Retirement with 2020 and COVID vision

[S-S]

Decided to move camp across the river to a large grass car park.

We will resume our lpg search tomorrow. Nearest one Perpignan but will see how hot it is on the coast before deciding if we return to the mountains.

 

[Pauljenny]

We are dead jealous.
Lovely pics, bringing back wonderful memories for us.

We've ground to a halt in the East Algarve, after nearly 20 years on the road.
If you need any advice, if and when you you do get down here, just give us a shout.
Drop in if you're passing.
Any friend of The Oppys is welcome to lead us astray.
Avoid the Costas, this time of the year.
The Inland route is more interesting, and healthier.
Safe travels.

 

[S-S]

We are dead jealous.
Lovely pics, bringing back wonderful memories for us.

We've ground to a halt in the East Algarve, after nearly 20 years on the road.
If you need any advice, if and when you you do get down here, just give us a shout.
Drop in if you're passing.
Any friend of The Oppys is welcome to lead us astray.
Avoid the Costas, this time of the year.
The Inland route is more interesting, and healthier.
Safe travels.

Thank you for the invitation. The original plan was Portugal and if we make it we will contact you. At the moment we’re sure France has more secret places to discover.

 

[oppy]

Thank you for the invitation. The original plan was Portugal and if we make it we will contact you. At the moment we’re sure France has more secret places to discover.

If Paul offers you a drink do make sure that you are sitting down, or very soon you will fall over, he's a very generous host (once his carer is out of sight that is-----hi Jenny)

 

[Pauljenny]

EH Up !!! Peter,
Don't go putting rumours about that I'm generous..
Not only will it get me banned from Yorkshire, but there'll be a queue of thirsty itinerant motorhomers blocking the lane.

 

[in h]

After a superb drive down the river Tarn, more rock tunnels than Lake Garda, we settled on our second campsite of the trip in Millau. We’ve seen the Millau Viaduct from road level a couple of years ago, so tomorrow we explore the view from below.

A year or two ago, we were in that area and we went along a seriously scary road.
Crawling along in second gear, with a sheer, seemingly bottomless, drop on one side. It was narrow. It was twisty. I shudder to think what it'd have been like to meet someone coming the other way. Luckily, nobody else was daft enough to take that road.
I guess the tracker will have recorded it, but I don't actually remember which road it was.

 

[S-S]

Managed to fill up with lpg in Perpignan. Temperature too hot at 34 so back to the mountains.

Made a quick stop at this car park at Odeillo to visit this

Heliodyssee-Grand Four Solaire
I knew France had more secrets. What a spectacle. No internal visits allowed since 2017 but the public are allowed to walk around the site. Can focus Sun rays into 4000 deg centigrade. Many projects including space shuttle shield testing.

Decided to move up to the oldest Pyrenees Ski village of Font Romeu. Bustling with activity even without snow.




Many games set up in the square for children( and Shirl) to play.


I don’t think this chap got paid for his ski lift design. Perhaps the snow reaches the third floor. Having a look round the remainder of the village later.

 

[oppy]

EH Up !!! Peter,
Don't go putting rumours about that I'm generous..
Not only will it get me banned from Yorkshire, but there'll be a queue of thirsty itinerant motorhomers blocking the lane.

Sorry Paul, what I omitted was the fact that you helped us carry our red stuff and case of Super Bock from the van to a more secure place

 

[S-S]

As we do we moved mid afternoon to a car park closer to the village.

Not many of us here and we had a lovely peaceful night. Next morning we saw this across the car park.

A lorry with 4 trailers followed by 3 more lorry trains. Mr Zavatta man with the biggest motorhome turned up and brought a circus with him, and wanted the whole car park to play in

What a whopper.



Over the day they filled every bit of the car park and we watched goats, llamas, horses, camels, yaks, long horns, mules and various other animals tied up on grass along the road.

What lovely surroundings for a circus.


Shirl found this bear to cuddle. It seems there are 43 real ones in the Pyrenees around here. Should we start looking?

 

[Pauljenny]

Absolute serendipity.. That's the dream.
Just being in the Wrong place at the right time..
It's like angling.. Enjoy this experience...
And catch another at some time later.

 

[S-S]

Onwards to Dorres and another car park with services.
View attachment 55611
Today we are taking the waters. The Roman Baths in Dorres made a fine early morning start to the day.


43 degree sulphur water. Supposed to cure everything. My days of poverty are at an end.


The mountain backdrop is stunning. The Romans knew how to live.
France keeps giving us a surprise round every corner and we haven’t been in any restaurants or vineyards yet.

