Jonquieres campsite, France
82 days and 2,300 miles later
Time to go home!

Le Barroux, France
This fortified château with its distinct Renaissance style has had a turbulent history. In the 12th century the château belonged to the lords of Baux. It was then passed on to several noble families. In the 16th century the fortress was converted into one of the most beautiful Renaissance homes of the region. It was damaged during the revolution, sold and then abandoned in the 19th century, and had to wait until 1929 for reconstruction to begin. Unfortunately in 1944 it was damaged by a fire started by German troops. However, this did not discourage the owners who began restoration work in 1960

Bedarrides, France
Painted window which matched other windows of the house.

Jonquieres, France (2 of 2)
Lunch Menu. Tomato soup - Melon, cold meat, pate, chutney - Salmon parcel, peppers - Chicken, pork, aubergine parcel, curry pickle - Cheeses - Ice-cream, pineapple, sauce and biscuit. Never ending supply of baquettes and wine. Superb!!
More caves, champagne, sorbet and fruit juice before returning to campsite at 8.30 for 'picnic' for those who went on Velo Vigne, BBQ sausages, own food and more wine. Still hot and very tired after being on feet in sun for most of the day but one of the highlights of our trip!

Jonquieres, France (1 of 2)
We met at Marie at 8.30 for coffee and croissants. Headed off following lead car for family bicycle tour of local vineyards. First stop was honey produce. Then 3 caves, Domaine Duplessis, Domaine Rigot and Chateau Malijay. We were allowed onto the roof of the Chateau and had views of Mont Ventoux. Then on to a Potager. Lunch was at Domaine De l'aurore which lasted from 1.30 to 4p.m. 40-50 people seated on one long table outside in the shade, mostly French. We had a very good, fun afternoon with them, especially after a lot of wine!

Seguret, France
Cycle ride from campsite to the hills today. Took scenic route stopping at Sablet, a round village
characterised by the fact that its streets and houses wind in a spiral around the church. The encircling ramparts and towers (14th century) are a reminder that Sablet has a tumultous past. Continued to Seguret which lies at the foot of a hill topped by the ruins of its feudal château. Séguret is one of the official "most beautiful villages in France". Fields of sunflowers are now bowing over like 'lots of sad faces!'

Orange, France
Cycled to Orange from campsite taking all fresh food with us to eat, as too hot to leave in tent. Shops close at 12 today so tinned food for dinner. Have been buying boxed lollies from local supermarket and eating 2 each, to cool down! Crossed River Aigues, quite wide, which was completely dry. Went to top of Parc Colline where you have a view across Orange and down into the Roman Theatre. Walked around taking photo's of interest. A 'vagrant' looking man stopped to talk to us in French but I told him we did not understand as we were a bit wary of what he wanted. When he realised we were English he changed to near perfect English and asked us about our travels. When we parted he thanked us for speaking to him. There's a moral there somewhere!

Bedarrides, France
Decided to stay at Jonquieres campsite for rest of tour as was near to Orange, our pick up point, and was a quiet place within easy reach of many interesting villages. Weather was also now very hot, 40+ at times, so we could leave all our luggage in one place and not have to find campsites. We visited Bedarrides a few times as it was very cool next to the river and one of a few with water still flowing. An old man, Vic Mildrew type character, told us in French it was too hot to cycle in Provence, got in his car and gesticulated to push hot air out of the windows and waved good bye.
Made us smile!

View from Pont du Gard, France
Cycled from Sourvignargues to Remoulins 37 miles, mostly open road. Very hot and hilly, climbing slowly. Stopped at boulangerie in Sanilhac where baker heated quiches in bread oven and we ate under shade of trees. Stopped many times for drinks. Long descent along gorge into Collias. Took a long route to find campsite, Vers, Castillon du Gard and St. Hilaire d'Ozilhan. Tourist Office found us a place near River Gardon.

Pont du Gard, France
The Pont du Gard is an aqueduct constructed by the Roman Empire. It is built on three levels, the Pont is 49 m high, and the longest level is 275 m long. On its first level it carries a road and at the top of the third level, a water conduit, which is 1.8 metres high and 1.2 meters wide and has a gradient of 0.4 percent. It was constructed entirely without the use of mortar. The aqueduct's stones, some of which weigh up to 6 tons, were precisely cut to fit perfectly together eliminating the need for mortar.

Montpellier, France
Took one pannier each with food, cameras, valuables etc. Took road to Sommieres, quite busy with traffic and slowly uphill. Then on to Galargues, very hot already. Went through St. Drezery and Teyran. Walked about Montpellier
looking at places of interest and ate lunch in the square before returning to campsite. Stopped at Sommieres on way back. Very old town on the edge of The Camargue with riverside cafes and narrow old streets with lovely restaurants.

