Friday 29th October 2010 On today the short distance to Vilanova i la Geltru and a campsite we have stayed at before when we came for a couple of weeks several years ago. The site has improved its facilities further since we last visited and we take advantage of the indoor pool sauna and Jacuzzi which are free to use during the week. Saturday 30th October 2010 Settling in on site we put up our new awning for the first time as we plan to be here at least a week. The site is busy with Spanish weekenders preparing for Halloween and All Souls holiday on Monday. An English holiday company is holding an end of season sale where we are able to pick up books and dvds plus a new chair for 6E to replace ... read more

Thursday 21st October 2010 - Trafalgar Day Agde ( France ) to Sant Pere Pescador ( Spain ) a drive south through the wine growing country of the south of France. Villages with names familiar on supermarket shelves at home - Corbieres and Fitou . In addition to the normal wine, olive oil etc. on sale direct to the public other services were widely on offer which appeared oddly out of place amongst the vine lined route. Passing through one village we were invited by a large sign to visit the Cave de Clappe ( I kid you not ) but decided to decline not knowing what we might find or catch ! Arrival in Spain was through the busy French border town of Le Perthus which appeared to be doing a lot of trade in ... read more

Friday 15TH October 2010 Moved about an hour along the coast today to a campsite on a promontory at La Tour Fondue near Hyeres. This is the most southerly point of the Cote D’Azur and is very popular with the diving and watersports fraternity. The Tour Fondue ( the melted fort ) is closed but from the beach and harbour you get a good view of the Iles D’Hyeres a popular destination for day trippers. Saturday 16th October 2010 After lunch we set out on foot to explore the area. The promontory has large salt pans which are home to wading birds particularly flamingos. On the west coast a long narrow beach attracts wind and kite surfers and as today the mistral continued to blow many were out on the water. We sat in the shelter ... read more

Friday 8th October 2010 A nice slow drive along the Mediterranean coast into France this morning, then we joined the Autoroute A8 at Menton to bypass Monte Carlo, Monaco and Nice - all of which we intend to visit in the next few days using public transport from our site at Cagnes- sur- Mer. We arrive on site late morning, establish camp and have lunch before venturing forth by local bus to Nice. Nice is an elegant city near to the sea, a little less so the further inland you go. We wander down from the bus terminus to the Promenade des Anglais and take the sea air whilst the boys rush to the water’s edge and throw in stones whilst dodging the incoming breakers. The hotel La Negresco is a striking landmark here with its ... read more

Monday 27th September 2010 Today a drive from Palma ( Fidenza ) to the Italian Riviera ( di Levante ) and Liguria using the Autostrada A15/A12 over the mountain range of the Appennini. ( note - this caused us some amusement as it reminded us of a visitor from Scotland to our home in Yorkshire who said she had long looked forward to visiting the backbone of England the Apenninis, more correctly referred to as the pennines. However, first a stop to stock up at a large co-op supermarket that had a fantastic range of breads, pasta, cheese, cured meats and wine, I could have stayed longer… The drive over the mountains of about 100 miles was superb, mainly over viaducts and through tunnels winding up into the clouds and then down steep sided valleys. Eventually ... read more