25 March 2018 Macon

Clocks moved forward so an extra hour in bed? just got up later Ha Ha. Cycle this morning up the side of The Saone on the cycle MUD ops! path. Only half an hour at first had to come back and wash the bikes to get the mud off that took another half an hour, a coffee then cycled down to Macon avoiding mud!

An interesting piece of equipment on the side of the river dating from 1870 was an old flood defense mechanism I recognized it due to me having once dived on one at Naburn Lock Nr. York to inspect it. They are built on weirs to regulate the level of the water upstream, the higher the water the more gates they open.

Good cycle enjoyed wandering around the backstreets. Some of the empty shops here have the windows covered to make the town not look so drab a good idea.

Sunday NO BUSES anywhere around Macon so town was dead.

24 March 2018 Macon

What a drive up through Lyon, caravans travelling at 120mph!!!! wobbly trucks again, a 2 hr. journey good weather with one stop. There’s a story it goes like this car park with 100 empty space yes you guessed it (well done) a car parks right next to us and has to be careful getting out as they are close to our van, soooo we moved and yes he only had stopped to get something out of his boot then drove off, WTF.

Caught a Bus into Macon for a walkabout I know we have been here in 2015 but we enjoyed the time in town. Maybe a cycle if the weather holds up tomorrow.

22/23 March 2018 Tournon sur Rhone

Been waiting for a cycle for a few days but been too windy but Thursday morning seemed OK. Had a short cycle round the valley head then headed south towards Valence. Big mistake! After about 18 kms we were going quite well and realised we were obviously wind assisted. So we turned, wow, awesome were only two of the words that came to mind. The rest were blown away as soon as we thought of them. Took a lot of energy to get back as we were travelling into a 27 km hour gusting to 34 km hour.

Friday we were going to catch up with laundry but unusually the machine was broken – a first, they are usually pretty good. Had a good walkabout in the Hills again.

While on this site it has been good watching how the 2 rivers react (The Doux and the Rhone) they both meet at the campsite. When the dirty water in the Rhone is fast flowing no water flows from the Doux until it builds up enough volume and weight then it pushes out into the Rhone usually at different places, it also slows the speed of the water in the Rhone for a while, then the process starts again in a different way, amazing!

20/21 March 2018 Tournon sur Rhone

Weather very cold and windy no bike rides yet but lots of cold walks. Visited the Chateau Musee, interesting sailors crosses have not seen these before. Walked up in the hills this morning.

19 March 2018 Tournon sur Rhone

As usual a busy trip up from Avignon with a couple of **** bad wagon moments. Arrived in good weather but cold. Had some bread and Hartley’s Jam for lunch and wow how lucky we were to see this lovely Hot Air Balloon really close up (see below).

18 march 2018 Avignon

Our last day here so a walk into town as the Navette is not running due to high river levels. Walked around and had a lovely coffee.

15 – 17 March 2018 – Avignon

Had a good 3 hour cycle in and around Avignon, cycling round the walls of the town and to the Antique market located against the backdrop of a stunning 700 years old medieval city,in Villeneuve-lès-Avignon. I have just realised why Maureen loves Avignon so much see photo below!

12 – 14 March 2018 – Narbonne/Avignon

Very busy drive from Barcelona to Narbonne. Packed with lorries all the way. Campsite as usual very good – we love our own personal little shower block.

Very busy drive from Narbonne to Avignon, again with lots of lorries. Arrived campsite just before lunch, managed to get a pitch with lots of sunshine. Walked into town for a look around, nothing much changed. River quite high as there is lots of snow on the summit of Ventoux.

Wednesday went for a cycle following the wall around the town of Avignon, very interesting, saw some places we have never seen. Stopped for lunch a lovely Creperie. Yum Yum! Then cycled over the Barthelesse for a coffee in a little Tabac we have been to before. Full of locals and they serve coffee just like we like it. Checked out our favourite restaurant here (Aubergine) and will give it a visit some time during the week.

26 February 11 March Vilanova Park Barcelona 2018

Picked our friend up from Barcelona Airport. Her flight was late due to all the bad weather in the UK, it’s a good job she was late as it took us an hour to get a car rental from Europcar (????) What a mess this company is here in Barcelona the one in Nice airport is a dream. On giving us a price of €620 we told him the price we paid in Nice so he reduced it to €550 ? what !!!! that smells. Arrived back at the campsite at midnight.

Drove down to Tarragona Saturday for a look round with Brenda great as we arrived in time to see the medieval market.

Sitges today Managed to See the Barcelona to Sitges Vintage Car Rally. Wow what a lovely treat to see the wonderful cars. Drove up to Sant Pere de Ribes for a look around.

Monday a trip into Barcelona to take Brenda to The Palau de la Música then down the Rambla and our usual walkabout.

Tuesday a drive up to Figueres to the Dali Museum and stopped the night in a hotel.

A great day out and a must to see. Had a good walkabout nearly all the streets in the town and unfortunately picked a bad restaurant for our evening meal.

Thursday bus into Barcelona to the Game of Thrones exhibition FAB a good day out. Stopped for a coffee in Starbucks  on the Rambla we tried our new entertaining game, when they asked for our name for the cup I said Zorro, She said ah! Antonio Banderas I like him, I said Si, but I am not him, she said Si! (it was funny)

We all had to leave the store due to harassment from a women’s rights rally fortunately we had finished  our coffee, they then closed the store?

Train back to Sitges but a strike on so had to wait awhile. Looked around the Quilting exhibition tent with a view to returning next day.

Friday returned to Sitges for a good look around the quilting tent again, then returned Brenda to the airport for her flight to the UK.

Saturday morning returned the hire car to the airport then caught the train into Barcelona for a last look around for us. Had a meal in the restaurant in the evening.

Sunday caught up with laundry and washing the van ready for moving in the morning. Below an interesting thing a DOG using the toilet !!!!

21 – 26 February 2018 – Benicassim / Vilanova Park

Lots of good weather for our stay back in Benicassim. Cycled all over and walked in the hills. Great coffee breaks in the town with live bands over the weekend.

Dancing ducks below on one of the Camping and Caravan clubs rally pitches.

Good journey up to Vilanova, weather a bit overcast and cold. Campsite very busy as usual and took quite a while to find a pitch suitable. Easy day today, tomorrow on with the fun.