Day 1: Derby, UK to Calais, France
With the Olympic torch skirting it’s way around London we feared the worse. We set off very early… And absolutely unheard of for us; we arrived in Dover 4 hours early for our ferry 😯
Day 2: Calais, France to Tours, France
Breezed along the almost empty French autoroutes, to a sweltering Tours. Hotel had the most piss-poor air-conditioning, but this was a very small price to pay for possibly the best meal either of us have ever eaten.
Day 3: Tours, France to Dax, France
Roads south of Bordeaux towards Bayonne are as busy as hell and truly shitty. Fact. Dax on the other hand, is rather quaint; as was our hotel. Sat up until the early hours watching the French coverage on the Olympic opening ceremony.
Day 4: Dax, France to Contamina, Spain
Driving through mountains is life changing and everyone should do this at least once. Driving through ‘rural’ Spain is like driving on Mars. Contamina is a tiny little village/settlement right in the heart of Mars (or Aragon)
Day 5: Contamina, Spain
It was hot; very hot. We had a pool, we had beer, we had sangria…
Day 6: Contamina, Spain
It was still hot; very hot. We still had a pool, we still had beer, we had wine…
Day 7: Contamina, Spain to Alhama de Aragon, Spain
Drove all of 2km today, to the nearby town of Alhama de Aragon. Armed with bread & wine we returned for a bit more relaxation.
Day 8: Contamina, Spain to Calatayud, Spain
Ventured a little further today for a spot of lunch at Calatayud. Eggs for breakfast, an entire Spanish omelette packed inside 1/2 a baguette for lunch, with more eggs with our tapas supper 😯
Day 9: Contamina, Spain
Spent an exhausting day sketching.
Day 10: Contamina, Spain to Alhama de Aragon, Spain
It was still hot, very hot, we still had the pool, we still had beer, and we also had gin… But sadly just for one more day 🙁
Day 11: Contamina, Spain to Pau, France
Waved a fond farewell to idyllic little Contamina and headed north through the mighty Pyrenees. Adios Espana and bon jour Francais. Top notch french pizzas in Pau tonight.
Day 12: Pau, France to La Roche Sur Yon, France
Drove over 200km on an invisible motorway this morning. Really must get a more up to date Sat-Nav 🙄 France was wet, very wet, and we weren’t used to this. Thankfully the sun was shining on our very civilised French camp-site and we safely managed to erect our tent without any trips to the local hospital (see earlier post).
Day 13: La Roche Sur Yon, France
A lazy day spent reading, bouncing & sculpting.
Day 14: La Roche Sur Yon, France to Fort Mahon Plage, France
Almost 2 hours to pack away & squeeze our camping equipment into our already bulging car 😯 Our final stop off before home was to be the exotic sounding seaside resort of Fort Mahon Plague. Exotic it wasn’t (and I’m confident, never has been!!!). By the sea it was. We’re just too snobby for our own good sometimes 😎
Day 15: Fort Mahon Plage to Derby, UK
The simple task today was to skip through London whilst the Olympics were in full flow. We feared the worst and braced ourselves for a rather painful journey home… Our drive home from Dover was the quickest & easiest we’ve ever had 😯
