Chapter #1

Where do I begin -

it's only been a week since we left,

but so much to tell.
Warning -
you might have to make a cuppa
to get you through to the end of this :)

First up -
a short stay in Lyon to collect supplies,
a car,
and some sleep -
then we hit the road.
Lac de Naussac was our first stop.
Absolutely beautiful setting for a camping ground,
just a few steps up the hill from the lake,
with a view to die for...

...and a truly spectacular sunset

for our first night on the road...

... I have a feeling we may have provided

some entertainment for fellow campers

that first night:)

Putting up our tent for the first time

 proved to be

 an exercise in grim determination

to master the fine art of 

reading and understanding instructions

that appeared to be somewhat

on the "confusing" side

of "easy to assemble"!!!

So...

the next day was my birthday :)

Never thought I would be spending it in France

again this year :)

Spent the morning exploring Langonge -

the beautiful village by Lac Naussac.

Walked the back road down to the village

past this view in the distance :)

...around the cobbled lanes of the Langogne...

...wandered up one little grassy one
that I'm not sure 

I should have been on

but it looked too lovely

not to go...

...and ended up back at the local market,

fossicking through, of all things, 

a haberdashery stall -

how amazing was that...

I bought some lace and buttons:)

( I know - such a surprise:))

But,

I also bought the best tasting cherries

in the world,

apricots that were sublime...

...and a jar of lavender honey.

Wonderful little stash of birthday treats.

The afternoon was a little lazy and relaxing,

it was almost too hot to move:)

It has taken a little bit of adjusting

to the temps over here,

coming from a southern winter

to summer days of between 30 and 40 degrees!!

The day finished with a spectacular electrical storm -

I thought it was big enough to be just a

 little bit scary!!

But I am reassured by Jake

that it was a baby storm.

There are much better storms to come,

he says...

Just cant wait for those :(

Leaving the next day,

heading for Andorra,

stopping along the way to explore

the charming village of

Sainte Enimie...

...could have spent hours there :)

Was reminded today of the tendency for 
some of the roads to be slightly
narrower than what we are used to back home.
Driving along an already skinny road,
there's a sign ahead that says
-road narrows-
and you think ... nooooo ???
how can that be so
 but yes indeed
it does get skinnier!
Feels like you actually have to 
"breathe in"
 to get past the lorry or bus that's coming
right at you!!!

Plans changed a little last night
and we pitched camp in Mazamet.
Just as well we really have very few plans :)

Explored the medieval town
of Hautpoul,
just a few miles away...
the tiniest of villages,
perched on the side of a mountain
with the most fabulous
recreation of 
a medieval garden...

 

...the pictures don't do it justice,
it was truly beautiful.

Another thunderstorm that night,
but thankfully far enough away that we only 
got to watch it.
Pretty happy about that as the lightening
was ferocious, 
striking every few minutes.

Yesterday we drove from Mazamet to Andorra
and whilst it's only a little over 300 kms,
it takes longer than you think 
due to two main factors -
those skinny windy roads through mountain passes
and
photo opportunities :)

We came across a field of wild poppies - 
somewhere on the back roads...

...this is one of those images

that I will never forget -

unbelievably magic in reality.

So we are now in Andorra,

base camp for the next week,

but under a solid roof instead of canvas.

Same gorgeous little villa 

we stayed in last year...

cute as a button...

and glad about the tin roof last night

because it was thunderstorm #3, 

but this one was right over head

and boy did it bucket down.

Gotta get used to these I reckon :)

Jake has his first race coming up

on the weekend,

so full training mode -

leaves me plenty of walking time and

that's exactly where I'm about to go 

when I finish up here :)

That's it for the first instalment,

it's been an awesome week.

See you

Jenny