Leucate, France

20^th October

We travelled from Toulouse to Leucate back towards the southern coast.

On the way we stopped for lunch (cup-a-soup) at Carcassonne, a walled fairy tale city, listed as a World Heritage Site - it was lovely but rammed full of coach-loads of tourists. I think we would go again but stay for several nights so we could could see the city lit up at night.

By the time we got back on the road the rain had started again so we didn't get a chance to go out to see the sunset or take many more pictures of the stars!

We paid 6 euros for night as we needed to use the service point and take on some water.

Paul went for a quick walk whilst I got tea on. It was very windy, and Paul returned to say that there was nothing open, and even the local police were bored - deciding to send him on a wild goose chase looking for a shop that was shut for the winter!

Carcassonne

Toulouse, France

We travelled from our very cold spot next to the Canal to visit Paul's friend in Toulouse who had invited us to stay and meet his family for a few nights.

 The Bergeret family - our very kind hosts

Dominique

We were welcomed like family and invited to Sunday lunch - an outdoor BBQ ( in October!) The kids played rugby around the pool and everyone spoke in very good English, which put our ability to speak French to shame.

At night the temperature dropped to zero degrees - but we were armed with a heater supplied by our hosts.
( thank you!) It was very much appreciated.

Blue skies, sunshine and a BBQ - in October! 

The next day we visited Toulouse. We caught the train into the centre and then the metro to the Capitole. It was very cold but the sky stayed blue and the sun shone all day. We had a coffee next to the old bridge, then walked all the way around town stopping for a panini for lunch and warming up in some of the shops.

I can't fathom how the minute-hand works?

By about 3pm we were shattered so headed back to Pibrac for a walk through the village to buy a baguette.

Pibrac - a lovely small town near Toulouse

Le Canal du Midi, France

We headed in land to get away from the non-stop barrage of cold wind and wound our way along side the canal. Many of the camperstops had been closed (namely Trebes, and Prezens) so we were a little disappointed when our 80km journey doubled trying to find some place to park for the night.

Eventually, we stumbled upon a site that was a car park attached to a restaurant adjacent to the canal basin near Sauzens where we met an English couple and there dog. After a walk along the canal and supper we retired to their van and put the world to rights, the red wine helped keep out the cold!

Nature Reserve at Saint-Pierres La Mer, France

We travelled on to a nature reserve after a supplies stop at a large supermarket. The service point was token operated so after spending about ten minutes in the very cold wind we sorted ourselves out and found a parking space right at the front of the reserve car park looking out across the mud flats and in full exposure to the northerly winds.

We taped up all our vents to retain heat in the van and went for a walk around the reserve and through the town, heading back before the sun went down so we could get the heat on and stay cosy. Paul popped outside to get some night shots as the sky was perfectly clear.

Clear skies at night

After a very rocky night, the wind had got stronger - the sun was shining thought so off we went again looking for Nature in the reserve - all we found was an empty bird hide, some sea gulls and driftwood. Although Paul spotted some kite boarders.

The breezy beach at St Pierres Sur Mer

Cassis to the Camargue, France

From Le Lavandu we headed for the cliff hanging town of Cassis. In our usual style we got lost and drove around the steepest village in France revving the van in first gear fearing we were travelling backwards.


We saw the cliffs from the van, gave up trying to find a parking space as the town was very motorhome unfriendly and drove to the Camargue instead.

Lunch in the Camargue

Saintes Maries de la Mer

We ate our lunch surrounded by flamingoes - although you cannot see them in the picture! There was a camper stop on the sea front so we parked up and walked along the promenade in the gale force winds to the main town, Saintes Maries de la Mer.

the real Flamingo Land

colourful sunset

We spent the very cold windy night by the sea, and Paul woke me up at 6.30am to watch the sun rise over the Camargue - it was beautiful.

Le Lavandu beyond St Tropez, France

We set off from La Napoule heading towards Frejus and lunched on the way by the sea.

We thought that heading to St Tropez was a good idea but we couldn't find the camperstop when we got there.
Taking a sudden left turn to avoid a height restriction we got stuck in a very tiny street and decided the best thing was to drive on leaving St Tropez behind us.

Unfortunately, we went from one bad decision to the next - choosing to ignore TOM. The road should have taken a non-toll but fairly major road but it evolved into a twisty winding single track right of way that was very steep in places. It was worth it - the views were spectacular.

Miraculously, and with expert driving from Paul we got back on the coastal road and found the town of Le Lavandu - a very quaint town with sandy beach and local stores which suited us to the ground. Being the money savers that we are we located ourselves on a free car park rather than paying ten euros for the camperstop car park and settled in for the cold night ahead.

Montaroux, France

Monday 5th October

Suzy's Mum and Dad just so happened to be in the area and met with us, offering us a place to stay that was in the mountains (for a few days) - we couldn't say no!

They were house sitting and looking after two very ill dogs but had full use of the swimming pool and even offered to cook for us - don't you just love parents!

