Part 1 of the Spring Migration was two weeks in the Sud-Ouest - namely on the Languedoc-Roussillon coast. Rationally this would have been first Canet and then Lattes, but Camping Brasilia would not open until 23rd April, so we expended extra miles and diesel carrying on up the A9 and then coming back down for the final 5 days. As soon as we arrived at Camping Le Parc we realised there was something different about the prevailing conditions! It was busy.. very busy and we are used to real top-and-tail of the season desertion! Two thirds of France was having school holidays until at least the coming Monday, and half of them - including the local area, would have all of the following week as well! There was a bitter North wind, but the sun was shining, and indeed our campsite friends had filled the swimming pool, and hardy sorts were using it.
A shopping trip to the huge Grand Sud Carrefour confirmed that this was not going to be a quiet week or so!
After the great car-clearance and associated tasks Bob took himself off for a bike ride and exploration of how the A9 improvements were affecting cycle routes into the city. Ruth promised to try her bike the next day. This proved to be deeply depressing! In spite of eventual success in Fuerte she just couldn´t get onto the saddle of this bike and then turn the pedals. We borrowed tools and tried all manner of saddle heights but it was in vain. In deep despair we went instead by car to Palavas by the sea in Yvette. The town was heaving with visitors - entirely French - and the wind was cold, but manged some moules frites and a short stroll.
Next day being Sunday Greyrocks went for their treat of a trip by tram to Montpellier, a late lunch near Comedie and a discounted entry to the cinema for a V.O. film. In contrast with seaside locations the city was almost empty! We had no trouble getting into the usual restaurant, enjoyed a good feed and the only "fly in the ointment" was that they had run out of discount cinema tickets so we had to pay the full EUR7 each! We saw "A Bigger Splash" in great comfort and enjoyed it!
On a different evening we followed up an advertising postcard we had acquired and took the tram for a couple of stops past the station in Montpellier in order to find a music venue. The are turned out to be predominantly Arab, with few likely bars or restaurants, but lighted upon a Moroccan place and had a wonderful meal. Afterwards we got a good seat at Plein Lune and eventually saw Lazy Sundaze, which was a ten-piece band playing "UK Funk" and was very, very good.
In terms of daytime activity luck was not with Greyrocks, and by the time Ruth was riding adequately the weather had turned. The big achievement was a ride into Lattes itself for a menu du jour lunch. That went very well, as did a ride round the marina, but we parted company for diffent routes back to the ranch (easy and harder) and the heavens opened. The next few days were dogged by such weather.
Then it was south again for the opening day at Le Brasilia. We had booked a cheap mobile home, but it had been renovated and was very comfortable. The site was very busy with Dutch families, so not exactly peaceful, and there were gale force winds, so again cycling was largely limited - until the last day - to solo excursions by Bob. There was a bizarre incident in a promenade restaurant which had run out of food, but we had two excellent meals on other occasions.
After being in France for two weeks we had not spoken English to a single Anglophone and we had seen fewer than ten GB cars - including on a number of autoroute jorneys. This was to change as we headed for Charente at the end of the month!
A shopping trip to the huge Grand Sud Carrefour confirmed that this was not going to be a quiet week or so!
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| The original Alain Delon film |
Next day being Sunday Greyrocks went for their treat of a trip by tram to Montpellier, a late lunch near Comedie and a discounted entry to the cinema for a V.O. film. In contrast with seaside locations the city was almost empty! We had no trouble getting into the usual restaurant, enjoyed a good feed and the only "fly in the ointment" was that they had run out of discount cinema tickets so we had to pay the full EUR7 each! We saw "A Bigger Splash" in great comfort and enjoyed it!
On a different evening we followed up an advertising postcard we had acquired and took the tram for a couple of stops past the station in Montpellier in order to find a music venue. The are turned out to be predominantly Arab, with few likely bars or restaurants, but lighted upon a Moroccan place and had a wonderful meal. Afterwards we got a good seat at Plein Lune and eventually saw Lazy Sundaze, which was a ten-piece band playing "UK Funk" and was very, very good.
In terms of daytime activity luck was not with Greyrocks, and by the time Ruth was riding adequately the weather had turned. The big achievement was a ride into Lattes itself for a menu du jour lunch. That went very well, as did a ride round the marina, but we parted company for diffent routes back to the ranch (easy and harder) and the heavens opened. The next few days were dogged by such weather.
Then it was south again for the opening day at Le Brasilia. We had booked a cheap mobile home, but it had been renovated and was very comfortable. The site was very busy with Dutch families, so not exactly peaceful, and there were gale force winds, so again cycling was largely limited - until the last day - to solo excursions by Bob. There was a bizarre incident in a promenade restaurant which had run out of food, but we had two excellent meals on other occasions.
After being in France for two weeks we had not spoken English to a single Anglophone and we had seen fewer than ten GB cars - including on a number of autoroute jorneys. This was to change as we headed for Charente at the end of the month!
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