 

[Alun145]

Hi
Any recent reports??? How are Brit plates being welcomed?? ... or not ?? hopefully tunnel on Sunday

 

[Alun145]

Whoops think i was on the penultimate page ... you seem to be enjoying yourselves...

 

[S-S]

Hi
Any recent reports??? How are Brit plates being welcomed?? ... or not ?? hopefully tunnel on Sunday

Outnumbered 15 to 1 by French on most aires but they are very friendly even if it’s only a Bonjour. The last aire we were on a French family moved their table and 4 chairs to make space for us and waved us over. Masks worn in all the same situations as the UK.
Where are you heading?

 

[S-S]

Whoops think i was on the penultimate page ... you seem to be enjoying yourselves...

We are really enjoying this trip and keeping away from the usual tourist hotspots has resulted in a better understanding of what France has to offer. Others are taking advantage of the reduced tourist numbers at some major attractions but this quiet life sometimes moving 20 miles a day is ok for now. Last time we were in the south of France for a 2 week holiday we got itchy tyres and completed 3500 miles and 9 countries. Hope our paths cross.

 

[Alun145]

Hi
Thanks for your intro .. Ive retired for 10 years and mostly france sometimes Spain , Germany and Poland out 6 weeks ish Easter then 2 months ish till cold ... or wife snifs the air and intones ... "I want to go home"

Went to aix Le Bains few years back and Xrssed Pyrenees at the tunnel north of LLeida .. fab journey ... great town French side ... Lecuate??? with air . castle and good Sat market

Unsure of itinerary ... loved the Cevenne and cantal last year ... keep in touch ... just cleaned cassette to few other tasks then see about booking to hopefully travel Sun / Mon ...

It would be good to meet ... whats your timescale route for return ... recommend Guard aqueduct first and last thing in day ... Aire about 2 k away and Fountenbleau Palace was great

Thanks for info ... Cheers alun

 

[S-S]

Hi
Thanks for your intro .. Ive retired for 10 years and mostly france sometimes Spain , Germany and Poland out 6 weeks ish Easter then 2 months ish till cold ... or wife snifs the air and intones ... "I want to go home"

Went to aix Le Bains few years back and Xrssed Pyrenees at the tunnel north of LLeida .. fab journey ... great town French side ... Lecuate??? with air . castle and good Sat market

Unsure of itinerary ... loved the Cevenne and cantal last year ... keep in touch ... just cleaned cassette to few other tasks then see about booking to hopefully travel Sun / Mon ...

It would be good to meet ... whats your timescale route for return ... recommend Guard aqueduct first and last thing in day ... Aire about 2 k away and Fountenbleau Palace was great

Thanks for info ... Cheers alun

Hi Alan,
Staying at the monastery in Tournay tonight. Might have a knees up with the monks later.


Shirl has picked this monk for a wild night.

We’re heading past Lourdes tomorrow (may be day after) to stay at Cirque de Gavarnie. No time scale on our travels. The new Boris quarantine does not really affect our plans.
Steve

 

[S-S]

Arrived at Gavarnie. Packed house with French and Spanish. €8 for 24 hours.

Decided to do the 1 hour walk with a 1200ft elevation climb up to Cirque de Gavarnie in the late afternoon after a thunderstorm cleared all the crowds.



The problem with quick decisions is you set off in sandals to do a walk which requires correct footwear. I was only 15 minutes from the motorhome and good walking boots but set off anyway in the sunshine.
The result was painful.


Gory bit. When it falls off I will have an acrylic toenail stuck to the skin underneath. Anyway, no permanent damage and the waterfall was glorious. We’re off to Lourdes this afternoon so it might heal miraculously.

 

[HurricaneSmith]

I've stayed at that aire, but it was free then. In the morning I turned the kettle on for a cup of tea and the van reached a toasty 0 degrees. The adjacent hills are full of marmots.

I hope this doesn't offend anyone, but when you arrive in Lourdes.........Keep going.

If you're heading for Arudy, and the aire is blocked off or full, then possibly park behind the fire station on a free aire beside the Gave d'Ossau. [Co-ords: 43.10513, -0.42207.] When I visited, the Fire Station roller shutter doors opened, and a ladies keep fit class started up, so I had a free floor show.

 

[Alun145]

Hi Steve
Great pics.. hope to be doing similar in a couple of weeks.. but with proper shoes/ boots!

currently at one of our fav spots.. Le Crotoy at mouth of Somme... lovely bay, bird watching, pleasant muscle growing town and becoming increasingly trendy each time we stay

great cycling around, 7e night about 1.5 hours meander time to Calais

keep posting!