We stayed from Monday - Friday and we had a few events in a very short space of time. Firstly, the tap water went brown, the a man turned up and stormed into the kitchen - eventually we worked out that he had come to fix the oven. The gardners didn't cut down the trees as I had translated but merely cut down some branches. And after a few nights both dogs settled and warmed to us all although we couldn't stop one of the dogs from chasing the cleaner and the hoover around the house. We had a wonderful break from the van and had a very peaceful time in the mountains.

We visited the Lac St Cassien although it had been emptied for repair works to the dam - but it looked quite horrific. We returned to La Napoule for the weekend and to pack up the van making the most of the final burst of heat in the South of France.

Antibes, France

Friday 2nd October

We met with an old friend in la Napoule for coffee and croissants in the town and she kindly offered to drop us in Antibes.

We visited the market and spent some time wandering the streets, after some window shopping we retired to the beach for an hour or two.

When it got too hot and our stomachs were growling we treated ourselves to a snack from the boulangerie for lunch which was delicious and then we spent an hour trying to understand the game of petanque - we will never get it!

Mandelieu, La Napoule, France

La Napoule - Rested our van for 3 weeks (after 100days on the road), whilst we stayed in an apartment nearby courtesy of some very kind people.


Bike ride to Cannes

La Plage


I wish we could've afforded to go here








VW rally in Cannes


Outside the Hotel Negresco, Cannes

Nice, French Riviera

From our space on the sea front we could make out the planes taking off from the airport. Unfortunately, we didn't get much sleep despite the idylic location given the sheer amount of traffic and the mopeds that were racing up and down the strip all night.

Overnight camping on Nice beach

Nice airport at night

We spent the morning by the sea, watching the thunderstorms around us and decided to head on towards Cannes. We drove along the coastal road, straight through Cannes and along the marina, and spent the night on the sea front again this time not far from La Napoule.

2 nights between Cannes and La Napoule

On Friday night we slept - despite the waves crashing below us and the storm which seemed to have not left us alone for more than a week. We went for a long walk along the promenade towards Mandelieu. 

Saturday night seemed to bring the mother storm - the biggest floods in the South of France for 50 years. Along the coast vehicles had been swept into the sea. We had unknowingly parked adjacent to a storm drain and in the night (we did not sleep) this has sent trees and a torrent of water out to sea causing the sea to be driven back. The lightning flashed forever and continued into Sunday morning. 

We had never been so ready for a roof over our heads as when we got the keys to the apartment later that afternoon.

Westhalten

Saturday 11th July

A France Passion site in the hills of Alsace surrounded by vinyards and so quiet we slept like babies. We cycled into the tour of Soutzmits for some supplies down a very steep hill, Paul made it back up - I got halfway before walking!

Ribeauville

Friday 10th July

We cycled to Kintzheim and then on to Selstat to tour the wine towns - a distance of about 30km in total up and down hill through the vinyards.
It was very windy but the sun was out and both got a little redder than we intended.
We stayed on another very quiet site and treated ourselves to a take out kebab ( the only food we could get apart from Five Star restaurants.)

Thursday 9th July

On the way to Ribeauville we stopped at Obernai for a quick visit around the town, a services stop at an Aire to take on water and then we headed to a France Passion site further south.

Molsheim, Alsace, France

Wednesday 8^th July

We woke up late as the farmyard was so quiet, plus we had been the only people to stay. It rained more-or-less all day so we pottered about site speaking with the farmer’s brother and went to see the locally famous Bugatti Museum, which incidentally included a look around a re-constructed monastery. We later discovered a Bugatti history exhibition in the town hall. Finished the afternoon off with a gaufre (waffle) topped with chocolate and cream whilst sat in town square.

Back at the van Alfonse (our Farmer host) wandered over with 3 glasses and a bottle of his own brew. After about 30mins of Suzy overdosing on Alsace/French/English translation he donated the rest of the bottle to us as thanks for Paul helping to plant lettuces for the restaurant and bid us bonne nuit and bon voyage.

Tuesday 7^th July

Next stop was a France Passion site in Molsheim. France Passion is a scheme set up for Motor home owners, allowing them to stay for up to 24 hours on a farmers land with a view to sampling and purchasing local farmers produce, although it’s not compulsory.

Molsheim is a very sleepy village with the obligatory collection of stalks’ nests.

The farm also had a restaurant serving tarte flambé and a very jolly farmer who was entertaining wine samplers. We decided to park up and go for a wander about town and returned to find the farmer lighting up a wood burning stove. Paul helped Alfonse to plant lettuces in his extensive garden whilst waiting for Suzy to cook dinner.

Strasbourg

Monday 6^th July

The same person who turned up at 11:30pm the previous night decide to leave at 7:30am in the morning, this kick-started us to get up early and cycle into Strasbourg for the day.

Stopping for a hot chocolate by the cathedral, we went on to see the astrological clock strike and perform at half past twelve. True to form the heavens opened the minute we decided to leave the café and we got soaked through. The clock was a complete waste of time, no pun intended, but the cathedral was stunning.