Taussat (the return to)

It was really relaxing last night, to sit with Marge’s side door open, and look out over the canal. We both enjoyed the tranquillity.

This morning, the water on the canal flowed slowly by, the fronds of greenery on the opposite bank, reflecting perfectly in the water, in the morning sun. As the day awoke, the cyclists and boaters passed by, and the French began to shout at each other!

Moored near to us was a large, English owned, Dutch barge called Mr Pip. It is for sale at 175,000 euros. Looking on the Internet, we found out that in 2016 it was for sale for 220,000 euros. We think, they will have little chance of selling it now this year.

Whilst we packed up, preparing to leave, an enormous executive hotel barge called Rosa passed by. John shouted over to the crew, and asked if it was the barge used in a programme on television covering Rick Stein, as he cooked his way along the canal du midi, they confirmed it was.

After a quick stop for shopping and an ice cream we continued slowly. As the roads were quiet, we could take in the countryside, towns and villages.

 Passing through Villandraut, we stopped to photograph the medieval chateau, built in the 14^thcentury. There were two goats in the dried up moat, tasked with controlling the vegetation.

Further on we met a large number of road cyclists, a rainbow of colour as they raced by.

We ate a late lunch whilst we were parked in The Point car park at Cap Ferret. The temperature in our van was 32c. Due to an unsavoury young man strolling about the car park, looking at all the vehicles, we decided to each take a walk separately through the sand dunes, to look at the view across the bay of Arcachon. 

On the other side you could see the largest sand dune in Europe. We have seen the dune close up whilst cycling this coast. Finding the area too touristy, we decided to set off around the bay, to an aire we stayed two nights at, the first weekend we were in France. We are parked next to the same French couple who were here last time. When we arrived the man was playing his guitar and singing, it was very pleasant.

This evening, we walked the few metres to the beach, where we sat in the early evening sun reading, and enjoying a small lager. Just after 7pm, as the sun was starting to dip, turning the sky a watery pink, we returned to Marge.

Tomorrow, we will begin the last week of our trip. We can’t believe how quickly the time away has passed.

 Angela writes the words, and I take the photos using my phone, Angela forgot to mention this photo I shall for her, it was Angela's attempt to mount a 25,000 litre bottle of her beloved red wine onto the rear rack, the front wheels lifted off the ground so it had to be left behind....

Caumont sur Garonne

Yesterday morning, at the aire by the grapevines, we were the only van. This morning, it was like van central, with lots of activity going on around us. As the van’s left, off for another day of adventure, there is the traditional nod or wave of goodbye.

After we departed, we travelled to a nearby town to fill our water tank. Continuing on our journey, we passed many fruit farms. Apples were in abundance everywhere, along with eating grapes, pears, kiwi fruit and walnuts. Whilst we have been out walking and cycling, we have seen many figs, peaches, almonds and walnuts ripe for the picking, which John tends to do.

Our journey today, took us back and forth, across both the river, and canal Garonne. At one point, we arrived at a town adjacent to a nuclear power plant. 

The town of Golfech was one we stumbled upon on one of our cycling trips. On that occasion we stopped at the boulangerie for some lunch. Today for old times sake, we called in again, and once again bought a fougasse, luckily there was one left. For those of you who don’t know, it is like an oval shaped pizza. Ours had a topping of cheese, peppers and pork.

As we left the town, and the main road behind, we were greeted with narrowing roads and tight turns. Approaching tonight’s stop, we found ourselves having to cross a very narrow bridge over the canal. It was a very tight right turn on a gradient, which resulted in a quick decision having to be made, Marge’s front bumper, or the rear offside tyre, the tyre won, as we caught the kerb, luckily with no lasting damage.  

We are now settled in the first spot on a lovely aire alongside the canal at Caumont sur Garonne. The nearest large town if Marmaude. We are now south east of Bordeaux.

There is a lovely breeze, but the temperature in the shade this afternoon was 28c. Autumn has begun here, with the crisp brown leaves falling from the trees and carpeting the canal. At the edges of the canal, you could  see the pond skaters skimming about in the late afternoon sunshine.

We took a cycle ride out along the tow path. The crispy leaves were crunching under our tyres.

 Cycling along, brought back many happy memories of a previous trip. Our ride took us to a bar/restaurant adjacent to the tow path. Sadly, the bar wasn’t open, as the French holiday season tends to end by the middle of September. At the rear of the establishment is a small campsite, with nine pitches. We stayed at this campsite three years ago, on our return cycle journey from Spain.

