We have been to Chenonceau Chateau once before but we remembered it as a lovely chateau to visit to decided to make it our stopping spot on the drive to Beaugency today. It took us a couple of hours to get there but there is a carpark area dedicated to campervans so no problem parking. It was pretty busy as this is one of the most popular French tourist spots. The gardens are lovely, beautifully planted in both main areas. I had rather expected one garden to be in Autumnal colours but both were in pastel shades. We walked round both gardens and then toured the chateau along with quite a lot of other tourists. I have included several photos of the floral arrangements, especially for Lynne as I hope they will give her inspiration. We ... read more

We’ve left the sea behind and ventured inland. It seems my suspicions were correct. While we have been enjoying some quite reasonable weather on the coast, inland it has been raining. And raining it was today, for quite a good part of our drive. We used dual carriageways to get us round and past Bordeaux and it was drizzling all the way. Once clear of the city we changed to quieter roads as we drove due north up through the vineyards. We went round Cognac and a few other towns which got in our way and through a few smaller villages. Sunflowers all the way today, they look as if they are ready to have their heads chopped off. We only stopped for fuel and lunch as it wasn’t a very fast drive and we had ... read more

Left the lovely mountains behind today on a clear sunny, if a little chilly, almost autumnal, morning. The drive was nothing like as exciting as the ones of recent days as we took the easiest route with no dramatic mountain passes to cross. Down the river gorge to Argeles-Gazost and then to Lourdes. All along the river valley we could see the evidence of the June flooding and all that the river had uprooted in its path. At Lourdes we left the last of the lovely mountain backdrop behind us having managed to bypass the centre. We’ve visited before, well worth one visit but there is no need to visit again. We didn’t find anywhere of particular interest to visit en route and didn’t have time to go out of our way. The drive was through ... read more

A truly amazing drive today across the mountains of the Hautes-Pyrénées. We concluded at the end of it that we had been most fortunate in the weather. Rain had been forecast but we didn’t see any, only low cloud (very) as we approached the summit of the Col de Tournalet from the East and otherwise glorious blue sky and sunshine. What could be better for a scenic drive across, over, up, down and round mountains. I remembered as we were driving along taking in the wonderful views just why I had asked Bob to include the Pyrénées on this trip. The first half of the drive didn’t include any mountain passes but we drove through lovely countryside in the Ariège region and some really pretty villages. The first village which we admired, Bordes sur Lez, was ... read more

Definite change to the weather now. The sun has lost its heat and the blue sky has gained clouds. A certain inevitability about it as we get further into September and certainly now as we have left the coast behind and driven up into the mountains. We got away pretty early this morning, through the gates of the campsite before 9am.We were going to avoid Perpignan but needed to find a supermarket so actually ended up driving right through the middle after doing a big shop at a massive le Clerc’s. Bob has started a collection of wine to take home as the price at home has gone up so much in the past year. Main criteria for inclusion in his crate is under €3. 2 years ago that limit was €2.From Perpignan we ... read more