Leaving Olonzac and the the south behind I said I would like to drive north our second week on country roads not motorways all the way...ahem !!! First bit of the journey into the mountians with views of the Pyrenees was stunning - and we planned a route to avoid the Tour de France ( roads were closed) - we motored through Castres - lots going on as the bikers had just left - lots of old houses bordering the river - very nice. And then we arrived in Albi - the red city it is called because of the red brick - well trusty Sally took us to a carpark right by the cathedral ( magnificent made of bricks in 13 century ) ..we had a quick walk about admiring the old buildings and a ... read more

My dear friend Lesley and I set off at 5.30 am for the Dover - Calais Ferry... at last we would get some sunshine we thought ...little did we know!! I should have left my woolly hat and gloves in the car. Every time we stopped at a picnique area we froze - 12-14 deg is not what we expect in a french summer. And everyone remind me not to drive round the east side of Paris ever again !! Even with the help of Sally Satnav and maps we managed to take the wrong ramp and god knows how we eventually found our way back onto a road which took us out and onwards south...and also there were the most terrific traffic jams. No never again. So on we went to find a small chambre ... read more

Six weeks ago I set off with Beeny and I have travelled 3000 landmiles here in the USA and been in 6 States - so we have done pretty well. Rainy days in Oregon followed me as I drove north into Washington to Seattle and it has taken a few more days to brighten up. Nevertheless my hosts Bob and Marti are showing me around their beautiful city and we seem to find pockets of blue sky and haven't been rained on too much. Bob volunteers as a concierge at the info booth at the famous Pike Market so he is an excellent city guide. WE have spent time driving around some lovely neighbourhoods some with quaint wooden houses with verandahs and porches and others with quite grand mansions and super modern architecture. Seattle being on ... read more

A wildlife update is needed methinks. If I have seen one Californian Condor I have seen a hundred - well I think thats what they are - big wing span, red heads - soaring on thermals all along the coast from California to Oregon ... and there I was on a windy headland looking at some lighthouse when these 4/5 birds almost flew over my head - pelicans I thought. There have been so many stopping off places along the route (I have driven 880 miles since San Fran now) I have lost track of which bit of coast line is which. I had lovely sunshine + blue skies the first 2 days - and when I say the road hugged the coastline and was bend after bend up and down I mean it - for ... read more

Contd..... Chapter 2. Two days driving about 700 miles to get to Yosemite and what a drive it was - we climbed up to the Tioga Pass and this was a high mountain road( 56 miles)looking down into deep valleys....but the road was wide, well maintained and not scarey to drive ( have been on worse roads in France!!)we were above the snow line and you could see why this road had only been opened 2 days earlier. We passed by meadows, rushing mountain rivers and streams, waterfalls - these mountains are massive white granite with smoothed tops - quite stunning...and beautiful rock. Hodgon Meadows campsite ( I had booked it ages ago - and you need to because otherwise you don't get a site) was on the Western side of the park so we had ... read more