Latest fashion!

Caramba! We went up to the pool only to find that one is required to wear a bathing cap. These we duly purchased at reception and went back to the van to try them out [our memories of swimming caps telling us that these can be very difficult to put on]. Here is David in his - and, no, you're not seeing me in mine!

A quiet corner

Sweeping into Spain

After breakfast with Dave and Linda, we travelled on through Marmande, Mont de Marsan and a night's camping south of Biarritz, then on into Spain. Roads are mainly dual carriageways with little traffic and glorious views of the hills and coastline - the sunshine helps, of course. I hadn't realised that even though we were very near the coast, we still had to cross the Pyrenees - bridges across valleys and tunnels through hills. We were making great progress until we found ourselves being syphoned off the E8 on the outskirts of San Sebastian, and again outside Santander. My driver has a penchant for straying off motorways [might be something to do with the tolls!] However, we are now happily ensconced in a quiet corner of our first campsite in Spain, a little to the west of Laredo. May stay a couple of night if the sun continues to shine [sorry folks - we know it's been pretty awful back home this week].

More catching up

On Tuesday we left our campsite at St. Foy to drive down past Duras to Dave and Linda Beattie's place. WOW! What a pad - a converted barn facing south with fantastic views over the countryside. One of their first jobs was to shovel cow muck from the stalls. Now it has some amazing features such as a staircase incorporating an immense wine barrel, feeding troughs for the cows now beautifully restored and a mezzanine gallery to the rooms on the upper floor. Spent a lovely afternoon and evening there [thank you both!]. Dave had made a fish soup which went down very well. Coffee and croissants for breakfast the next morning then, somewhat reluctantly, we had to take to the road again.

First breakfast outside

This is what we came for - croissants and coffee outside in the sun! This is our campsite outside Saint Foy La Grande on the banks of the Dordogne. Last visited Saint Foy more than ten years ago . Went back to look at our previous campsite at Baillou to find it covered in vines - must pay more than camp site fees!

Catching up with friends

Left the chateau campsite north of Limoges and drove down to Penny and Regan's place near Pensol, north of Chalus [Penny is Rod's elder sister]. Penny and Regan have a bungalow with lovely views over woods and fields. They've recently extended it and will have a very spacious living area and master bedroom when all is completed

Regan took us on a tour of the local hamlets , we called in at a bar in their nearest village, then back to Penny and Regan's for a very French and very garlicky meal. Delicious!

Removing the greenery