done. The stylist was so good we will have to come back on a regular basis! Weather lovely in the high 20's with clear blue skies.

Chauvigny

Medievil backdrop to our pitch at Chauvigny (see pic.), plus langoustine from the local market on the BBQ in the evening! Weather still warm, but overcast today. Have now moved to a rural site near Limoges, run and owned by a young Dutch couple. Plat de jour tomorrow night with all the other campers on site.

Chateau Amboise