That lovely warm breeze!

After we saw the UK weather on Spotlight South West last night I know most of you are going to hate us now having arrived on the Mediterranean coast here on the Hyeres Peninsula on the Cote d'Azur. Its out with the shorts and sun cream today as we soak up the first proper sun and that lovely warm breeze.
The last few days have seen us finally push over the Alps and descend down to the warmer shores. Life is certainly different here and the first thing we noticed is how much busier it is, we actually queue at traffic lights now!. We are next to a busy port where ships take hundreds of day visitors out each day to the Hyeres Islands. We are getting near two of our friends who used to live in the UK (Judith & Andrew) and are planning a visit soon over a few glasses of local wine no doubt (Coffee can become so boring!).
Bradley has a lot of his winter fur so tomorrow its out with his clippers to make sure he stays cool. I might even give my newly formed 'goatee' a trim as well!. Lorraine hasn't grown anything extra yet (not that I have noticed!).
Eating is getting even more mediterranean with lots of olive oil and other delicacies to savour. Our campsite seems to be full of Italians and the smells of their cooking waft through the air towards us every so often. It won't be long now before we head towards the Italian border and onto another stage of the adventure...

Au revoir

Masterchef...well almost!

What a difference a few degrees warmer makes as we move further south. Although the locations and views are spectacular we have had enough of the cold and the mountains now and want some sun!. Our slow journey south is taking us over the last of the Alps now and less winding roads. It takes nearly 3 hours to travel 80 miles at our pace!. For the little extra and quality we are staying just one night at campsites using the ACSI fixed price scheme instead of those Aires we used last week. Also we don't disconnect the trailer or unpack anything so its a quick getaway in the morning. The campsites are really quiet and sometimes we are the only ones there meaning we can always choose the best spot!. we hardly see any other motorhomes or caravans so we are either going into far reaching areas or they all got fed up with the cold and went home!. We went for a long 9k walk two days ago and spotted the familiar architecture of a Mcdonalds on the way back, here it's a gold 'M' on a green background instead of a red background like the UK, healthier perhaps?. We smiled at each other knowing it had been a very long time since our last big Mac so in we  went. The actual restaurant (can you call it that?) is much nicer than a UK one with a lovely outside area and posh children's activity play zone. The French were here in numbers most having just arrived from the ski slopes by the amount of cars in the car park with ski's on roof racks hence the familiar queue was the only way to get your big Mac'. When it arrived it was somewhat disappointing as it looked and tasted no different that a UK big Mac'. So why with the French so passionate about their food and bread do they eat this!. Still, that's it, we have had our first and last big Mac' in france, it had to be done!.  
Our french cuisine is slowly coming along and Lorraine is coming up with some cracking meals. We experiment with different ingredients and different packs of things that 'look good' on the shelves of shops but sometimes aren't that good when they end up on your plate!. One thing for sure is the vast choice of cheeses, wines and beers, fantastic!. The beer is stronger and I have gone for the popular Belgian Blonde type which ranges between 6.6% & 8% that means only two bottles and I am singing so not too much alcohol and cheaper too!. We find lots of half bottles of wine in the 'caves' (off licences) so sticking with that for now as Lorraine likes white and me red so we can open a bottle and finish it properly without having to re-cork and store. 
The other big difference is the bread situation, no plastic bags full of Hovis, Warburtons etc that last for days, here it's fresh every day with no preservatives or other rubbish, just lovely wholesome bread in various forms that you get every morning to soak up your coffee and various sauces your food comes with.. yummy!. The French love their Boulangeries/Patisseries and the baker is a very passionate person to his produce.