Montpellier, France 2,007 miles
Visited Uzes on way to Souvignargues, old town with historic buildings. Stopped at Pougnadoresse and sat in shade on church steps to eat lunch. Cycled along very straight open road getting roasted but couldn't find campsite or B&B. until 45 miles later in very hot temperature. Full but
managed to stay 2 nights. Left all luggage at camp and decided to leave at 8a.m. for Montpellier (48mile round trip)

Chartreuse de Valbonne, France
Set in the heart of a magnificent thousand-year-old forest, the Chartreuse de Valbonne, historic monument dating from the 13th century , is located between the gorges of the Ardeche and the Ceze river valley. Heading towards Goudargues, a scenic route although some pushing required. Ate picnic by the vineyard. Very busy around L'Ardeche as is now holiday season, campsites are full and roads much busier.

Viviers, France
There is an extensive warren of narrow and cobbled streets, with roof tops which look as if they almost meet when viewed from above. Thinking of going home when we reach Montpellier as it is now too hot, the campsites are hard to find and very dusty. Visited coiffure and had very short haircut due to the heat.

Viviers, France
Ornate altar in Cathedral

Viviers, France
The cathedral dates from the 12th century to the 18th century. It's features include the belltower and campanile, and the tapestries inside. Still very hot. Stayed for 2 nights and visited places of interest on map from tourist office.

Les Batailles , France
Very hot day and a nice welcome were the powerful hoses watering the sunflower fields which sprayed onto the road. We purposely waited and cycled through them, sometimes turning round for another soaking! Spent a long time trying to find somewhere to stay. Eventually found a farm in the middle of nowhere but we had no food. They sold us some milk and bread from their kitchen and gave us some tomatoes from their garden, also some windfall peaches. These with our tin of pate, eating in a shady hollow, was a meal to remember. Simple things in life!

Grenoble-Tullins, France
Came across cycle path which followed the river out of Grenoble, along the valley towards Valence. Very scenic route. Stopped at Tullins and stayed 2 days to rest. Weather is now very hot so bundled up clothes and maps not required into large parcel and sent them home.

En-route from Chambery to Grenoble
Panoramic views of the Alps could be seen on this route including Mont Blanc with snow on the peak. Went over Col de Marcieu 1060m. Steep descent (the best bit!) along winding roads through tunnels to St. Pancrasse. Reached Grenoble at 8.pm. after 46 miles!

En-route from Chambery to Grenoble
A long ride today. Have decided to follow scenic and 'hilly' route along D282 and D30c to Grenoble, which runs parallel to the motorway but high in the mountains. Lots of pushing, very hot, refilled water bottles in village fountains. Road was almost traffic free, meandering into ravines.

Annecy, France
Tour de France was being held around Lake Annecy the following day, so lots of tourists. Had lunch, took photos's then cycled out of Annecy towards Rumilly and stayed on a farm.

FRANCE Lake Annecy 1,600 miles from home!
Cycled or rather pushed bikes part of the way over Col du Mont Sion 784m and through Groisy on way to Annecy. Lots of long climbs and long descents. A tiring cycle but great views.

Rolle (Lake Geneva), Switzerland
View from tent of French Alps. Decided to stay for two nights as was a good spot with great views.

Chateau at Villars Lussery,
Switzerland
As we cycled past the Chateau a group of Americans on a cycle tour, where their luggage is carried for them by van, invited us to join them for lunch in the grounds where their chef had prepared a buffet spread on a table. We chatted for a while then continued towards Lake Lausanne.

Yvonand, Lake Neuchatel, Switzerland
Large camp site with rental caravans but was allowed to camp away from the maddening crowd on a small area for cyclists right near the water's edge, which we shared with a Swiss family. Stayed for three days as was a lovely spot and the weather was now hot and sunny although during the night we had some ferocious thunder storms unlike any in this country. Spent the time swimming in the lake, walking along the shore after breakfast and in the evening and cycling to a small harbour a couple of miles away for coffee and watch the world go by!

Altreu, Switzerland
Camped at Altreu next to the river with stork all around us. You could hear them clicking their beaks and watch them fly along the river to their nests. We just sat and watched them for ages. Amazing, definitely a sight not to miss! I later videoed them with some nesting in the trees.

Altreu, Switzerland
The stork colony near Selzach is internationally known as a breeding station and nurturing environment for white storks. Sometimes over a hundred storks live here. Although we didn't know this at the time and just happened across them which was quite spectacular. Roof top after roof top with nests full of stork and their young.

Aarau, Switzerland
The old town has the most beautiful eaves, the so-called "Dachhimmel", in Switzerland.

Aarau, Switzerland
Stopped for coffee and walkabout. Aarau is the capital of the Canton of Aargau in the Swiss Mittelland, to which the town and canton owe their name. Aarau for a brief few months in 1798 was Switzerland's first capital and home to Switzerland's first Houses of Parliament.

