Left ankle mine, other Barbs. Getting really fed up with those retractable dog leads and have binned 3 this year, all the expensive German tape ones. So I got a cheap cord one just so Jonesy can run on the beach. Let him have a run with the lead, he ran off and when it extended it broke and he ran around my leg, the cord wrapped around my ankle and then he sprinted off...burnt my ankle. Minutes later he did the same to Barbs. Daft thing is we went off and bought another tape one. I'll give it 2 weeks before the spring goes on that as well.

Four nights in Roses and then on to L'Estartit.

We had a total of 4 nights in Roses. It was enjoyable and we had some cheap meals out. However having visited Roses so many times we were looking to move to somewhere a bit different and somewhere we could watch the Champions League Final with a bit of an atmosphere. We hadn't actually stayed in L'Estartit (apart from when we bumped into Barbs brother Stephen in about 1990 and they put us up for  a couple of nights) but had ate and drank there many times. We remembered it as an unsophisticated resort catering for the budget coach trip holidaymakers from the uk. It was lively with cheap bars and restaurants. The type of place that would be overrun with sports bars with big screens for the footy.
On arrival (Sunday 26th May) it had changed considerably although it was still low season. The area known for Sports bars etc was now closed down and the resort seemed more up market with a better selection of restaurants. The waterfront seemed to have been given a faceover and generally the resort had a more welcoming feel about it. We looked at a couple of sites but went for Emporda set back from the main road into the resort. Here we found a large grassed camping area with minimal shade, but as it was low season and temps hadn't gone through the roof, this area seemed popular so we had a good choice of pitches with a bit more shade. The site is about a 15 minute walk to the town and has a good sized swimming pool with a Lidl about 5 minutes away on foot. A relaxing quiet site.

Emporda pitch

Dog beach at L'Estartit

Grau to Le Barcares

Left a rainy Millau on Friday and drove down to the coast to Le Grau D'Agde, it rained for most of the day and although it was a nice site (Les Sablettes) it was a bit isolated and further than the stated 800 metres to beach and waterfront. So as the weather picked up on the Friday we headed for Le Floride & L'Embouchure campsite at Le Barcares, near Perpignan. This was a site we'd visited about 9 years ago. We loved it then and always said we'd come back. Its another very commercial site with huge water park and a lot going on but as there are no school kids here its mainly the silver pensioners who play amongst the swimming pools. At 18 euros a night plus an additional 3 euros for the convenience we opted for a pitch that gave us our very own brick shit house. Actually its a very nice pitch with own toilet, wash basin, shower and sinks for washing dishes etc. The resort is quiet but has two supermarkets within easy walking distance. There is an aire in the harbour that has electric hook up and costs about 10 euros. The weather has been warm and sunny for the 3 days we've been here although in this part of France the wind can be quite strong.

Still refusing to go out of his depth.

Le Floride & L'Embouchure campsite pools.

Large pitch at  Le Floride & L'Embouchure with own shower toilet etc.

The cycle path that takes you to Riversaltes, once completed by us with Pickles in his carriage.

Millau Thursday 16th May 2019

Our arrival in Millau made me suddenly realise that this trip is fast becoming Phil and Barbs tour of French rivers. Our first night was on the Somme, second on the Seine, third on the Loire. 4th on the Allier and 5th on the Tarn. All stops have been on riverside sites or Aires. Millau is a pleasant town with chic bars and spacious parks. Its surrounded by mountains with deep gorges so it consequently attracts the active types that enjoy mountain biking, hill walking, canoeing and paragliding. Most sites are positioned on the riverside and we chose Les Erables a well shaded site with large pitches and good facilities. Cost was 12 euros a night. The weather is due to change for a couple of days with rain expected so we will probably head to the Med coast.

Millau centre

The Tarn river.

15th May in Vichy

The Aire at Vichy

Most sites are on the river. Presently the whole area is undergoing a big tidy up with a promenade being built along the river bank.

Nice drive down to Vichy a spa town in central France. We've stayed here before a couple of times before. We headed for a site we'd previously used with the kids but found an Aire just outside the gates that belonged to the site. Cost 10 euros a night with 16 amps electricity, shower, toilets, water etc. Campers can use the site facilities apart from the pool. Great stopover see photos above.

12th May 2019

The lingering Brexit uncertainties and the purchase of our new motorhome resulted in a late departure for Europe. We got the Eurotunnel out at 5:30pm after watching the Premier League climax on the laptop in the Eurotunnel car park. Not the conclusion we wanted but still we have the Champions League final to look forward to when we reach Spain.
We arrived fairly late in the St Valery Sur Somme/ Le Crotoy area, too late for campsites so we stopped at the aire in St Valery (12 euros with 'lecky but no toilets). A well positioned aire close to the town centre. Unfortunately we were also too late for the restaurants so settled for a tinned curry and rice washed down with a few tins of Boddingtons...how French.

St Valery Sur Somme

The following day we headed to one of our favourites Les Andelys, a beautiful riverside town with a great ACSI site. Walking along the riverside in the warm sunshine made us feel like we were on holiday. The site has good facilities although the electric connection wasn't strong enough for the heating in the van.

 Les Andelys on the river Seine

Early Tuesday we decided to 'bite the bullet' and take the shorter route to The Loire which meant touching Paris. For the last 20 years we've always avoided Paris but I felt confident that we would avoid traffic and just 'skirt' the capital. How wrong , the sat nav kept to the main artery route but got pretty close to the Eiffel Tower. Yes we hit traffic but we still made decent time and arrived at the aire in Chatillon Sur Loire just after noon. A lovely location close to the Loire river and on the banks of a canal port. The cost was just under 10 euros with electric, toilets, showers, water, dump and a large pitch. We discovered some lovely walks in the area but only stayed one night.

First trip out in new motorhome.

Picked up our new motorhome on Friday (26th April 2019) the first brand new vehicle we have ever bought, an Adria Matrix Supreme 670DC. The following Sunday we headed off to the south coast stopping overnight for a free night at Cornish Farm caravan park just outside Taunton. Here we had a Growler alarm and tracker fitted. We then drove a further 5 miles to have mirror protectors fitted. Now we were ready for the off and went to Beer Head Caravan park. 3 really nice days walking the cliff path trails. We walked into Seaton along a really nice waterfront. Of an evening we ate in the pubs watching the Champions League semis (Spurs v Ajax, Barcelona v Lpool). Tomorrow (Thursday) we are booked into Ladram Bay.

Jonesy, the original Growler.

Looking down on Beer with Seaton in the background.

Clifftops heading towards Branscombe

Beach at Branscombe

Thursday morning we moved to Ladram Bay for 3 nights. Walked into Sidmouth on one of the days and also Budleigh Salterton another day. Ate out at the Kings Head in the lovely village of Otterton

Looking towards Ladram Bay

Waterfront at Budleigh Salterton

The river Otter near Otterton

"Who me"?