Our time abroad 2019
It was early November when we finally arrive back in Kent. And after a horrendous ferry crossing that saw us drifting off the coast of Dover for nearly 8 hrs due to extreme weather conditions, we have...
Heading North for our last few weeks in France
It’s been a while since I last posted anything but we finally have internet and time to catch up or motivation in my case to write. It’s nearly two months since we left the Gers and decide t...
House sitting in Cadeilhan, Gers, France 2019
From the Dordogne, we head down to the Gers department and the drive is a familiar route for us passing many places we have visited before. It’s in the village of Cadeilhan that we first house ...
House sitting in the Dordogne, France
Following on from my last blog our time house sitting in the Dordogne as come to an end. The house was situated on the north side of the Dordogne in the quiet and largely ignored village of Coux-et-Bi...
Food on the move in Europe
This summer I have had access to lots of different fruit and veg so I thought I’d write about something that interests me. I’m no Nigella Lawson but I have always enjoyed cooking and baking.&...
Haute Loire, France
Before crossing into the Haute -Loire department we stop at the small village of Les Estables on the Ardèche border. It’s a popular area for skiers and hikers. With the aire next to a busy road, we...
The Ardèche, Southern – Central France
With Mont Ventoux now in the distance we head to the Ardèche. Probably best known for its deep gorges the Ardèche is made up of many villages, some perched above, or nestling in the valleys, ancient...
Provence – Alpes – Cote – d’Azur Region, France
At Fontaine de Vaucluse near the Vaucluse hills, we find a Camping-car car park. This is new to us and takes us a while to work out how to use the machine but with the help of a fellow Italian motorho...
French Riviera to the Alpes de Haute Provence, France
This morning as we approach the border to go back into France it looks like it’s going to be another hot day. There are a few other vehicles in front of us at the crossing when we are randomly...
House sitting in the village of Coux – et – Bigaroque Dordogne, France
Its late morning when we arrive in the Dordogne and it’s another hot day. We spent time in this area last year but this time we are house sitting. It’s an area of France that I’m not sure about ...
Did we find La Dolce Vita in Italy
So our time in Italy is coming to an end and it’s been a love-hate relationship. Our short time here has given us a small taste of what the country has to offer, so did we find the ‘La Dolce Vita...
Italian cities and Tuscany, Italy
Finally, we have stopped for a few weeks. With lack of internet and not being able to charge my mobile battery means I’m a few weeks behind with writing so hopefully I’ll get to catch up now. So h...
House sitting inVitinia, Rome
Just 8 miles from the centre of Rome is where we have been house sitting for 12 days. Situated between Spinaceto and Vitania this lovely villa is set amongst extensive gardens. Ursula and Massim...
Emilia-Romagna region down to Latium region, Italy
We had, had a lovely quiet couple of days but that was all about to change. Moving further down the coast with the sun shining we find a place to park near the beach at Lido di Volcano. Driving throug...
Lakes of Lombardy down to Vento region
Leaving the snowy mountain tops in the alps we enter the rocky Italian mountains. Shortly after the village of Gondo we, drive up to the border. With 3 Italian police standing in the middle of the roa...
A glimpse of Switzerland
Lac des Brenets forms the border between France and Switzerland its an attractive area for swimming, fishing and canoeing during the summer. In the winter, when the Doubs freezes over, to become on...
Exploring Eastern France
After leaving the house sit in Saint Sulpice we decide to spend more time getting to know the Franche-Comte region. Located between the Voges in the north and the Jura mountains in the south it ...
House sitting in Saint Surplus, North France
Villersexel is located in the Bourgogne Franche-Comté region of France. It’s a short drive from here to the small village of Saint Sulpice where we have been house sitting. It’s a pretty vi...
In search of the Black Forest
As we leave Luxembourg we head briefly back into France where the sun is shining but no sooner have we crossed the border into Germany it starts to rain. The Black Forest (Schwarzwald) is a region i...
Couple of days in Luxembourg
Another border crossing we now find ourselves in Luxembourg and at last the sun is shining. It’s surprising how quickly the landscape has changed. We really weren’t sure what to expect and ev...
Our Belgium adventure continues
So as we cross the border back into Belgium it’s windy but the sun is shining. Temse is our first stop it’s a small town on the left side of the river Scheldt. Being a Sunday most of the places ar...
Adventures in the Nether regions
Not far from Ypres is the village of Harelbeke, it’s here where we spend the night. It’s a small site next door to the football stadium with its impressive sports area, football pitches...
In Flanders Fields, Ypres
The city of centre of Ypres, also known as Leper is very accessible so it was easy to find somewhere to park. We walk along the old city walls where we start to see some of the memorials. It’s a pre...
