Nimes

Maison Carree

The Arena of Nîmes.  We couldn't go inside because bloddy Johnny Hallyday was playing.  Boooooo, Johnny Halliday.  (He even retired already.  France's Johnny Farnham!)

Tour Magne

The view from Tour Magne

Montpellier

 Dinner in cups

Dessert in cups. 

Australia bar; I appreciate the attempt all this way from Aus, but those flags are a disgrace. 

Platya d'Aro

Chilling by the beach. Also, gravel beach >>>> sandy beach.

Tamarite de Litera to Platja d'Aro

A long day in the car today. Stopped by Montserrat briefly. Would have loved to spend more time there and maybe do some hiking, but alas, time is limited and I don't think Betty would have appreciated the climb.

 

We eventually made it to the coast but not without having to top up the brake fluid. Here's hoping there's nothing more sinister lurking. 

I think we'll stay here on Motorhome row (Les Escoles dels Estan) for maybe 2 or 3 nights. There's a decent beach nearby and heaps of restaurants and shops. Fingers crossed tomorrow's weather is nice enough for a beach swim coz I need a wash. 

Lleida

We hung about the day until about 3pm. I was watching the footy or at least trying to using the free WiFi we'd picked up from the school across the road. The connection want the best though and it disappeared after half time. In the end, the score worm (which is all the interwebz would let me muster) said the hawks won. Woop Woop. 11 wins in a row now.

We then took the 30 min drive into Lleida

 to check out the Cathedral of St. Mary of La Seu Vella and the Kings Castle next door. The cathedral was pretty cool although without any fittings, quite empty feeling. We were only allowed into one room of the Kings Castle so that was a bit of a rip. I wouldn't say the views from the top of the hill were spectacular but pretty decent all the same. 

               

At 6 pm there was an artisan beer market set up in one of the city squares. I thought it rude not to sample a few. Taryn helped though coz I was driving. Then a late dinner and the drive back to the aire. Wi-Fi is back working again as evident by this post. 

  

Navarrete to Tamarite de Litera

Just drove today. Saw some windmills. Lots of windmills. Got cheap fuel. Now at an aire, all by ourselves in some small town. Such a big car park for one vehicle. Heading to Lleida tomorrow after I watch the Hawks beat the Eagles.

San Sebastian

OK.  I'm well behind on these posts so the ol' memory won't be the same as fresh but here goes...

Day off from driving so headed into town for the morning.  We intended to get some wifi and check things out however those plans ceased once a spoke on my rear wheel packed it in, quickly followed by a puncture on Taryn's rear wheel.  So off to the repair shop we went where our severe lack of spanish was a major hinderance in asking for the bikes to be repaired. We painfully arrived at the understanding that he would repair and we would come back at 6pm.  So without transport our morning plans and afternoon plans went out the window and we preceded to try and make the most of the day.

The view along Concha Beach is outstanding.

Taryn got a new tube and a new tyre and I got zilch.  Bike man mimed that he couldn't fix mine and then proceded to tell me in spanish what I assume was a list of alternatives.  I just nodded politely.

Anyways with that done we headed out for Pinchos. Probably not the best value around (we spent about 30 euros) but excellent variety.  The deep fried fish piece on bread was particularly good.

Goats cheese, fish, and tortilla pinchos

Old mate in the background wasn't happy

 Frozen yogurt, whist certainly not traditional, was on the menu for dessert.

It might look like bird droppings but that is actually pistacho topping.

With my wonky rear wheel we managed to get back to Betty just before the rain set in.  And boy did it set in.  Constant rain for hours overnight and then the next morning, so we headed off.

Biarritz

Another late-ish start and then spent most of the day driving south west to the coast.  After rejecting the first aire we tried (the thought of sleeping on such a major slope did not excite), we drove around in circles for an hour trying to locate the other close by.  We eventually succeeded and got the night and electric hookup for free as the cops didn’t come asking for their €10 as expected.  This was a massive aire, mostly filled with more French motorhomes although I did spy one GB and one IRE. 

On Tuesday Taryn dragged me out of bed for exercise and we jogged up the road to the main beach.  Taryn ran and ‘did’ stairs while I pretended to exert myself.  Back at the van we proceeded to leak grey water everywhere after our tank overflowed (there’s no gauge!).  Not a good look and slightly smelly.  Oh well. 

Unhinged the bikes and took a quick trundle into town, via the Rocher de la Vierge (Rock of the Virgin).  The coastline was amazing but I thought the surfers were somewhat ambitious.  Taryn took great delight pointing out my wet bum due to the excess water that had leaked out of the bicycle seat.  So juvenile. 

      

    

Back in the drivers seat we stopped of at the hypermarket for supplies.  I couldn’t ignore the 12 pack of Leffe on special for €10.85 ($14.50).  Crazy.  Can you even get a 6 pack of aussie beer for 15 bucks anymore?  Drove further down the coast, over the border into Spain, arriving in San Sebastian.  Headed to the beach for a quick look before dinner and liked what we saw.  

Saint Emilion

We took a walking tour and visited one of the regions Chateau’s (vinyards), and of course a bit of wine tasting as well.  Learnt about the politics and classification systems surrounding the Saint Emilion wine region applications.  Absolute overkill.  But with big money involved (up to €1 million per hectare of land), its no wonder they have there own little mafia influencing the decision makers.  Couldn’t leave without buying into all the hoopla so we bought a couple of bottles of red for a rainy day.

Headed south to Cadillac for the night and stayed in a boring car park with another dozen or so (French) motorhomes.  It was a cool town though with a walled center and old streets and alleyways.  There was also this kinda secret garden behind the aire which I think used to be an orangery and stables back in the day.

Versailles, Beaugency, Chambord, Menigoute, Bordeaux & Saint Emilion

Wednesday morning we headed to Versailles and checked out the palace and the extensive gardens.  Although the gardens were impressive (and free) none of the fountains were operating and many of the garden sections were closed off. Is it possible to feel jibbed by a free attraction?

After leaving Versailles about 4pm we had some serious driving hours to cover and ended up in Beaugency by the Loire River at a free motorhome aire.  This was our first night in Betty outside of a campsite. With no electric hookup and a temperamental leisure battery, we somehow managed to survive.

Left Beaugency Thursday morning and swung past Chambord to see what we could find.  Ended up at the Chambord Chateau that far exceeded our expectations and made for a half decent picnic spot.

Finding ourselves again behind the eight ball in terms of driving time, we arrived at the Menigoute motorhome aire about 7.30pm for another free night of accommodation.  Limited fresh food supply couldn’t stop Taryn from providing a delicious spread which was consumed on the town lawn next to the local football pitch and a few houses.

With Bordeaux our Friday destination we set off reasonably early (for us) and arrived at the campsite which was about 7km from the city centre.  Having pumped up the tyres of our bicycles earlier that day (with the compressed air unit unhelpfully displaying units of measurement only in Bars) a leisurely cycle into town awaited.   Wearing helmets certainly is not European as it’s more than apparent that the locals have an easy solution for “hat hair”.

The weather forecast was bleak (after five days of very decent sunshine) and it did come to pass that Saturday was destined to be spent inside.  Shortly after arriving in Saint Emilion, the rain started and didn’t stop.  We were supposed to spend a couple of days relaxing amongst France’s premier wine country, but instead found a major issue with Betty when she stared leaking profusely through the ceiling vent in the shower/bathroom.  Although not ideal, seeing as though it’s all waterproof in there, it could have been worse.  I’ll have to find some Selly’s “No More Gaps”. Well the silicone version anyway.  We parked up for the night behind a vineyard for the princely sum of €5.