Trip to France

[Pudsey Bear]

Last night was ace, best view ever.

We were here just the right of Andorra.

Better terrain on flight Recorder but no search etc.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I just looked at the temp display.

21° warmer than last night and 20° warmer than Wednesday night, I might have to sleep in the buff.

 

[SimonM]

We were going up to Gavarnie around a hairpin, and madame was driving her little car down, saw me and huge motorhome, panicked and stuffed it into the side of the hairpin. There was ample room but oh la la crump!

That was also when I realised my Dunlop Kojaks on the front needed changing urgently as on damp surfaces we were spinning.

 

[SimonM]

Ooh, I forgot, and this reminded me, a car pulled up next to me when we were parked at a marina and 3 chaps got out. They went fishing for an hour and caught nowt. They came back to the car, got in, the driver went to pull away and somehow managed to drag his front bumper off his smart (used to be) A6 Audi. Oops, oh dear, never mind etc. all in language I didn’t understand. They got out and did their best to push it back on, I came to the rescue with a roll of gaffer tape so they could get it mobile and legalish. Been there, done that a few times in the MH and now I always carry a selection of tape, black, white and silver - that covers most eventualities.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

It was a pretty peaceful night here, apart from a thunderstorm, fortunately we both like a good storm.

The tour director has not initiated talks on possible destinations yet.

 

[Robmac]

We were going up to Gavarnie around a hairpin, and madame was driving her little car down, saw me and huge motorhome, panicked and stuffed it into the side of the hairpin. There was ample room but oh la la crump!

That was also when I realised my Dunlop Kojaks on the front needed changing urgently as on damp surfaces we were spinning.

 

[barryd]

We were going up to Gavarnie around a hairpin, and madame was driving her little car down, saw me and huge motorhome, panicked and stuffed it into the side of the hairpin. There was ample room but oh la la crump!

That was also when I realised my Dunlop Kojaks on the front needed changing urgently as on damp surfaces we were spinning.

Did you go up the Col de Tentes above the Aire at Gavarnie? Thats a cracking ride up on a bike (or the van I guess). You can actually walk beyond the car park at the top into Spain. This time of year the top half of the road is a ski slope. Its where I first discovered Marmots. Went out for an early morning ride from the Aire up the mountain and these cute shaggy massive Hamster things the size of Scottie dogs started running in front of the bike.

This was our first trip there in 2010 around this time half way up the Col. Ran out of road. Also Alan and Roger the two Marmots and Hank the Tank parked on the Aire. Crap resolution as they were used for my blog at the time and in 2010 mobile internet was like dial up.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

We're just having a bite in the intermarche carpark but about 30mins ago on the D612 30k south of Albi there was what we first thought was a large ish cat then a massive rat, but may have been a marmite trying to cross the road but it seemed aware of the traffic.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Spares must be good for pre 07 Ducatos etc here, there are thousands of them everywhere where you go.

 

[TJBi]

We're just having a bite in the intermarche carpark but about 30mins ago on the D612 30k south of Albi there was what we first thought was a large ish cat then a massive rat, but may have been a marmite trying to cross the road but it seemed aware of the traffic.

If you can find anywhere convenient to park, the cathedral at Albi is well worth a visit.

 

[TJBi]

Been there a couple of days, we're heading north west now, in Durfort tonight, doing the loire valley next,we indoors thinks it'll be nice, I have my doubts but I'll keep an open mind.

If you're interested in visiting the châteaux in the Loire Valley area, Chenonceau (the château) in Chenonceaux (the commune) might be worth a look, but I'm not sure what it's like for disabled access.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

If you can find anywhere convenient to park, the cathedral at Albi is well worth a visit.

Cheers Tom.

We just stopped south of Albi to go into le ep du rouergue for a spot of lunch, as soon as we got through the door the door the heavens opened, not keen on driving in the rain as road markings become invisible, so were waiting a while, if it stops we might go look.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

If you're interested in visiting the châteaux in the Loire Valley area, Chenonceau (the château) in Chenonceaux (the commune) might be worth a look, but I'm not sure what it's like for disabled access.

Liz has to on her list to visit.

 

[barryd]

If you can find anywhere convenient to park, the cathedral at Albi is well worth a visit.

We spent a week or so round that area in 2009 when the Peugeot Scooter snapped a drive belt at Roquefort. In the end I had to get a belt sent from the UK to Honda Albi. For a French bike!!! It was a cracking week that as we ended up discovering St Rome de Tarn and Lake Paraloup. Just a brilliant week of swimming and messing about on the water. I think we have been back to Albi three times as it always seems to be a bit of a cross roads. Michelle likes it and has been round the cathedral several times but Ive never been in it. Come to think of it the only place I have ever been in Albi is the Honda dealership.

 

[SimonM]

Did you go up the Col de Tentes above the Aire at Gavarnie? Thats a cracking ride up on a bike (or the van I guess). You can actually walk beyond the car park at the top into Spain. This time of year the top half of the road is a ski slope. Its where I first discovered Marmots. Went out for an early morning ride from the Aire up the mountain and these cute shaggy massive Hamster things the size of Scottie dogs started running in front of the bike.

This was our first trip there in 2010 around this time half way up the Col. Ran out of road. Also Alan and Roger the two Marmots and Hank the Tank parked on the Aire. Crap resolution as they were used for my blog at the time and in 2010 mobile internet was like dial up.

I think we only went as far as Cirque de Gavarnie - mainly to save my Skidmaster tyres until I got some at St.Gaudens a couple of days later. This is the lower of the 2 parking areas, we stayed at the upper and then used this one to lose some unneeded weight

 

[barryd]

I think we only went as far as Cirque de Gavarnie - mainly to save my Skidmaster tyres until I got some at St.Gaudens a couple of days later. This is the lower of the 2 parking areas, we stayed at the upper and then used this one to lose some unneeded weight View attachment 131452View attachment 131452View attachment 131452

If you ever go back. Carry on up the road above the Aire. Its fantastic. Easy enough to get a motorhome up but I am not sure if you can overnight at the top. I think people probably do though. Actually I think I have a video of it.

Starts off in the van and then off up the Tentes on the bike

 

[Pudsey Bear]

If you can find anywhere convenient to park, the cathedral at Albi is well worth a visit.

We went, one parking place near enough but occupied, gendarme told me I could park in a camping car place not too far away but too far for me and as ever no joined up thinking as had cobbles so I couldn't use the scooter so we move on, it saddens us that they make pedestrian areas that dont suit the more disabled people.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

We're here for tonight, as we drove in three french folk were playing petange, I stopped to let them continue, but they insisted we pass, one spoke good English, so we parked up had our dinner then I got the boules out we got the other day for us to play on our own, but they invited us to join them men v girls the men won of course and we went a little tavern next to the aire,we just got back to the van, knackered now.

 

[Tonybvi]

We're here for tonight, as we drove in three french folk were playing petange, I stopped to let them continue, but they insisted we pass, one spoke good English, so we parked up had our dinner then I got the boules out we got the other day for us to play on our own, but they invited us to join them men v girls the men won of course and we went a little tavern next to the aire,we just got back to the van, knackered now.

That’s what I like about France. The spontaneity of it all and meeting all sorts of folk. There used to be a fabulous (but really scruffy) aire at a place called Les Arcs which was in the grounds of a “winery”. Always a game of pétanque going on fuelled by wine purchased from a petrol pump device in 5 litre polythene containers. We still have French friends made over a game of boules!

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Unfortunately they hadn't eaten and went home so no contact details swapped.