En -route to Turbenthal, Switzerland
Following route along valley across Switzerland. Been raining all morning but finally the sun came out so stopped here for picnic lunch. Later going through the woods saw a sign which read 'Bears for next 10km', which took a few moments to register but luckily we didn't come across any!

Near Lutschwiil, Switzerland
Entrance to cheese factory with paintings of workers on wall!
Later came across campsite just before it poured with rain. Only ones camping again, wonder why!
A few houses nearby, no shops but a small wooden building with a gazeebo attached, a meeting place for the locals! They didn't have any food but kindly cooked us some sausages (brought from their house across the road as was the beer) on a griddle which we had with bread.

SWITZERLAND 1,233 miles so far!
Took ferry to Konstanz and crossed border into Switzerland. Cycled along narrow lanes through rolling hills passing small farms with livestock, typical Swiss scene, and past a cheese factory.

Lake Constance
After cycling over hilly terrain Switzerland is in sight!

Donauworth and back!
A Long Day 53 miles but only advanced 6 miles! Left Donauworth at 10a.m. cycling in sweltering temperatures, steep hills and pushing at times. Turned back at 3p.m when we realised we were on wrong route. Found fountain to cool down and drinking tap, refilled bottles. Passed Donauworth again at 5p.m and continued until about 7p.m. but no campsite. Local farm was having annual village beer festival and meal in marquee with trestle tables and allowed us to camp and eat! One of the best meals. In the morning everyone had gone and we hadn't heard them leave as we were so tired. Mary Celeste!

En-route to Harburg
Stopped in woods for a rest but too many mosquitoes for a picnic, so continued to a shady spot under a tree by the road.

Cycled in very hot temperature through woods on dirt tracks, sometimes pushing them uphill. Passed an engineering workshop with this trike made from over-sized nuts and bolts.

Dinkelsbuhl
A historic city in Bavaria and a former Free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire. Dinkelsbühl has old churches, half-timbered houses, fountains, massive city gates and annual pageantry.
Very hot day walking around and tried keeping to the shade of the buildings.

Dinkelsbuhl
Our tent in field to ourselves with lake just behind us. Stayed for 2 nights as weather was now very hot and site was a good spot for visiting old city which also had wooden framed buildings and cobbled streets withing a city wall. Also local supermarket had large choice of cooked meats and pasta's which we could eat on the picnic table in field. Feasted for a couple of days!

Rothenburg
Kathe Wohlfahrt's christmas shop has the largest collection of decorations, which has to be seen. Photographs were not allowed but this picture is of a display just inside and all the characters move. We left our bikes outside fully loaded and went in. (Anyone wanting to cycle off with that load is welcome). I bought a tea-light in the shape of a reindeers head with a santa hat on, nothing too heavy to carry for the rest of the trip.

Rothenburg
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is the most picturesque and well-preserved of the towns along the famous 'Romantic Road.' It's the only walled city in Germany without a single modern building. Most of the buildings were built by 1400.

Reicholzheim
A beer festival was here for the weekend with a band. We listened to it whilst standing under a shop canopy sheltering from the rain, eating hotdogs in toasted baguettes, a familiar activity. Stayed at campsite for 2 nights catching up on the washing, which we hung in the wood shed on a makeshift line.

Tauberbischofsheim
844 miles so far!
Walked around old town and then stopped at Gasthof for lunch before continuing our journey along the river Tauber. Nigel bought largest tin of soup ever seen and a litre of milk which he carried for the next 20 miles (he had misread the distance we had to go) and it was now hot and humid. Saw nice chap at camp site, sorry no picture, wearing plastic hot pants, top, thong in pink and knee length boots camping in small van. Kept our distance!

Wertheim
Another old town with wooden framed buildings
Very hot day with temperature at 29c at 4p.m. Bought cold drinks continuously along the way and Nigel bought a 300ml tub of chocolate ice-cream, which was fortunate for him as I'm not too keen on it!

Lohr am Main
Campsite on edge of river.
Canoe paddling to beat of drum practising for canoe race.

Lohr Am Main
Camped nearby and were able to walk around old town with cobbled streets. Stayed for a couple of nights, catching up with washing and eating!

Near Sinntal

Hilly route along the river Sinn. We had cycled from between the hills in the valley.

Bronnzell
Getting wet leaving Bronnzell, crossing from the river Fulda to the Main.

Reiskirchen
After 3 weeks of varied standards of showers on campsites, some going off before finishing washing, I requested a bath at this hotel. The German translation was 'we have one with swirly bits' and was amazed to find a full size jacuzzi en-suite at no extra cost! Although it took ages to fill, it was pure luxury.

Limburg
Old city