Now at Sommieres en Route to Ran du Chabrier

We have now left the Mediterranean coast and are heading north (again).  We got half way to Toulouse before I realised that I had been navigating us to the Perigord instead of the Ardeche!!  Only 300 kms in the wrong direction!!!  Kenny was amazingly cool about it (he has been taking his stay calm pills :-)) but I was furious with myself - duh!!  Anyway we are now on the right track.  I am a little trepidatious and am living in the hope that we are not going to The GORGES of The Ardeche again - Sue and Richard I don't think my poor nerves could take it (shades of Mrs Bennett from Pride and Prejudice).  Will report on that later.

The last three days have been scorchers (33 very hot degrees with no breeze in sight) so we are glad to be going northward it will hopefully be more comfortable.

Have been holding off on the washing and decided to do about 3 weeks' worth when we arrived here at lunchtime.  Had to wait till Monsieur was back from his 3 hour lunch break (3pm) before I could get token for washing machine (or access to the swimming pool).  I had just got first lot hung out and put second load in, when we got thunder and the heavens opened and it pelted down.  Have now got damp, rescued first lot in bags ready to hang out again tomorrow, and have risked overnight rain to hang sheets out 'cos we have nowhere to put them in the van.  Bloody frustrating and the place looks like a Chinese laundry.

We are off to our naturist camp tomorrow (not much washing to worry about there!) :-)  We would usually go to one at Cap D'Agde on the coast, but decided on a change this year and we are trying a different one that was suggested by friends.  Should be interesting.  Looking forward to lying around sun baking, but the weather forecast is not real terrific.  If it is not good enough weather, we will probably push on to Lyon and further north.

It is quite annoying as we have spent the last couple of days at the beach at Marseillan Plage and it was too hot to sit on the beach so we just sat in the shade at the Aire de Service and read our books - we will never get a decent tan at this rate!!!

Never mind.  By tomorrow night the washing should be done one way or another and we will be a little more organised in the van.

Thank you to everyone who rang and/or emailed Kenny for his Birthday on Tuesday.  He was quite chuffed.  He also got the e-card that you sent Mum - clever girl!  It is lovely that you all remembered.  Extra special was the Happy Birthday chorus from Nicole and Danielle - Granddad thought it was lovely.  Now if only Grandma can remember everyone else's birthdays :-)  I have been very slack this year with the Birthday cards - sorry everyone.

I have a few notes recorded, but will hit you with that next time.  That will do for now, but I am not sure what the Wi-Fi situation will be for the next week, so don't hold your breath on my next posting.  And if we are down on the Ardeche I am not sure how good phone reception will be either.  All good with us unless you hear otherwise.

Keep well till next time.