Back at the van, we luckily hadc old lagers in our fridge waiting for us.

 Whist we sat at the picnic table alongside our pitch, we enjoyed the cold beer, whilst watching pairs of rowers being put through their paces, by a very angry sounding instructor.

Today our grandson Elliot is five weeks old. We were surprised by the photograph we were sent how much he had changed, since we saw him before we set off. I'm sure we’ll see a lot more changes in him when we return from this trip.

Tomorrow, we will set off towards the west coast, continuing our journey northwards. We have now travelled over 2700 miles.

Grisolles.

Last night as the light was fading, we took a walk up the hill through the vines.

 There was a fantastic full moon, and as we looked back, we could see the village nestled amongst the glow of the orange street lights.

It was the coolest night we’d had since being away, and this morning the air was much fresher. This morning we received an unwanted early morning call from the village cockerel. But otherwise a fantastic start to the day, the sun lighting the vines as they stood neatly trimmed by the harvest, they reminded us of well turned out soldiers on parade.  

Today we were headed in the direction of Toulouse, taking the quieter roads, passing through villages, and at one point crossing the canal du midi. This made us recollect our cycle trip to the med a few years back, when we cycled along it. Whilst we miss the cycle camping, it has been good to be able to cover more miles in Marge, and we still get to see some lovely sights when we pass through the quiet villages and surrounding countryside.

After a leisurely journey, we are now on an aire (with about forty other vans) by the canal La Garonne at Grisolles, just slightly north west of Toulouse. Grisolles is famous for straw sorghum brooms, which were made here between 1856 and 1980. The French couple in the van to the right of us, have a lovely green parrot in a cage with them.

Late this afternoon, after the heat had cooled to 25c, we set off on our bikes, to cycle along the canal. It brought back some happy memories of some previous trips along this way.

 In a field near the canal we saw a machine excavating gravel.

At the lock, two boats came through, the owners of one English, the other Canadian. They are now moored opposite the aire. Their is also another large canal boat moored by the bridge, it is named ‘carp diem’, which as you know means ‘seize the day’, something we couldn’t agree more.

After dinner we took a walk up to the bridge by the canal. To the right is the municipal school of music, and we admired the silhouette on the side, of the boy with his cello.

As we are near the water, it is another night with the mosquitoes, so tomorrow morning once again, we will have to break out the germolene!

Monze

Fun and games at the aire this morning. We had bagged the spot that was most level. When the couple on the space next to us left, some French people decided to move into it. The man twice nearly reversed over his wife! Then a second van came down to the lower level, that one nearly took off Marge’s front bumper. The trouble with the French is they must own a motorhome that is around 8 metres long (Marge with her storage box is about 5.5 metres), and they have to get involved with each other’s business, resulting in chaos and commotion.

After a sweltering night, this morning was fresher, with a strong welcome breeze. As we set off towards Narbonne, on a busy main road used by many lorry drivers, we saw ‘the good time girls’ sat in their plastic chairs at the side of the road. Unlike the girls we saw touting for business in Spain yesterday, strutting about in their bikinis and high heels, these girls were well wrapped up against the wind, very sensible!

Shortly after, we left the main road and headed inland, driving through the Fitou wine region. The grapes were being harvested, and everywhere were the small tractors and trailers used to drive in between the vines.

A little further on, we had to negotiate a narrow road that wound around the bottom of the craggy rocks, luckily we were the only vehicle on the road and took it very slowly.

As we headed to tonight’s aire we passed some buffalo in a field enjoying their lunch. They did not give us a second glance, as we took the opportunity to photograph them.

_{We arrived at the medieval village of Monze early this afternoon. It has a stunning example of a stone Roman bridge. As with all the river beds in the area, the one here is bone dry. It would be interesting to see them, when they are full from the torrents of water that have tumbled off the nearby hills.}

We are now in the department of Aude, and the wine of this particular area is Corbieres. The aire is at the back of the village, and our view is of the grapevines, which come right up to our door. Even though the grapes have long been harvested, there are still some bunches on the vines and laying on the ground. They taste very sweet. 

Some of us could not help trying to be funny with them!

_{Although the wind is still brisk, the temperature is a much more comfortable 25c. Whilst boiling some eggs this afternoon the breeze blew a piece of kitchen paper onto the hob, which we did not notice straight away. It was nearly au revoir Marge!}

_{This evening we will take another walk out, probably up through the grapevines.}