Bike ride to St. Cyprien-Plage

We have to admit that it's been a bit chillier today, with the sun only through the clouds occasionally.  But good weather for a bike ride through our village and onto a cycle track that took us into St. Cyprien, then past the marina with its gin palaces - noting that a few of the cafes/restaurants are open at this time of year.

 
Then along the prom behind the huge beach.  This is where the Pyrenees dip into the Med.

 On the way back later, we appreciated the views of the snow-capped mountains ahead.

 Then stopped again in our village to look at the Church (they always seem to be locked) and its very unusual tower.  This is the back ....

 ... and this shows the front.  It really is the same tower!

 A lovely sunset this evening.  We have the promise of a much higher temperature tomorrow.

Latour-Bas-Elne, Pyrenees Orientales

This morning, leaving last night's parking spot at the seafood shop France Passion

 A little wave from the driver ....

 Wonderful views of the mountain tops as we approached the Pyrenees.

 Then late morning, we arrived at Camping le Florida at Latour-Bas-Elne - still in France, but only just - soon after Perpignan.  We are 3k from the sea, but the site at the coast didn't have very good reviews.  But we've put down some roots and plan to stay here for several days.  Yes - we ate our lunch (more like a late breakfast of egg and beans on toast!) in warm sunshine. 

 Putting down roots means putting up our 'garage' tent

 and unloading some of the kit into it.

 Now this may look like we are visiting a theme park ....

 ...... but no - it's the loo block!!!!

 So here we are, all sorted on our pitch.

We did go for a walk into the village and to the supermarket, but will explore more tomorrow.

Bouzigues

We just don't seem to be able to keep a free night just that - free!  Came this afternoon to another France Passion at La Vitrine du Marin in Bouzigues beside the Basin de Thau on the Mediterranean Sea.  It's a shop selling all things shellfish, plus of course, local wines.  So this time we spent 20€ on a free night - two bottles of our favourite Picpoul de Pinet and a jar of fish soup.

The temperature has risen very noticeably - Yes!  Reached 15 deg today, possibly even higher when the sun was shining.  Had a walk to the village and the water-front.  All looking a bit sad with hardly anything open and not many people about.   But we are delighted to reach the sea.

Pleased to say the clouds didn't come to anything.

 We've come across automatic milk machines in Austria, a baguette machine in rural France and now we've found an automatic shellfish machine!

Going another hundred miles south tomorrow, planning to find a campsite we can stay at for a few days - possibly still in France - maybe into Spain.

La Coucourde

A bit of shopping this morning at the Auchan supermarket on the outskirts of Macon before doing some more miles south.  Stopped at a convenient campsite at La Coucourde on the Rhone for the night.  It's not a very attractive place with views across the river to a quarry and a power station!! 

 Had a short walk to stretch our legs after travelling.  An interesting-looking church, but nothing else to report.

We plan to reach the Med tomorrow.

Chardonnay, Bourgogne

Watching the sun go down over lac d'Orient yesterday afternoon.

Some journeying today, further south into Burgundy, one of our favourite regions.  We'd studied our France Passion book at home and decided that Chardonnay sounded a very interesting place to visit(!)  The sign at the bottom of this picture shows that the owners of this vineyard welcomes motorhomers to stay for the night - free.  Except this one has cost us 25€ because Patrick invited us to be shown around his 'cave', to sample 5 of his wines and to wish us bon soiree carrying out 3 bottles!!  

 We'd had a walk around the the village here - Champvent, 3k from Chardonnay - after our arrival.  Checking to see if any geocaches in the vicinity, we were rather surprised to find that the old village lavoir held a clever one, just yards away from our pitch.

 Looking down on Champvent.

 My favourite of the new-builds.  The dog just wouldn't stop barking, so the owners are safe from us.

 The manoir

 A piece of recycled art in one of the gardens.

 A very small section of Patrick's vines.

 We are pleased to receive comments about the blue skies!!  We've also noticed the rise in temperature already.  8 deg. just before dark.

Geraudot, Lac d'Orient

Came to Lac d'Orient yesterday (Friday), arriving at the campsite at 12.30.  We half expected the reception and the barrier to be closed, but a sign said 'back at 2.30', so we drove a bit further round the lake to find a carpark in sunshine, so we could feel the warmth in the van while eating our lunch.  Then a brisk walk before heading back to Geraudot to get settled on our pitch - again in beautiful sunshine.  (Sorry to hear from Helen about the drizzle in Horsham!) 

 Another short walk by the lake near the campsite (the canoe on the map is pointing at where we are) - perfect spot for a cuppa in the late afternoon sun.

Today (Saturday) has been chillier as it's been more hazy sunshine.  But after a lazy morning, we set off for a couple of hours out on our bikes, via the village and a voir verte through the trees near the lake.

 A break on the way back sitting on the porch wall of the ancient church.

 The old village pump and an old mode of transport - but the chap was on his mobile!!

Moving on again tomorrow morning.

Bruyeres-et-Monberault

Thursday 23rd January

After a comfy night at Peter and Hannah's at Otford, and seeing Adam and Emilie off to their school buses, we left soon after 7 this morning, drove without hold-ups (plenty going the other way) to Folkestone Eurotunnel.  Never seen it so busy ..... no queues for a hot drink and 10 vehicles on our train!!  Drove to just south of Laon to Bruyeres-et-Montberault - in sunshine most of the way.  Good start. 

Here, we are staying on a camperstop in a small park for the night.  We enjoyed a walk to the next village and back around this one, finding some geocaches on the way. 

 Private gym for the morning exercise .....

The French are not always too good at maintaining their treasure caches and here's no exception.  Out of the 7 we looked for, 2 were missing and another 2 had very wet log books inside.  This was a good one!  Note the shopping in rucksack(!)