Chapter #19

So...

this is the second last chapter,

and it's a long one,

so maybe go get a cuppa:)

We were heading for Spain...

Ainsa to be precise.

Only 50 or so miles from the French border,

but incredibly so

completely different scenery.

Sunset on the first day set the scene -

this was a world series race

for Jake

so I was in full

support crew mode :)

Of course I can always find a few hours

here and there to explore...

...and the olde town did not disappoint.

As if it ever would :)

...now that is some door -

isn't that incredible :)

This is the view

out over the valley where we were camping.

Off in the distance,

did a little bit of walking around

that great big hill,

but I have to confess,

mostly around the bottom of it!!

Early start to the first day of practice,

but with views like these,

it didn't both me in the least...

...and throughout the next two days,

as I shuttled Jake around the stages for practice

I was in awe of the scenery...

...again,

touches of autumn creeping in...

We both arrived in Ainsa with absolutely

no idea

of what to expect...

and I have to say that this place left me

with the most amazing memories,

in all regards.

The countryside was breathtaking,

the olde historic village was beautiful,

and the organisation of the event was

absolutely far and away the best

of all the races we attended...

it was fun and lively,

great atmosphere,

and at the end of day one of racing

they even managed to produce the most spectacular

downpour of rain that I have ever seen

 in all my life:)

Thankfully Jake had finished for the day 

and we were actually back at camp when 

the heavens opened and it down it came...

phenomenal...

within two minutes, maybe,

the driveways were flowing with water,

like mini creeks.

Turned out that the last stage

of the race had to be cancelled as some of the riders

were unable to finish it

due to the fact that the tracks became rivers

with water flowing up to two feet deep!!

The storm didn't last long,

but crikey it came down!

Our stay in Ainsa was too short,

this is definitely a place on my list of 

"going back to" :)

From there we had to make tracks quickly

as the following weekend was the final race,

another important world series one,

and it was in Italy!!

Two long days of driving,

stopping off at Loupian for the night.

Yes,

of course I managed to squeeze in a quick

walk around the wee village...

...is this not the most gorgeous

gates of entry to a village?

 

...it was getting late,

but it did look so lovely with the lamps lit.

On the road early next morning,

to get a good start,

and even so we pulled into Finale Ligure

just on dark,

with no reservations,

and no vacancies!!

Ooops!

Finally found something for the night,

but the following morning

we looked a little further afield

and found our villa on the Italian coast.

Just delightful,

in the next township of Varigotti.

I love Varigotti:)

...the view from our balcony,

one which I could definitely get used to :)

...late in the afternoon,

nobody left on the beach,

had it all to myself.

..wandering through the lanes of the village,

and in fact the photos do not quite do

justice to the colours...

...the houses were vibrant sunny colours,

matching the day :)

Again Jake had practice days 

before the race days,

so no time to explore on those days,

but come race day,

he was away for hours on end,

so it was my turn to wander as well :)

The little village of Finalborgo

was my first port of call...

...wasn't hard to fill in a few hours here:)

...thought this looked like the perfect little

spot to enjoy a coffee...

...a walk up the hill behind the village took me through

orchards of fruits I had never seen,

and olive groves by the dozen...

...absolutely could not resist this

gorgeous fabulous green door:)

The next day I headed up into the hills behind

our villa.

So beautiful...

this is looking down on the village

of Varigotti...

...and looking the other direction

toward Finale Ligure...

...a tiny little village perched on the top

of a hill...

...peeking through the trees I spied

this chair,

thought it just looked like

the most perfect place to sit

and ponder :)

We had the most glorious time in Italy,

even the storms were impressive...

Jake's final race was massive,

again one stage got cancelled due to high winds

and rain,

but both bike and body made it to the end

in one piece so that's always a good thing:)

We stayed on for a couple of days in Varigotti,

not really wanting to leave,

but sadly we could not put the inevitable off.

Another beautiful gem to be stored in the 

memory box.

Loved every moment of our week on the Italian coast,

but it was time to head back to France...

...a parting sunset from Varigotti...

See you back in France

for the final part of the most 

wonderful journey :)

Jenny xx

p.s. I would just like to say thank you to those

that left such lovely comments on my last post...

you are so very very kind...

thank you for coming along and sharing

this adventure with me.

Um...I am a little lost for words,

cos of your kindness :)

I hope that one day you find yourself

in some of these wonderful amazing places

that I have been lucky enough to see.

You will love them too:)

Thankyou xxx