Having driven over 14 000 miles during the year we decided not to drive too far over the autumn and enjoy a bit of a rest. We drove the car from Yorkshire to Parc Verger, near Limoges where our UK registered motorhome had been parked since February. Bob and Di Banks, the owners of the site had very kindly agreed for us to store it there. Bob had also turned the engine and the generator over every month during the summer. We arrived during the most horrendous rainstorm and the first thing we noticed was that it was as clean as new. Our friends Gordon and Fran Jackson had stayed in June and must have cleaned it for us as a surprise. We were delighted and could also tell that Gordon, being very handy had also done a few running repairs.
We were within striking distance of Oradour-sur-Glane. A village preserved as a historical site after the Germans had tried to eliminate every inhabitant towards the end of the second world war.
After a week with Bob and Di we set off south to Mike's favourite chill out zone. Camping Les Medes in L'Estartit on the Costa Brava in Spain. When we have stayed previously it has been during January and February. September is different, not only are there leaves on the trees but there are loads of people on holiday! It was really nice to stay with more restauarants open and entertainment on the site. We enjoyed a relaxed lifestyle with visits to medieval hill top villages, fabulous restaurants, country walks and cycle rides in the open countryside. Mum and Dad came to stay for a long weekend in October and we enjoyed taking them around some of the places we have discovered.
We finally got round to buying lights for our bicycles. We have previously taken them out in the evening and avoided the roads choosing to cycle back along the prom. The final approach to the campsite is tricky as there are no street lights at all and it is completely pitch black. Now we are completely safe with our lights we leave the excellent Robert's restaurant in L'Estartit. I pedal off at speed leaving Mike still unpadlocking his bike. We had enjoyed a few alcoholic beverages with our meal and I am cycling as fast as I can along the prom. Up ahead I see the right hand slope for those on wheels or unable to manage the steps. I am on the left of the prom though and don't have time to take evasive action to avoid the steps. Before I arrive at the steps I have time to wonder if:
a. I'll die
b. I'll sail through the air silouetted against the moon like in ET or
c. Crump on the pavement 2 steps below.
I managed to stretch my arm out as I hit the pavement 2 steps below, I grazed my right knee, bumped my head and remained conscious as Mike arrived seconds later to enquire exactly 'what on earth I had been doing?'
I climbed back on my bike, pedalled back to the site and still had to make it back with no lights as I'd broken them as a result of the crash. I thought these lights were supposed to make me safer. We recounted our experiences to our friends in the campsite bar over a couple more drinks. We never got any further than discussing the good sense of making a trip to the emergency clinic to be checked over. Why bother? I'd survived. I felt very sheepish the next morning as I realised how I really could have split my head on the paving stones.
The site closes in November as the family and staff take a well earned holiday. We drove up the road to Roses about 20 miles up the coast towards France. We settled in quickly and had some lovely days out exploring the locality. The weather wasn't too bad but we did have a few days of the Tramontana winds and there was early snow on the mountains near Girona.
Whilst in Roses we started to make serious plans to get back to the UK. I flew back for an interview and assessment centre to work for a pharmaceutical company at the end of November. We moved the motorhome back to L'Estartit on 1st December and I flew back to start work on the 8th December. Mike stayed in L'Estartit to prepare the van for storage. His son Lee also flew over to see him for a mini break. Lee had just completed a six month tour in Iraq so it was a great opportunity for them both to chill out together. Unfortunately they had the most terrible weather with storms, rain and the Tramontana winds.
We were within striking distance of Oradour-sur-Glane. A village preserved as a historical site after the Germans had tried to eliminate every inhabitant towards the end of the second world war.
After a week with Bob and Di we set off south to Mike's favourite chill out zone. Camping Les Medes in L'Estartit on the Costa Brava in Spain. When we have stayed previously it has been during January and February. September is different, not only are there leaves on the trees but there are loads of people on holiday! It was really nice to stay with more restauarants open and entertainment on the site. We enjoyed a relaxed lifestyle with visits to medieval hill top villages, fabulous restaurants, country walks and cycle rides in the open countryside. Mum and Dad came to stay for a long weekend in October and we enjoyed taking them around some of the places we have discovered.
We finally got round to buying lights for our bicycles. We have previously taken them out in the evening and avoided the roads choosing to cycle back along the prom. The final approach to the campsite is tricky as there are no street lights at all and it is completely pitch black. Now we are completely safe with our lights we leave the excellent Robert's restaurant in L'Estartit. I pedal off at speed leaving Mike still unpadlocking his bike. We had enjoyed a few alcoholic beverages with our meal and I am cycling as fast as I can along the prom. Up ahead I see the right hand slope for those on wheels or unable to manage the steps. I am on the left of the prom though and don't have time to take evasive action to avoid the steps. Before I arrive at the steps I have time to wonder if:
a. I'll die
b. I'll sail through the air silouetted against the moon like in ET or
c. Crump on the pavement 2 steps below.
I managed to stretch my arm out as I hit the pavement 2 steps below, I grazed my right knee, bumped my head and remained conscious as Mike arrived seconds later to enquire exactly 'what on earth I had been doing?'
I climbed back on my bike, pedalled back to the site and still had to make it back with no lights as I'd broken them as a result of the crash. I thought these lights were supposed to make me safer. We recounted our experiences to our friends in the campsite bar over a couple more drinks. We never got any further than discussing the good sense of making a trip to the emergency clinic to be checked over. Why bother? I'd survived. I felt very sheepish the next morning as I realised how I really could have split my head on the paving stones.
The site closes in November as the family and staff take a well earned holiday. We drove up the road to Roses about 20 miles up the coast towards France. We settled in quickly and had some lovely days out exploring the locality. The weather wasn't too bad but we did have a few days of the Tramontana winds and there was early snow on the mountains near Girona.
Whilst in Roses we started to make serious plans to get back to the UK. I flew back for an interview and assessment centre to work for a pharmaceutical company at the end of November. We moved the motorhome back to L'Estartit on 1st December and I flew back to start work on the 8th December. Mike stayed in L'Estartit to prepare the van for storage. His son Lee also flew over to see him for a mini break. Lee had just completed a six month tour in Iraq so it was a great opportunity for them both to chill out together. Unfortunately they had the most terrible weather with storms, rain and the Tramontana winds.
