6 August - Pedn Vounder beach, Penberth Cove, and the Merry Maidens

A suggestion from the Wild Swim Coast book - a beautiful sandy bay with tricky access off the coastal path. Not a descent for those with vertigo, as Allan found out....... but well worth the effort.

Its much easier to climb up than down!

Fisherman's cottage at Penberth Cove.

Magical Merry Maidens stone circle.

5 August - Trengwainton Gardens (NT) Madron Well

Isn't it strange that I'm attracted to old scruffy men?

Wishing tree by Madron Holy Well.

The altar with offerings at the nearby ruined chapel.

3 August - East Devon - Donkey Sanctuary and more

We met up with Allan's friends Gary and Mel. Gary's the one on the left. No, that doesn't mean that it's Mel on the right....

View from the coastal path near Budleigh Salterton.

Now in Cornwall - Hayle beach looking over to St Ives.

9 July - back in the UK

Called into the National Trust's Dyrham Park on the way from the ferry port to see how the other half live.

And this is how we live. Chose the pitch under this tree to provide shade!! Unfortunately, we've only had rain, cloud and high winds so far.

7 July - Normandy

John & Rita took us to this wonderful viewpoint overlooking miles and miles of Normandy countryside plus you could see Mont St Michel.
Jane reckons that a new set of tyres plus an afternoon with a tin of T-Cut is all this needs.

Some Cat in all HER glory. Up until today Rita & John thought she was a boy - but on closer inspection.......

6 July - Sleeping in a real bed!

We are visiting Allan's cousin Rita and her partner John in their wonderful Normandy farmhouse. The setting is beautiful - so peaceful. We stayed for two nights and slept in a proper bed. We had a fantastic time there.
The balcony at the rear.

Rita, John, Gnome and Some Cat [its actual name]

2 July - Crime Scene!!

I am the victim of a heinous crime..... I've been collecting French World Cup team fridge magnets every time we make a purchase from a Carrefour supermarket and putting them on the back of the Bongo - ten in all. And some lowlife nicked them! Now all I've got left is the goalie (pictured)who was still in his wrapper in the van.... Not only that but I'm also pointing to the bullet hole shaped puncture in the bumper (Allan has stuck a screwdriver in it to demonstrate) which occurred on the same day. Sacre bleedin' bleu as they say round here.

Rosie and Jim were so traumatised by the whole experience that they immediately moved out into a caravan of their own. It only cost them 5,000 Euros - bargain !

You don't get a view like this at Gloucester Car Boot!

And you don't get puppies for sale either.

An enormous menhir inland from where we're staying - its said to be a rock hurled at the ground by an angry giant though I couldn't figure out why from the information board provided.

Stone age man......

On the way to our new favourite beach, to the east of St Malo - a bit of a trek but worth the effort.

30 June - Dinard - North Brittany

We are now at our last campsite in France, just outside Dinard. This is Dinard beach looking across to St Malo. Dinard was THE place to be and be seen about 100 years ago. Consequently, the rich had villas built along the coast......

.......just like these. They all tend to have stairs giving direct access to the beach for what was then newly fashionable "sea-water bathing" which was deemed to be good for your health. The water here is crystal clear and a beautiful green - hence having the name the Emerald Coast.

We thought we were following the cycle path but obviously took a wrong turn somewhere! You go first Jane, I'm sure it'll be allright!

29 June - Convoi Exceptionale!

We had the misfortune to be stuck behind this for many a mile. Apparently, it's the base of a wind turbine that was being constructed nearby.

We were lucky to be able to find this parking spot alongside the Brest to Nantes Canal. Opposite, is a cafe where we had our morning coffee [and pain au chocolate!].

Sat 26 June - Medical Matters - Dr LUNACY!

Trust Jane's doctor to have a name like Lounici.....

And this is the ENT or ORL specialist.....

.....at work. All is now well apart from some minor side-effects of the various medications. We now have to try and get the costs refunded from the NHS otherwise Allan will be suffering some side-effects!

24 June - Gnome, England's greatest fan

Two bottles of wine and two cans of beer - Gnome is ready for kick off....

Campsite World Cup HQ - a wooden shed with a homemade screen at the end and wires everywhere. Uk H and S would shut it down immediately! The portly couple on the right have a tiny round caravan - photo to follow if I can take one without them seeing me. I think they must take it in turns to sleep in it.....

23 June - La Baule and PORNichet

This is the bay at La Baule. It's a bit posh here so we feel completely at home. The road along the front is called Ocean Boulevard, just like Blackpool - not!

And here's Jane cycling along it.

Jane, what is going through your head????

21 June - The French Health Service

Jane has developed a horrible and very painful ear infection . We managed to get a doctor's appointment the same day [22 Euros], get an appointment with an ENT specialist within half an hour [44 euros] and came away with a bag of different pills and potions [25 euros]. We also have to stay put here in Southern Brittany for another week as Jane has to return to Monseiur ENT on Saturday for further treatment.

We have no pictures to support this story so here's the test card to look at [this will only be meaningful to older viewers]

21 June - Beaches

This is our local, just a few hundred metres from our campsite. It has wonderful beachfront properties.

And this is one of many quieter bays within a few kilometers. I've photographed the rocks for artistic effect but there is a huge sandy stretch too.

20 June - Car Boots, Submarines and Fishing

This is one of two car boots we went to today. The French have junk just like us. We bought a caffetiere [1 euro] and a pair of table tennis bats [1 euro] and are now looking for the balls.

This is the submarine dock that the Germans built at St Nazaire. It held 14 submarines in separate bays. It is huge and bombproof. It is now a tourist attraction and houses cafes etc.

The beach front at St Nazaire. Fishermen lower nets into the water. It was low tide so we didn't see the catch.

19 June - Parc Briere - Canals, Thatched Roofs & Newlyweds!

This is a nearby national parc consisting of marshlands and a network of canals. Punts are used to harvest reeds used for thatched roofs.

Looks just like Devon around here

It is a tradition for newlyweds to set off with their friends collecting money for them. They block the road and encourage you to part with a euro or two. It is all good natured with a party atmosphere.

And here is the happy couple.

17 June - Gnome's new car

After several months search, Gnome finally finds the car of his dreams - and in his favourite colours too. Note the name of the house .