Well all good things etc but, WOW, we've just seen a humming bird!

Sunday 22nd September

Précis:- very hot again, paid bill, saw humming bird and prepared van for journey home, went to beach. The end.

Another really hot one overnight but this time we left all the skylights open and ignored the noise. Then it was time to get the van ready with water etc for the journey home as its free here and you pay for it on the aires. Plus we don't normally carry much but from now on we will be using the shower quite a bit.

I should have thought of this sooner because Joan has gone into wifely overdrive with the van cleaned, washing done and she's baked a cake! The van smells delicious I can tell you, I can't wait to taste it. Then around to the office to pay our bill and we are all set for a fairly long drive tomorrow.

As we leave we see an amazing sight, it's a humming bird. Oh boy this is an amazing thing, it is so very tiny but you can actually see it's tongue sipping the nectar from the flowers. We may try to get a picture before we leave tomorrow but it is so very small and moves so quickly it might not work.

Next of course is a last trip to the beach and it's definitely time to get into the sea if we are ever going to do it. Gosh we did it and it was freezing, but fun as well. Can somebody please tell us why it's so cold, the Mediterranean is supposed to be warm isn't it?

Lots of love
Joan & Bryan xxxx

Good grief it's even hotter today and the wind has dropped completely.

Saturday 21st September

Précis:- we went to a market then a car boot and had two trips to the beach. The end.

Last night was soo hot we had trouble sleeping, then I realised I had shut the skylight as the noise from the road last night was bad. Opening it didn't make any difference as there is no wind at all. It was so hot that we felt it would be best to keep off the beach.

We had been told about a huge car boot sale and a local market so decided to wander around those until the heat of the day had subsided a bit. I should explain that we have lost a washer to our "hose to tap" attachment and have been unable to replace it. It's odd because I was sure I would be able to get one in any supermarket but we've been trying for days with no luck. Still it gives us a reason to wander around and if we see any suitable wine glasses as Joan would like two.

Most places only sell them in sixes but at a boot sale we might be lucky. Having been assured it was only about 15 minutes away, (we never learn), we did finally get there and it was huge as we had been told. Wandering around for ages we had finally given up and were all ready to leave when we saw a huge van with just about everything you could possibly want for caravans or campers. I didn't see what I needed but Joan said I should ask, and after I had managed to explain what I wanted, the lady turned around rummaged in a box and sold me one.

After a leisurely lunch we stupidly went straight to the beach where we both struggled to stay awake. Realising that to fall asleep in sun this strong would be stupid we rapidly returned to the van. About 4 O'clock we returned to the beach for a very pleasant couple of hours. Then it was time to shower and change and return to the restaurant for a really delicious Thai Green Curry.

Lots of love
Bryan & Joan xxxx

What's that? Oh yes I remember, it's clouds.

Friday 20th September

Précis:- it was very cloudy and hot, then it was sunny again so went to beach. The end.

We awoke this morning to wall to wall cloud, but it's still very warm. We decided as our time on this site is getting short and after that we will be on aires a lot we would take the opportunity to make sure everything is fully charged. Next we catch up with all the Internet stuff and by lunch time normal service has been resumed and although it's still quite windy we are back to sunshine and blue skies, so off to the beach.

I'm afraid we have been let down by the French postmen, they obviously have not had the full training.  I have followed a couple of them but they have NOT thrown a single elastic band on the pavement and a couple of mine have broken, I'll have to buy some. Tried a restaurant recommended to us by the Norwegians we met and an English couple here. They were right, it was excellent although a bit more expensive than most of the others, and we plan to return tomorrow for a Thai Curry.

Lots of love
Joan & Bryan xxxx

Well we certainly made the right choice coming here.

Thursday 19th September

Précis:- Wall to wall sunshine, check out beach, swim in heated pool. The end.

