Tuesday 2 October 2018

Horny Torino

The Alps, while stunning from a distance, are hideous to drive over. The words ‘windy’, precipitous, and terrifying come to mind. Thankfully, Mr Fluffy, the driver, does not share my fear of heights and speed and seemed to relish the Top Gear-esque drive across to Italy.
Chianocco 



After a day recovering at a site in Chianocco we’ve made it through Torino on our way to the lakes. Torino was a revelation. A plethora of prostitutes greeted us along the streets of what seemed to be the main town and we drove through some major road works where they were repairing a bridge. I can’t help thinking this may have been a reaction to the terrible Genoa bridge incident as the concrete in the bridge looked ready to crumble. It was reassuring to hear the inevitable horns being tooted endlessly through the traffic jam.

Sunday 30 September 2018

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.



Wednesday 26 September 2018

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




Sunday 23 September 2018

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.

Thursday 20 September 2018

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.

Monday 17 September 2018

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

Saturday 15 September 2018

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!

A Soggy Return

It wasn’t the welcome home we expected - torrential rain, flooding, and giant potholes in pretty much every road we drove on today. Ugh! The...