Here comes the sun....de,de,de, deh....hum the tune!!

Back on the air. It helps to put money on the sim card if you want internet access!!
Ok, where are we I hear you say. At this very moment we are sat in an aire, quite close to the centre of Avignon, from where we got a free park and ride to the city walls.
Once we had disembarked, we went "sur le pont" and are now thoroughly immersed in the history and culture of this famous town.
Earlier in the day, with the temperature...wait for it ...touching 38*C, we were being very touristy at the Pont du Gard

. Being a couple of pensioners, you can imagine how our purses breathed a sigh of relief  when we were told that it was World Heritage Day, so admittance was free!
Going back to our chat, I think we were at Autun, and from there  we went to a hillside aire at Villerest, just outside Roanne and halfway up a mountainside, overlooking a reservoir. Chilly night, so out came the duvets again!

Sue plotted a spectacular route the next day, which took us across the Massif Central, where we were over 4,000 feet high and up in the clouds. We then went into the Dome region with the Puys and craters from the eruptions of yesteryear. The Religious Orders went to a great deal of trouble and expense to build their Churches and statues on the top of the remains of volcanic plugs.

Visited Le Puy, shopped at Lidl and came out to warm sunshine and temperatures in the 20s. Jeans off, shorts on!
The Valley of The Ardeche was to follow. Amazing limestone scenery, made blindingly white by the brilliance of the sun. We drove down the valley side, with its 10 percent gradient, for 9 kilometres, with twists and turns which were reminiscent of a white-knuckle ride. Qiite an achievement in our weighty Delfin. The gears were used  so much it felt as though I was mixing ice-cream.

The river flowed through a gorge, then became wider with small, sandy beaches, where people were swimming and kayaking. Eventually, after quite a long day, we arrived last night at Aubignas.

This hillside village dates back to the 11th century and has undergone considerable restoration. It is built on a basalt promontory and its houses cascade down the slope towards the river. Inside the village walls, picturesque, paved alleyways wind between volcanic stone-built houses.

 The smell of rosemary fills the air and a few sprigs have found their way into the van.
We are now in Avignon which is where our blog began this evening, with a view of the Papal Palace.
Looks a little like Disneyland but hope that doesn't sound sacrilegious!