We tried our best to get our first taste of Pyrenean rock climbing today, but the weather had other ideas. It was still warm, but the low clouds eventually couldn’t hold onto their cargo any longer. There were low clouds up in the mountains, so we tried our luck by driving further down the valley… Read more

We’ve finally arrived in the Pyrenees and have spent the day recovering from the drive and getting to know our new local neighbourhood of Luz-Saint-Sauveur. The view from the balcony was looking much better when we woke up and the temperatures a pleasant mid-twenties. Despite being a Sunday, there were still quite a few shops… Read more

Started the day (Thursday) with a bit more time on the road and by lunchtime we’d made it to the luxurious grounds of Pat and Bob’s rural French hideaway near Perigueux.  After a quick dip in the pool, we tucked straight into a lovely lunch, with lots of chat on the shady terrace. Later on,… Read more

Another beautiful British summer morning greeted us in Dockenfield as we squeezed the last of the gear into the van. Last checks and goodbyes were said, then the road trip continued… By mid-day, we’d reached the end of the UK at Folkstone and were getting ready to board the Euro Tunnel… We were slowly but surely packed… Read more

Good job I didn’t go with the Ferrari, as even the van soon filled up with gear for our lastest expedition. All excited about the coming adventures, I frantically left The Cottage cleaned and tidied ready for its new summer tenants and set off straight into a traffic jam. An hour later, I was still… Read more

Got to try out some new wheels today! Unfortunately, the entire boot is taken up with an enormous engine, so I think I’m going to have to stick with the van. You can’t even fit a rucksack of climbing gear in. Shame really, as I suspect that it would really cut down the driving time… Read more