BLOGGER IS BACK ..........

........ and so am I !!!!!!

Hi crafters

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Yipee, I have finally got my Blogger back.

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Some of you will no doubt be aware I've been on holiday for two and a bit weeks in the South of France with a bunch of Honda Goldwingers.

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I had posts scheduled for while I was away which didn't work and sadly I had to withdraw from an ILWS Blog Hop scheduled for Friday 1st July as I couldn't Blogger to save posts without throwing out error messages. It really was a bit silly of me to think I could squash something else in when I got home, in addiiton to catching up from two weeks of work and having two all day classes Saturday and Sunday to prep for, without realising Blogger was going to play up. This is the first opportunity I've had to try and sort it out.

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David and I headed for Maidstone Premier Inn the first Friday evening to meet up with 26 other fellow Goldwing traveling companions from all over the UK. A good trip down for us until the M25 - onto the M20 and the heavens looked as if they were going to open. Pulling up under a flyover, waterproofs on .... well at least the weather should be better the other side of the Channel !!

Late snack for lunch in the bar and of course a few drinks (well the holiday hads started), meeting new faces and getting to know each other then a nice relaxing evening meal followed by an early night ready for the long ride the following day.

Bright and early the next morning we were all at the tunel and, heading for our first week in Narbonne, we stopped overnight half way across France in Toures.

Continuing on the following morning to Narbonne, we spent a week touring round some stunning ride outs including Carcasonne, Millau Bridge - the tallest in the world, castles and chateauxs and stunning scenery.

I was pleased that we had CB radio linked into our headsets and intercom. With 14 trikes and solos travelling in convoy, at times we probably stretched over 1/2 mile. Travelling for ride outs when not on the motorway, going through towns and villages it is hard not get seperated at traffic lights, roundabouts etc. CB allowed us to keep smaller groups together until on the open road once again.
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Moving on for our second week, we set off for Lourdes on the 'scenic route', which took us over mountains and up in to the clouds. Unfortunately waterproofs on again but it was only the heavy drizzle from being so high up in the clouds and not the great British weather following us.

Arriving in Lourdes and the French/Spanish Pyrennes scenery was even more beautiful. Taking over the top floor of the hotel Dame De La Sarte, we had fabulous views from the balcony overlooking the Pyrennes, with snow still visible on the highest peaks ........... yes, in June.
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Our first ride out from here took us on parts of the Tour De France route and included lots of number of hairpin bends as we made our way up and down various mountain passes. David doesn't like heights and with very few barriers to stop accidents, we were so grateful we were on 3 wheels not 2. In total there were 6 trikes and 8 solo bikes travelling.

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The next couple of days we travelled up more mountain passes, including taking a cable car from the ski resort to Pic Du Midi to the 'space station in the sky', having stopped at supermarket for picnic lunches.

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We experienced some thunder and lightening behind the mountains one evening - sitting in the Irish bar next door to the hotel, we weren't in the least bothered, it was very refreshing after reaching really high temperatures. It was very picturesque watching the white lightening disappearing behind the Pyrennes.

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Overall a superb holiday and definitely the best way to tour. So much fresh air, I slept extremely well and wasn't awake at stupid o'clock like I am at home. Just as well really because luggage space for two weeks was very limited and therefore no space for crafting materials. I defnitely suffered withdrawal symptoms. LOL

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Having heard about the French toilets, this was not something I was looking forward to. I am so pleased to say I worried unecessarily as I managed to survive the whole of the holiday without having to endure this unbelieveable experience !!! Thanks Helen for the warning though.

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Pop back soon - I hope to be back into normal routine soon.

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Sandra