Setting off again, Dover Kent
So today’s the day we are setting off again and I’m sure John is taking less clothing than last time. I think he as forgot about the bad weather and trying to get the washing done, let’s see how...
House sitting in Ash, Sevenoaks Kent
The small village of Ash is where we are house sitting for the next few weeks. Set in extensive gardens we are staying in a lovely bungalow looking after 3 gorgeous dogs Lucky, Fudge, and Harley whils...
It’s been a while
It’s been a while since I last posted anything, but the time as just flown by, with Christmas just a distant memory it’s hard to believe that nearly 6 months have passed since we returned. &n...
Happy new year
Thank you for reading my blog this year. We look forward to the coming year where we will hopefully get to continue our travels. Happy New Year from us both ...
Merry Christmas from Kent
Merry Christmas, we hope you all have a lovely day Karen and John...
Our last week in France
Moving on after a long stay is never easy. We just begin to get a feel for the area, settle into a route and before we know it, its time to leave. This time sees us heading north. Unfortunately, our t...
The surrounding villages of Cadeilhan, France
Back in the Gers department again we have had another opportunity to experience some of the other areas. The countryside here is dotted with beautiful villages, each with its own individual charm and ...
Housesitting in Cadeilhan, Midi Pyrenees, France
It’s a short drive from Fleurance to the village of Cadeilhan, so it doesn’t take us long to get to our next housesit. For the next month we have been tasked with looking after 13 yr old Louis, fo...
More time in the Dordogne valley, France
Back on the road again we decide to head for the village of Eymet which is south-west of the Dordogne. Eymet Eymet is a bastide town near Bergerac, which featured in a TV programme. Commonly kn...
Our time in Miramont-de-Guyenne, France
Miramont-de Guyenne is where we are next house sitting. It’s a traditional bastide town, founded by England’s King Edward I at the end of the 13th century. The town is situated in the Dropt Vall...
Expenditure, what we spent so far
Many people have been curious to know how we can afford to up sticks and travel as we are. John had wanted to travel for a while but I was the one dragging my feet. There was always something else goi...
Discovering the Entre-Deux-Mers, Dordogne, France
The name Entre-Deux-Mers means ‘Between the two seas’ here it is the rivers Dordogne and the Garonne. We have enjoyed being in this part of France, with it’s magnificent stone buildings in the c...
Some lovely places in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
Aire sur l’Adour We stop off here to have a look at the market and we are both agree this town as a nice feel about it. We park next to the river Adour, from here we can see the bridge, that has bee...
The Chapel of Notre Dame des Cyclists, Labastide d`Armagnac, France
Just on the outskirts of Labastide-d’Armagnac John stumbles across this cycling museum whilst out riding. The chapel is all that remains of the 12th-century fortress and was listed as a monument of ...
Once again we are back in France
The village of Le Perthus is where we cross the border. It’s a strange place, we are unsure at which point we left Spain and were back in France. Based on a rather bizarre border agreement which dat...
A Little bit of French Language
Even though John had been to France a few times over the last couple of years. It was year’s since i had been. So when I knew it was to be the first country we would visit, I thought I ought t...
Our time in Spain is nearly over, Spain
Cabanes is our last stop in Spain before we go back over the border to France. It’s an area that has a warm, pleasant Mediterranean climate all year round In this small pretty village, we find a p...
Fun with friends in Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona and the surrounding areas can be tricky for parking a motorhome. So, we are staying just outside of Granollers on a secure site until our friends John, Alison and Lee arrive for their holida...
Further up the Costas, Costa Blanca, Spain
In the Costa Blanca, we find the temperature and humidity are still high, at times unbearable. In parts, the clear blue sea is meet with a beach full of tourists wielding their brollies, Ferias taki...
Hot in the Costas, Andalusia, Spain
As we pass Malaga towards Nerja we try to find somewhere quiet for the night but the spot we choose is probably one of the busiest and noisest, scooters, cars and rowdy people walking past, so once ag...
Revisiting Benalmadena, Costa del Sol
Benalmadena, named Ben-Al-Madina by the Arabs when translated means “children of the miners”. This was because ochre and iron were once mined locally in this area. It’s an area we know...
Fun in the sun with friends, Riviera del sol
After a busy couple of days and the temperatures rising, we are off to see our friends Russell, Sarah-Jane and their children, Emma and Max. They are spending part of the summer at Riviera del Sol, ...
Back in Spain, Seville and Gibraltar
Back in Spain, we are now in the Andalucía region an area we are familiar with. its stunning hills, white-washed villages, ancient castles, sandy beaches overlooking the Mediterranean sea. Birthplace...