We hope to be on the south Mediterranean coast by Friday on the Hyeres Peninsula. We have some friends near there so will pop in for a coffee on the way through. Internet has not been good for the last few days so will catch up again soon

Au revoir  

From Bradley's perspective

Hi everyone, Bradley here doing my first blog!. Well, what a day it was yesterday, I knew we were going to do something exciting as Mum & Dad were packing a picnic and my water bowl and putting lots of warm coats, hats, gloves & scarves into Piccolo although it was really hot. We drove for some time and it felt colder every time Dad stopped to take a photo and I got a glimpse of some snow!.. how exciting. We eventually stopped and out I went to have a run around, sure enough there was lots of snow about and every one was wearing brightly coloured padded suits, walking funny with big clunky boots and carrying two planks of wood and two thin sticks.. how strange?. Anyway I leapt about like an idiot in the snow and noticed this strange metal and glass thing hanging from a long wire crammed full of people carrying these wooden planks, it looked really unsafe as it went over my head. I was soon fitted into my harness and that usually meant we were going on a serious walk and we headed off towards this wire thing which was now hanging beside a walkway. Now, I have learnt that since Mum & Dad have started talking to people in a funny language if I hear the word 'le chien' then that involves me!.. We reached this ticket booth thing where mum bought two tickets, but there were three of us and surely they would need a ticket for me?. Anyway we entered a lift so it looked like we were going shopping. When the lift opened there in front of me was that glass and metal thing with open doors.. yikes!. I felt my harness tighten and that meant immediate escape was not an option and suddenly there was every possibility that we were going to enter this thing. Dad reassured me and other people went in so I reluctantly followed making sure my centre of gravity was a low as it could be. The floor was definitely moving and I wasn't that impressed so I felt that laying prone with all four paws out was the best way to handle this new feeling of the floor below me having no control. The kid staring at me from the other side of the carriage was wearing a crash helmet, but what were those planks of wood for? and why was he wearing a crash helmet when I didn't have one. All of a sudden my world lurched forward and we seemed to be floating upwards at a great rate of knots. Mum & Dad were reassuring me and a nice French lady also joined in to stroke my now drooling mouth. I started shaking but all the time knowing my Dad wouldn't put me in harms way. After a few minutes of ear popping canine style we seemed to glide to a stop and the doors opened. I was off like a pack of husky's in a grand prix pulling Mum & Dad with me till we were clear of this contraption I had just travelled in. 

Calm then ensued for at least 30 seconds until everyone started whizzing past me at high speed now wearing these planks of wood on the bottom of their feet. Mum Dad or I didn't have any so we just stood there like a couple of lemons wondering where to go. I saw Dad eying up a lovely outside café on the other side of what I can only described as a snow covered roadway on a slope with no cars and everyone sliding past in just one direction at such high speeds. How were we going to get across?, I knew this would be a precision movement, I was good at this!. Dad gave the word and we were off, I pulled Mum as fast as I could and we made it just before the next wave of people whooshed past. 

After a relaxing coffee I realise quickly that there was no other way back to green grass and reality but on that same contraption which I had noticed went both ways. I felt much braver at this stage and within 3 minutes we were dangling off this wire again heading down the mountain at high speed. 

It was great really and very surreal as one minute we were in the deep snow at the top of a mountain and then 3 hours later eating ice cream in the hot sunshine by a lake. I went up a pup but came down a man..

Woof woof!

Another layer!

Why has it got so cold? we said to each other as we arrived at the side of Lake Geneva in the pouring rain and mist!. Couldn't see a thing but convinced ourselves we were in a lovely area. Almost two days of steady rain and bitterly cold winds (we were in shorts the other day) so out came the winter clothing again to add another layer. It was like living in the mountains we said!. Woke up this morning to sunshine and this massive mountain region in front of us across the lake with snow topped peaks!.. ahhh, of course, we are in the Alps after all and the ski resorts are still open and what with the Northerly winds that was where all the cold was coming from!.. talk about rookie campers!. Also could be a reason why we are the only ones out 'camping'!. We are taking Piccolo out today to climb a mountain hopefully as long as the weather holds and to get some views. The site we are on is lovely and a beautiful spot with heated showers.. thank goodness!. We need to make the decision now whether to stay high in the Alps or chicken out and head down to the South Coast to pick up some warmer weather.

Au Revoir!

It wasn't our fault!

