Hello .... We are back!!

Hello friends, sorry that it's been so long but the Wifi signals have been so poor that the photographs could not be downloaded to tell the story of our Autumn sojourn.
But we are back, with a rapid breakdown of the last four weeks, which have taken us from Kerver in Brittany, southeast towards the Loire, then on to Albi, bypassed Carcasonne ( went there two years ago ) and headed for the Canal du Midi and a village called Homps. Time for the sea, sun and sand, so St. Pierre on the Mediterranean, with distant views of the Pyrenees, was our next resting place. Then eastwards along the coast to Cap d'Agde, Palavas Les Flots and possibly the Camargue.
However, heavy rain, due to last several days, put a dampener on that. Oh sorry, poor pun. Just realised.
We decided to head north west, based on weather reports, in the direction of Bordeaux and the Gironde. On the way, we spent a night up a mountain, overlooking Lake Pareloup.We then enjoyed the delights of the Gorge du Lot and the Valley of the Dordogne before spending a night amongst the trees at Azerat. Eventually we came to a small river port between Blaye and Royan, called Mortagna sur Gironde, where we awaited the sun.It was not to be, so now we are in Nantes on a luxurious city campsite and tomorrow we are going sight seeing ..... possibly in the rain but certainly on a tram!!
As you can see,if you have followed us on a map,we have certainly explored central and western France, especially the roads which have taken us off the main tourist routes and motorways.
The warm sunshine has failed to appear for any length of time and Autumn is well and truly in the air.
We have used sites rather be than Aires so that we can have electricity to power our small heater and make hot meals in the Remoska. No BBQs for us. Outdoor living will have to wait until next year!!
The colours of autumn are all around us: maples have turned gold and orange, the white flowers of the Russian vine are clinging to the walls and out buildings of farms and the red and claret of Virginia creeper hangs from the gable ends of cottages. Recently ploughed fields are terra cotta brown and the bright green shoots of winter wheat add to the artist's pallet.
So here is a picture gallery of most of our trip,with the odd caption so that you know where we are.

The Cabin of the Red Fish,where we had snacks by the beach.

Got to have a sunset and this was a beauty.
                                     
                             

The amazing Rose City of Albi.

Better light shows the pink brickwork

The narrow Medieval streets, where I found an Apple Store for a new charger cable

The beach ravaged by Hurricane Henry, on the Atlantic Coast

Then later in the holiday, the Mediterranean , at St. Pierre, which was covered with logs and tree trunks as far as the eye could see.

Here we have Homps, on the Canal du Midi

On the day we arrived ther was a car boot sale taking place on the tow path by the marina

And here is Sue enjoying herself, routing amongst other people's cast offs, looking for a bargain

Look what she found for us, a couple of bike helmets!!

Later we went on a boat trip down the Canal du Midi, which winds  under tree lined towpaths that turn the environment green

A mirror image of a small aqueduct

Having left the warmth of the South, we found ourselves at Lake Pareloup with this view from the Aire where we stopped, not realising that we were almost 1000 metres high , so we're very cold in the night!!

A tree that had been given a woolly jumper.

A tree wearing it's woolly jumper in St. Gyldas de Rhuys, Kerver.

 

Sue in cycling mode on one of the many safe velo routes, on the way to the supermarket. 

         

A street market with fresh produce, cheeses, spices,wine and bread.