MID JULY,  a life changing month.  I am slow to post this blog- as its now the end of July!!

I, (Lucy) have just spent a amazing wonderful 3 weeks with Emma and Jesse, and our new grandson Rory- and I am now in love as a Grandma.  It was truely an amazing experience and unfortunately for Max, he will have to wait till end of October be introduced. 

After a rather tricky return to UK and France, where I had forgotton all about USA visa requirments for transitting passengers I missed my original flight. With help from Emma, as I has had a few wines by then, I got a new ticket and finally arrived back at the boat- luckily arriving at Montpellier as expected.

AND  Max had survived very well on his own for 3 weeks with a little help from friends and neighbours.😂😂

The weather had been up and down in France but for me it was wonderful to have sun and warmth again after NZ.

After Max getting my bike sorted with a new motor while I was in NZ, we are set to go.....

We have been thinking of doing some cycling trips while in France, so booked places to stay for a 4 day trip. So the plan was to drive 3-4hrs to Montauban, then take a train towards Bordeaux and cycle back to the car along the Garronne river.

We had a great time, of course I had the electric bike so it was much easier for me but all in all we cycled about 190 kms in 4 days-- now this trip is a cycling for softies holiday.  All flat, mostly on nice smooth paths /tracks, mainly in shade and as we only planned cycling about 3hours a day, plenty of time to check in to our accommodation. So then feet up, an afternoon sleep and then out for food and a beer.

We started in Marmande++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++, the first leg to Buzet sur Biase.

Buzet-sur Baise- our first stop.

A very frustrated lawn mower - I wonder how many swear words it knows??

Second leg onto Agen where we met up with Aileen,Grahame, and Aileens' sister Sue.  Lovely evening of cards and a meal. They had got their boat decked out ready for Bastile Day.

Can't believe we missed the start of a leg of The Tour de France.. We missed it by 5 mins...- if only we had known how close to the port they were.!!!!!!!

On the Saturday we managed to find a bar who turned on the TV for us so we could watch the All Blacks 2nd test against England in Auckland.

So breakfast of hot chocolate and croissants and then lunch wasn't any healthier.!!!

We did a few side trips off the path to visit  villages, and the went to  Auviller which is 6km from the canal, up on a hill but with the most amazing view of the river and the countryside from the ramparts. 

The old wash houses and covered markets still stand and mark the centres of these small viallges/towns. And lovely old old buildings.

These are just an assorted collection of photos from some of the villages we visited-Auviller, Valance,Bruch, Serignac-sur-Garonne, Moissac, 

Amazing canal aquaduct 580m long, built 1839-42, It is 12,5m wide and has 23 arches, over the valley  and The Garonne River. 

Amazing fields of sun flowers- big and tall..following the sun....

You often see these village signs on the roads ( the line through it denoting you have left said village).... but the lastest thing this year is that half of them are upside down--apparently when the farmers marched on govenment earlier in the year, they turned the signs upside down as a protest.  This then put the Mayor of each town into a dilemma- because if they changed them back it would seem they were supporting the governments stand and not their local farmers-- it will interesting to see how many years they stay this way.

We really enjoyed our 5 days away and now looking at other trips!!! 

😀

Had a nice day out to Marseillian,,our yearly catch-up with Janine while she visits France from CHCH.  She had rented a wonderful apartment over looking the E'Tang- a place you could just watch a busy life on the water day after day from the balcony if so inclined.  --- Bliss... 

Sue and Chris May (Sue an old UK school friend- from  Auckland) popped past for 2 nights in their campervan, taking a well earned break from renovating their bungalow in Chichester while on holiday from NZ.!! Yes-all busy.😀

Aigues-Morte is a friendly port- we have made even more friends here this year-- so of course as most ports/harbours do -- the long-timers, they hold pontoon parties.

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The temps have remained hot all through july with average temperature of 35 degress most days but with a sea breeze.. 

Luckily we have a aircon unit in the bedroom so when it gets too much upstairs- we hide inside!!!

  

Bought a nifty pushchair unbrella that just works perfectly on my beach chair- definately what you need in this weather but at least here on the beach more sea breeze ( well most of the time!!) 

Then a few days alter we popped off 2 hrs away to stay with Alan and Shelia to help celebrate Alan's 80th birthday party, held at his local village bar -- excellant night with music and dancing.

And to cap off the week of merryment- Max's Birthday...

with friends Angie & Hans, and Paul & Claire.

It will be a quieter next few weeks as temps set to sit about 30 - 38 for a while.   

😀😀😀😀😀

so till next time.......

Max has been tracking our belongings going back to NZ- so far they have rounded Cape Horn!!