To save pennies and to see more of France we have told our Sat Nav' to avoid toll roads. This means the journey takes longer but we have driven through some lovely scenery and towns and have not met a traffic jam until today!.
We tend to go right through the centre of some lovely towns that have some very narrow streets, so far without incident. Today we ended up entering the pretty town of Poligny where as usual the street was getting narrower but the progress of a petrol tanker in front of us gave the confidence we needed. Suddenly the petrol tanker stopped and almost reverse parked into the side of the road in front of us and behind a large skip lorry. On the opposite of this one way street were a line of parked cars and that left a space just enough for a car to get through but not us!. I was in the centre of the road with nowhere to go so I thought I would wait patiently for one of the lorries to move. The clock was ticking and in my rear view mirror the busy street behind me was full of french cars now back as far as I could see!. Then, the inevitable happened, one honk followed by several others and all obviously aimed at us totally blocking the centre of this busy main street. I let the honking go, not ruffled at all and eventually sent Lorraine out to ask the driver of the petrol tanker in her best friendly french when he was going to move. Lorraine was met at her open door by one of the French motorists who had now walked up to us gesticulating for us to move over. Lorraine explained 'we can't'! (couldn't find the word for patience!) as to which he looked ahead at the two lorries and embarrassingly realised it wasn't our fault. Suddenly the skip lorry finished picking up his load and both lorries moved off and enabled us all to progress nicely to unblock the town again.
Things happen in threes don't they?. well, on arrival at our campsite further on it was somewhat disappointing and certainly not as described. With no one in sight we examined the run down buildings and muddy pitches and quickly left before the warden appeared!. I hadn't turned the Sat Nav back on properly and went around a part of the town I thought to bring me back on the main road!.. No, it was another 'no entry' and this time I managed to stop just before them. Luckily the town was in its siesta and there was nothing around so with Lorraine out in the main road I managed to reverse back out of trouble and on we went!.
We have found a lovely campsite tonight (Thurs 12th) and we will blog further before we reach Lake Geneva at the weekend!

Au revoir

To Aire' or not to Aire' ?

 Well, we have done it at last and spent two nights on these Aire's that a lot of people rave about to try to cover more miles to move south quicker. Our first Aire' was by a canal in a small town with very basic facilities. We were joined overnight by several other motorhomes and had a fairly quiet night wild camping ready for the next push south.
Our second Aire' was described as above average with electric hookups toilets and showers!. Also the book said 'arrive early to avoid disappointment' so we arrived just after lunch with plenty of pitches to choose from and a nice electric hookup beside a lovely canal in a pretty location. From about 4pm onwards motorhomes started arriving one after the other, quickly filling up spaces sometimes within a few feet of each other and taking the last remaining electric hookups. We then saw what we can only describe as the best entertainment we had seen for some time for the next few hours. First along came the 'spotters' - these were the men or couples that wandered around looking and comparing other motorhomes and 'outfits'. One man even had a camera and even Piccolo had his photo taken on his trailer. Then there was the race for the electric hook ups of which there were more pitches than hook ups. This was a definite challenge for the male species and the weaker man would definitely loose and limp off to some other Aire'. There were electric cables everywhere (No health & safety then) even across the main road outside!. Who cares as long as you were plugged in!. Our hookup claimed some hours earlier was pretty safe as a German couple beside us put their dog on guard (not a towel!) to protect the area. The Germans it seemed won this challenge hands down even when the local warden turned up to try to act as referee!. The camp site then turned into Battersea dogs home where dogs were tied up outside motorhomes barking at everything that came within 10 feet of them. Considering we are all packed in tightly that became quite noisy, even Bradley was grumbling at a few but soon retreated seeing the size of some of the German Shepherd and other large breeds jumping out of the huge German motorhomes.
At 8pm peace seemed to finally fall on this pandemonium and we had had the best nights entertainment so far!. We went for a walk only to find a lovely quiet campsite with only a hand full of well behaved campers on it!.. Typical!. We finally turned off the lights and settled into bed when suddenly we were awoken by what sounded like the charge of the Light Brigade!. The French refuse service decided to turn up at the Aire' at 23:45hrs to empty all the large waste bins. What a racket!. Still, a few minutes later all was quiet till the morning when we packed up and set off on the next leg of our journey south.
So, do we use these Aire's again?.. the jury is still out but we are open minded!

Happy Easter!

