Bayonne

We woke late this morning, nine twenty, having had an undisturbed night from the oak tree above. Therefore it was late morning before we left. We stopped a few miles down the road to buy fruit, vegetables, long life milk and mineral water. How much? We were glad that after our trip earlier this year, we had, had the foresight to bring a good supply of tinned tomatoes, butter beans, rice, pasta, pesto, eggs and cereal.

As we bowled along a motorway with barely any traffic on it, a message came from home saying, "enjoy your two month holiday". We will. A sequence of events over the last couple of years, has made us realise that you must make the most of the abundance of opportunity that comes your way, and live your life. You don't get another go around!

At one point we left the motorway and drove down a single track road just wide enough for Marge's tyres to fit onto before rejoining the motorway, satnavs can be wonderful things.

Late this afternoon, we arrived into the chaos of Biarritz. As we descended down the hill into the town, we caught our first sighting of the mountains of the Pyrenees.

We took a walk along the promenade, where we spotted a sign asking for people to clean up their dog's excrement, a message we felt would not be noticed or fall on deaf ears. We watched the surfers battle against the waves, falling off their boards, only to go back into the rolling waves for more action.

We had intended to stay the night in one of the parking areas behind the promenade, but there seemed to be some confusion as to whether this was allowed or not at this time of the year.

So now, we are sited in a small car park at Bayonne, just by the river Nive, that flows through the French basque country. There is one other van here, belonging to a young man, and we have a beautiful view down the river towards the mountains. After dinner, we took a short walk out beside the river.. A heron flew over on a landing course, its form, a dark silhouette in the fading light. We are glad we decided not to stay overnight in Biarritz. This spot so is quiet and tranquil.

Tomorrow we will cross the border into Spain.