And on into Spain

Hope all border crossings are this easy!....Jemima is proving to be a very good workhorse, coping well with the most challenging mountain passes we can find. Only problems so far have been a rattling exhaust mount, melted brake bulb holder (from overuse on the descents) and blowing the leisure battery charging fuse. All sorted at no expense!
For our first night in Spain we followed a dirt (hunting) track off the main road for 2km and were rewarded as it opened out onto a plateau with fantastic panoramic mountain views. [And fortunately no hunting the following morning!]

There´s Bears in them Hills!

Well - a Stevie Bear at least.... After a chance e-mail and a slight detour we met up with Steve for a couple of days at his sister and niece's farmhouse in the foothills of the Pyrenees. Only about 50km from the Spanish border and with a view of the peaks, it was the perfect spot for a bit of R & R as well as walking and some catching up.

Camping and a new look....

Camping in Cap Ferret (outside Bordeaux) for 3 nights while Sanna pops back to Londres for an urgent hair appointment .....and the screening for 'the Barristers'. Finally all over for Sanna so celebrated with birthday champagne. (Thank you Simon and Carole!)

The Wine Regions

From Brittany to the Loire and some wine tasting at Chateau Pierre Bise - delicious white wines 6 of which are now on board (pictured above with vineyard owner). Then through Cognac and on towards Bordeaux where we drove through the medoc and haut medoc stopping for some more wine tasting at Chateau Loudenne on the banks of the Gironde (Jemima in front of the chateau gates). Continuing south we passed through the Cote de Gascogne - Armagnac country - and spent a lovely afternoon learning about fermentation, maceration and vinification - and still remembered it all after extensive tasting! Last photo is outside Chateau de Millet with the owner Francis Deche and his daughter. This is the life!!!

Free Camping (& food)

Day 2 and we find ourselves on the South Brittany coast amid a crazy throng of ‘palourdes’ gatherers. The shellfish (rather like a cross between cockles and clams) were in abundance following two consecutive low tides. Sanna's charm won us a washing up bowl full; most of which we returned to the sea. The remainder we cooked and added to our evening meal. Very tasty - especially when washed down with a fine Rioja. Thank you Gary!

Overnight Ferry

After a good night's sleep aboard the overnight ferry to Roscoff we discovered Jemima had been up the whole night making new friends! A Breton couple returning from a tour of the UK and a couple from Bromsgrove (Malverns) off on a walking holiday in the Pyranees. This cameraderie never happenes with Ford Mondeos!

The leaving weekend

Our last weekend in the UK was one to be remembered. Surrounded by family, food, September sunshine and the beautiful Devon coastline! France tomorrow....