'Joyeuses Pâques' Happy Easter everyone!
We are having a quiet time here in Verdun. Its a lovely town about the size of Barnstaple with lovely shops and everything geared up for the Easter weekend. The French seem to love holiday times and I know we've said this before but it is so much like it was in the UK years ago. No buses or trains and everywhere is shut for two days!. Some even decorate their front windows of their houses and flats in town and it is so peaceful and relaxed.
Tomorrow we are going to visit Lac de Madine which is a large lake area in the heart of the Lorraine Forest.
Tuesday we are finally taking the plunge and will be travelling further south using Aire's for a couple of nights instead of campsites. Aire's (Or Aire De Camping Car) as they are known are special areas that towns and villages put aside especially for motorhomes (Caravans aren't normally allowed) where you can safely stay overnight and take on or offload your different types of water and in return you purchase your bread and provisions from the local shops. The Aire' can be anything from a basic standpipe tap and a hole in the ground to a fully electronic service point, with a shower and toilet block and in the Alps some even have a ski lift from the Aire'. There are about 2301 Aire's in France (According to our book)  and after two overnight stops we plan to have eaten up a few more hundred miles to get us into the French Alps where we will head for a nice campsite in the mountains.
We won't be online much after Monday (9th) this week so speak again when we get to the Alps!.
Au revoir.

Mystery No 2 - Whats that noise?

We left early today for a long drive to the Lorraine region and about 1 minute into the journey we heard this mechanical type noise from the front nearside cab area just above the wheel. Oh my, was this something loose?, was a bearing going to fail?,  and other scenarios of where do we stop?, calling the French AA and language problems etc etc were going through our minds. Fortunately we hadn't got onto the motorway and we pulled off to examine the van'. Underneath looked OK, no nuts lying on the ground, no engine management lights flashing and everything was as normal where it should be apart from this noise which got worse the faster we went!. 

I suddenly remembered seeing BBC Radio 2 on the radio wondering why we were trying to listen to Radio 2 in the middle of France so I turned the radio off and suddenly the noise stopped!!… yahay!. All it was was interference coming out of the speaker on my side on top of the wheel arch that sounded just like something mechanical coming loose.!. What a relief!, so, the moral of the story is when driving in France don't try to listen to Radio 2 as it sounds really frightening over here!.

Au revoir!

Mystery No 1 - Whats that awful smell?

We woke up yesterday to another day of lovely sunshine and whilst we have no rain we have tended to leave our shoes outside but under the van' by the door. I lifted my shoes inside to put them on ready to take Bradley for a walk, but what on earths name was that awful smell?. No love puffs were emitting from the bedroom and we quickly went through different possible sources before I suddenly realised this pungent smell was following only me around and was in fact on my right shoe. I checked I hadn't stepped in anything and there were no marks whatsoever on the shoe but the smell was definitely there, even Bradley was by now moving to the other side of the van' from me!. Off came the shoes and I realised my shoe had been the victim of a eau de territorial cat, squirrel or other French nocturnal skunk like creature!.. why my shoes?, Lorraine's were beside mine but totally unsprayed. Two days later and after hours of soaking the shoe is still in the outside locker…phew!, Lucky I brought a second pair!.

Au revoir!

The Somme

Sunday 1st April we went on a truly inspirational and moving visit to the huge area of the Battle of the Somme. We were shocked by the vast area of this one battle and the number of cemetery’s, museums, memorials and visitor sites for different regiments from allied countries around the world. We could spend all week in this area but in one day we managed to visit four sites…
1. Thiepval, Franco - British Memorial.
Its impressive architecture (Standing 45metres tall) is the work of the architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. Its pillars bear the names of 73,367 British and South African soldiers who died between July 1915 & March 1918.
2. Newfoundlers’ Memorial - Beaumont-Hamel.
Commemorates all Newfoundlanders who fought in the first World War. An imposing site that provides a moving and realistic retrospective, due mainly to its extremely well preserved network of trenches.
3. Lochnagare Crater. (La Grande Mine) - La Boisselle.
Impressive blast hole (100m diameter & 30 metres deep), a vestige of the series of explosions on 1st July 1916 that marked the start of the Battle of the Somme by the British.
4. Mametz Wood - Mametz.
Small but very impressive stands the Red Welsh dragon gripping barbed wire to commerorate the 38th Welsh Division, who came over the top of the hill and at the second attempt took the Mametz Woods from the Germans. Heavy losses ensued over the 4 days of fighting from 7th until they were relieved on the 12th July 1916.

see our dedicated photo gallery here