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!

A little further south

After 3 lovely days at Froncles we have prised ourselves away from the Marne canal bank and driven through the rolling countryside side north and south of Dijon where the vineyards stretch in every direction as far as the eye can see.

These are the grapes which are produced for Grand Crus !!

The whole of the side of the house is painted with wine bottle corks.

At the moment Delfin is parked at an aire by a lake in Autan. The truth of it is that there is a MacDonalds across the road where we can access free wifi as there have been such problems with the Europa Sim so it's two Happy Meals and catch up time.

Connected at last!!

Here we are, connected at last. Sorry that we have been off air for a week, but the simple art of reading and following instructions appears to have eluded me.

 Anyway after the frustrations of accessing the internet, our wanderings through France began in a 38* heatwave as we tramped the hot pavements of Reims to visit the Cathederal and gaze in awe at the much acclaimed Rose Window.

We were able to park up on an Aire right in the heart of the city which made being a tourist, very easy.

Since Reims, we have moved a little further south to Lacs Orient and Chantecoq,

 spending a night at each. The minor roads through Champagne  gave us endless views of vineyards and chateaux. We became very reflective driving through the Somme and Marne regions, as mile after mile, we passed the military cemeteries of all the nations who took part in both World  Wars. Each headstone or simple cross, placed in a symmetrical row, with hundreds of others, within the box hedges of beautifully kept gardens of remembrance.
There have been pretty villages with colourful baskets and troughs of geraniums and petunias; busy farmers are harvesting golden corn, others are irrigating or ploughing

. The maize is tall and the sunflowers are no longer able to hold up their heads but everywhere there appears to be prosperity.
We had one night when a swarm of mini flies took over the van. Swat, crackle and fizz were the sounds from Sue's new electric scorching machine, which resembles a tennis racquet, but it was the good old chemical spray which finally eliminated them.
First rain came on Saturday, but by then we had found a little paradise on an Aire between the Marne river and a canal of the same name. Delfin is parked parallel to the water and we have views of all the water borne activity.

Today we have peddled along the tow path for miles, enjoying the warmth and wildlife and calling in at picturesque villages which we might otherwise have missed.

One last item of news before we close for today,........ oops too late we've eaten it. Yes the Tarts are partaking of their first French tart of the tour!