August 21st Nimes to La pont de gard

Lovely relaxed cycle to La pont de gard along the little roads, no big lorries  to contend with. Camped at a camp site which on the web looked a bit naf but is really quiet and shaded, with a pool and all for 16 euro, 8 euros cheaper as we are on velos :) went to look at the Pont Neuf and were flabbergasted to find out it costs 15 euro to view it!!!!! About turn!! Back to camps site where the couple next to us with the cutest little camping pod ever, told us ways to get in via walking track or to go later when the turn lights on and no-one there to charge. relaxed by pool and then headed to Pont at 8pm where Dave did a quick painting though he could barely see the colours he was putting on, so could have an abstract feel to it. Beautiful structure, the clever Romans, though not sure what they ever did for us??!!

Looking forward to stay in Vauclouse, there looks so much to do and looking forward to normal living and cooking. keep discussing the meals we shall have, it is a bit like I'm a celebrity, getting obsessed with food!

13th august to 20th August

Ok so much to say and so little time. Has to be summed up briefly really as Montpellier gorgeous city on 13th. 14th realisation lost passport for Natalie which after chat with British consulate looked ok for return on the 20th without it so continued to near grand motte for two nights wild camping.1st one ok and fun second one woken by men clearing beach following lots of walking around  trying to find appropriate place to sleep and fireworks set off near tent.

off to saint maries de la mer where i lost the will to wild camp again so headed to campsite 9km away which ended up as mosquito hell!!!!

next day birthday breakfast enjoyed though bitten to death, and headed to the sanest night in lovely hotels with day at pool then birthday meal in the very picturesque hispanic capital of the Camargue, saint maries. Dave managed two paintings in time there and then we headed to Arles on continuation of Van Goghs footsteps.

Arles a lovely place, lovely colliseum and fab buildings, ok campsite. Dave painted in the morning with two sales of the Saint maries paintings.

Off to Nimes to lovely Youth hostel to camp at, very relaxing prior to Natalie and Harry's journey back. relaxed evening  then up early for bus to train, missed bus but next bus got there, a bit tense but then both safely on train to Lille. Phone call from Lille though at 12.00 looking bad for natalie to return without form for travel, tense wait for all concerned, though harry sensibly got on allocated train on order to meet his leeds festival commitments. A relieved natalie then contacted is to say that British passport control guy came good and on way 2.30hrs late from lille, to London. Holiday to remember and be laughed about in the future!!!!!!!!! will follow with pictures soon. Having can of beer now xxxxxxx

montpellierr

wild camping

birthday evening

birthday sunbathing

wild horses of camargue behind hotel

saintes maries

bbq

sign of camargue

bbq

August 12th Les enfants arrivaint!!!!! Somewhere on a beach near sete to Montpellier 55km

Woke early and got off ok. Lucky so early as ride a lot longer than envisioned. Arrived at Montpellier campsite in time for quick dip then off on great tram system into really lovely city of Montpellier. very grand buildings and centre pedestrianised and really spacious. Found station easily and then they arrived :) natalie, Harry and his bag for life.

Back on tram then shop in the biggest shop ever (too big couldn't find everything) then beers and wine with barbir. Too much of the former from my perspective. Not too successful Skype to my mum and brother then too bed. Ground pretty hard and no sleep mats brought :/

August 11th Agde to somewhere along the beach to Sete 17km

Slept till 9.15. That's a 1st for the trip. Off to work out plan for tonight!

Cycle out along beaches between Agde and Sete, all the while reconnoitring for the optimum wild camp experience. Spotted place between campsites and the toilets/showers required then went on to settle for the day on the beach a bit further on. Lovely beach and clear and cool Mediterranean. Suddenly realised we have cycled from the channel, via the Atlantic to the Med in 5 weeks and 4 days, not bad for a couple of not really youngies!!! :)

Dave assumed his now natural position, crouched over his easel while i assumed a more relaxed pose, horizontal on my sarong. Bizarrely every time I nod off on the beach, along comes a potential buyer. Luckily no French required (on a previous occasion I was woken by Dave sort of grunting at me to talk to a women, straight away, difficult, not at that stage yet!!!). Lovely Austrian chap with perfect English interested.  As Dave showed him the full collection he just got confused as to which one to buy. Then off he went to shower and get his wife, oh no I thought will he return. But he did, unable to find his wife he collared a passing French man to help him decide, went for one of Dave's Vendee collection, Notre Dame de Mont.

Sale secured we then loitered for a while, Dave pursuing a new avenue of small canvases to increase the repertoire, to suit all pockets. As dusk approached we headed back to our spot, made tea and then WILD CAMPED. I have to assure all concerned parties at home that a full risk assessment was performed by the health and safety executive who appears to have come on this trip with me!!!!!!!! (you can take the man out of a SWE but you can't take the SWE out of the man) So with the sound of the Med lapping (sounded more like crashing!) we settled for the night.

August 10th Salleles to Agde 70km

Again pretty much stuck to the small roads along the Canal route. Lunch at Capestang on the canal side and then headed up and down to Vias where we planned to camp. Everything full!!!!!! Desperate attempts by the women in the tourist office located us an inland site but we decided instead to continue to Agde, thinking perhaps the first wild camp could be in order.

Got to Agde, really pretty harbour town and thought just to enquire at a 2 star hotel. 54 euros which we felt was pretty good when we have paid 46 for a dorm. Going to cook in the grounds and Dave maybe do a painting. Wild camp may be on the cards tomorrow when a bit more organised, peut-etre?! Good job we are organised for the first 2 nights, Monday and Tuesday when Natalie and Harry get here. Might be interesting for the other 5 nights!!!!

Dave decided to do a painting, so we both went down onto the river side and I cooked pasta sitting on a bench! must have looked a comical pair. Painted till 9pm then back to hotel. Quiet Saturday night in. Will check out historical town centre in the morning.

9th August Trebes to Salleles de 'Aude 55km

Slow start as bikes needed cleaning up and a look in the Office de Tourisme which had some great, reasonably priced paintings by a Mireille Rochefort. Quite Chegalesque, very bright and excellent depictions of France and French life. Dave was so taken he bought a book of her poetry in order to improve his French, so he will be talking in descriptive rhyme if nothing else :) A good shop needed at inter marche where dave got a roast chicken which was yummy!!! Yes have to come out of the meat-eating closet. I have partaken of this vital source of protein a few times, a woman cannot cycle 60-70km a day on a tin of chick peas, sorry to the cousins in Morecambe, Eve the honourary cousin and of course Natalie, who will be looking at me in a disapproving manner within a few days :/

Then on the road. decided to get off the Canal du Midi as the going was so rough yesterday, our bodies and bikes need a smoother ride. Fab days cycling. Great countryside, the Montagne Noir on one side of the valley and the lower Pyrenees on the other. Dave had missed the little villages and spotting the church spires, which in this area have become more tower like.

Afternoon tea break at Homps, pretty little place and then back on the little roads till we spotted a municipal campsite at Salleles. Popped into office de tourisme and the absolutely delightful lady there restored my faith in this service :) Left armed with lots of info about the Cathars, inquisitions and the crusades. Great little site, very peaceful and a nice Friday glass (well beaker) of wine to settle for the night.