Gens de Voyage

Camping Le Parc could only accommodate us for a week as the International Fair (this year's theme: Latin America) was due to take place, so we spent a pleasant if quiet time there and then headed off to Agde for ten days.
Montpellier remains one of Greyrock's favourite cities, and the cycling in and near it is excellent, but Ruth was suffering again with a cough and the knees so it was Bob that did those trips. We both, though, used the new tramline 3 which goes from Lattes to the centre and we sat in the main place in glorious sunshine being entertained by students - presumably as part of rag - hurling cream pies. Palavas was very crowded on the Sunday and it was hard to discern signs of austerity. The weather was so good that the site delayed the closure of the pool and hardy Swiss campers went in. Greyrocks didn't!

 

Being too mean (careful) to pay a booking fee we set off early on departure day in order to catch the Mimosas reception before the lunch break. We were greeted effusively and given a three-bedroom mobile for an excellent price. The weather was not as good as that of the previous week, but still remarkably pleasant for October, and Ruth was recovered sufficiently for bike rides down to the Grau. Our Sunday lunch was at La Créoline beside the Marina:- glorious food and treats for the birthday of one of the owners!
Climatic conditions became less than tropical as our stay progressed, with high winds causing  Dutch motorhome owners to dismantle awnings and flee! We battened down hatches and survived unscathed. On a day with a particularly unpromising méteo we made a long car tour, getting deeply embroiled in the difficult historic centre of Béziers as we sought the locks of Fonserannes. We got there in the end and they are as interesting and impressive as ever!
Fortunately our mobile had a large canopy, under which we parked Yvette for the major unpack and re-pack necessary before final hibernation. We spent the final Sunday engaged in this whilst dodging showers, then had a jolly time at the hypermarket laundrette, where the dryers were very busy! Our final French meal of the year was reduced by the weather to an unremarkable affair at the hypermarket cafeteria!

We feared we would have another of those terrifying stormy Pyrenees crossings, but in fact it was alright. We went in and out of five thunderstorms on the autoroute / autopista to Girona, but the traffic was light, and we arrived at the parking in good time. The first train was very crowded, but the Line of Fear presented no problems and we were transported by shuttle from the airport (avaoiding Celtic fans!) to the hotel. We compensated for the previous night's dinner by eating at the hotel, which serves what looks like a rather expensive menu but has free-flowing wine and worked out both delicious and good value! Reveille was 4a.m, and that was the start of a very stressful day! Watch this space!