Not a cloud in the sky but a bit windy. After breakfast we visited the beautiful beach with miles of lovely fine sand in each direction but it's a bit early so we went for a wander around the shops and cafes close by. After lunch we decided, as it is a bit windy to go to the heated pool for a swim, there are 2 pools BUT only one is heated. The other is b#@$#y freezing!

Lots of love
Bryan & Joan xxxx

Off to Avignon, well yes, but we didn't actually get there!

Wednesday 18th September

Précis:- still very windy so off to Avignon but too much traffic so back to coast near Agde. The end.

Oh boy, woke up to sun but more storm force winds so decided enough was enough and left for Avignon. I have always wanted to be sur la Pont etc and Joan thought it might be fun. As we approached Aix-en-Provence the traffic started to build just as it had when we approached Besancon and I said right that's it, head south, so we set off for Agde on the Mediterranean just past Marseilles.

Lunch and major shopping for heavy things like potatoes, water and booze then off again.

My trusty navigator looked up a campsite at a place called Marseille-Plage we had heard of from Thor and his wife, a couple of Norwegians  who had the biggest camper van we have ever seen. They took us in for a look around and it was just pure luxury but how he drives it is beyond me, it's the size of a huge luxury coach but he swears it does 20 mpg.

Anyway, this campsite has 5 stars, a heated pool, close to the beach and 4 hours free wifi daily, ideal. It had been red hot all day and the winds had dropped so by the time we got here we definitely needed a Radler ie shandy. We found a lovely spot with full sun most of the day and amazingly the couple next door, Allan & Lorraine were the people that Thor and his wife had been telling us about at Frejus, it's a small world.

We lay about in the sun for the rest of the day then ate half the £10 chicken we bought, then went on line, gosh 43 emails, 3 of importance!

One from Pam & Colin in Ibiza enjoying the sun, and one from Joe & Ingrid down in Croatia, hope your weather has improved and your having a good time, were so glad all went well at the wedding. Then Kathleen & Ken are in Germany with iffy weather but hopefully that will improve soon.

Watched a few episodes of "Modern Family" and to bed.

Lots of love
Joan & Bryan xxxx

There's wind and then there's WIND!!!

Tuesday 17th September

Précis:- terrible high winds as we went to the market, found easy cycle path for last bit. Exhausted and scared we got home safe. The end.

Wow, the winds are really strong but as we have been looking forward to going to a proper market we decided to chance it. This sounds a bit dramatic but I assure you we were lucky that there is a cycle track all the way, as twice when we got to a place where there were no trees or bushes to shelter us, we were blown almost onto the road! There was a lot of traffic as the road runs right through the market and there are several zebra crossings

There are a lot of Bamboo bushes along the side and they were whipping around in the wind making it even more difficult. Then we suddenly came to a tree that had been ripped out and thrown across the route with just enough room to squeeze through. At this point a little voice said,"do you think we should go back?" No way I said we are nearly there!

Then I looked at Joan and she was as white as a sheet and totally out of breath. I assured her we were almost there and just then we came to a cycle track sign which we had wondered about in the past and decided to try it. It was perfect and sheltered, plus it took us straight to the start of the market and had somewhere to lock the bikes, brilliant.

The wind had obviously depleted the number of traders who'd come but it was still pretty good and we bought a couple of things, olives & fruit. Then braced ourselves for the journey back. I foolishly assured Joan that the wind would be with us now, but of course it wasn't and when we did finally arrive back we were exhausted.

At times like this you have to admit perhaps we are not as young and fit as we were and actually spent the rest of the day just resting, eating and drinking. Time for dinner and Sister act.

Lots of love
Bryan & Joan xxxx

Same old same old really

Monday 16th September

Précis:- it was sunny again, went to beach and swam in sea, the end.

The female of the species is very strange as all chaps know. When do they get the chip inserted that means Monday is washing day? Well it is, apparently and as the sun is shining and I stupidly put a line up for our towels we're doing washing today. However we did spend the rest of the day on the beach plus the sea was actually quite warm so we swam in it, great.

Lots of love
Joan & Bryan xxxx