Richness of Richerenches

After 3 days in the Templar village of Richerenches in northern Provence we are now heading to Italy. We’ve been staying with an old school friend of mine, Carleen, who lives in a 900 year old house with a rather pleasant turret and balcony. Much good wine was drunk and Peter Andre’s kleftiko recipe was a triumph - who’d have thought. A few wine-free days follow. Thanks to Carleen Schmalz for a fabulous few days.

Pootling Through the Alps

It’s been a twiddly few days driving through the Alps. Graham seems to love the windy roads but I’m not so keen, especially as I’m the one in the middle of the road when we’re approaching a speeding truck. Despite my extreme terror the mountains have been stunning (of course) and the scenery spectacular (naturally). I think I prefer more open spaces; I find the mountains claustrophobic despite their beauty.

We spent a night at the medieval town on Chalons near the less attractive city of Albertville. I pigged out on a trio of lasagne at the only open restaurant. Graham sheeped out on some lamb and Hugo dogged out on our leftovers.

St Hugues de Chartreuse 

Last night we were in the middle of b...f... nowhere surrounded by amazing scenery (again). St Hughes de Chartreuse isa skiiing village outside Chambery down a particularly windy road with several tunnels. Graham loved the drive - I didn’t- but it was worth it in the end. UNfortunately we had to go back the way we came and we’re now in Marsanne drinking holy water form the pilgrimage site of Note Dame de Fresneau.

Chalons

High on a Hill ...

The noise of those cow bells must really be driving these cows nuts. We’ve driven up to a stunning place in the alps called Sommand and are surrounded by mountains, trees, ski lifts and the ever present sound of cowbells - did I mention that before?? Despite the noise it’s a gorgeous location and the fluffy one (AKA Graham) has just gone off for a walk. I hope he doesn’t get hijacked by a Dirndl-wearing mountain gal on his stroll up the paths.

Loving the sky

Walk this way

Alone on a hill ...

Reflection

We’ve just spent a fabulous couple of days in Montreux. Graham stayed in a campsite (whic wasn’t so fabulous) and I visited friends Radan and Johannes in Caux. The road to Caux was too tricky for Dickie (being up extremely twiddly roads with low bridges and perilous drops). Their house is stunning with a wall of glass looking out over mountains and the lake - and Johannes’ cooking isn’t too bad either. Graham was more than happy to get a plate of leftovers yesterday before we trotted off to a thermal spa for a drop of hot water swimming.

Hugo is starting to get used to being in the van again and doesn’t seem quite as terrified of everything. He’s keeping me company while I recover from the weekend’s excess of wine and good food. Strange he doesn’t seem to notice the bells.

No Omelettes Tonight

I thought my pronunciation was perfect but the chap in ALDI obviously didn’t agree. ‘Ou sont  les oeufs?’, I asked, perfectly annunciating ‘where are the eggs?’ Even my impersonation of a clucking chicken didn’t seem to help. ‘Je sais pas’, he said looking at me as though I had lost my mind. Maybe I’d better keep going with my french lessons. Oh well, tant pis. We shall remain eggless until an Intermarche comes into view.

Luckily there is a reastaurant in the teeny village of Ougney Douvot near Besancon (with a twiddly thing under the ‘c’). The path here was also twiddly and very thin at times but Dickie made it down the winding roads and we are now perched by a river. We’re watching a few swans swim past and a couple of happy black dogs writhing on their backs in the dust.

Why can’t I drive?

It’s too hot to go for a walk (31 degrees outside) so I’m reading The Night Circus and Graham is reading Bill Bryson’s ‘Down Under’. He keeps reading me snippets about dangerous animals and the number of slot machines per capita that Australia boasts - like I didn’t already know that :).

The fan is whirring in the background and Hugo has been for a dip in the river by the slipway. He loves a soggy tummy in this heat.

Graham has been loving driving on the French roads, spending nights parked up in pleasant villages, and walking along the canals. The landscape of Champagne can be a little drab with only vast farms and acres of grapevines to look at as we drive along but we are headed into Switzerland tomorrow which should throw a few more curves into the situation.

What’s on in Watten

Spent our first night at an Aire in Watten and met a lovely young Greek couple in a home made van, a couple of very attractive chihuahuas, and a racist Australian, (the last being a great disappointment).

Hugo is jealous of the chihuahuas because they are perfect in every way - see his blog

He’s currently lying under a wet towel to keep him cool. It’s 730 pm and it’s 28 degrees. We’ve had a pretty hot day but kept cool walking along Napoleon’s Canal - as you do.

Graham’s having fun sorting out the satellite signal on the tele. We may never find out how the Peter Pan Gramophone on Repair Shop turns out!

Napoleon’s canal

Watten canal

Sipping Napoleon’s canal water

How Now Brown Dog

Who’d have thought we’d find an American Indian campsite behind a pub in Sussex? Apparently, up the road from The Dog and Duck you’ll find the cowboy encampment. Who knew ...? Hugo enjoyed harassing the replica horse and the Fluffy One couldn’t help popping his nose inside the tents.

Welcome stranger 

I’ll just take a peep inside

He’s chasing me!

An Old World Ramble

What a beautiful day to spend wandering around the Weald and Downland Museum near Chichester. The sun was shining and the ducks were quacking.

Hugo and the Fluffy One got themselves into a bit of trouble and ended up in the stocks but I managed to extricate them from their bindings and we continued our perambulation around the resurrected buildings.

My, what a big bucket!

In trouble again

Summer in September 

Back with Blogger for Next Trip

Graham, Hugo and I are heading off on another European adventure and I've moved the blogsite back to Blogger as I'm now having trouble with Wordpress. 'It was ever thus,' she sighed.here is the link to the last blog if you want a catch up. Last year’s blog

After a while off the road due to various building works to our new house in Dorset, we are now ready to go off on another set of travels. We're starting in France then down to Italy and maybe Greece if we have the time.

We have some lovely friends looking after our house while we are away.

Follow us if you'd like to keep up to date with what we're doing. I'm hoping to get some great photos of the lovely places we'll be visiting. Here's one to kick off.

A stick on a beach