Life on The Waterways of Europe..

The Month of JULY,

And the summer keeps on speeding by..

We caught up with Grahame, Aileen and SIL Sue (NZ Friends) in Meze ( on The E'Tang du Thau) for a week. Weather was still incredibly hot but we managed to make a daily beach-head under the trees, which was 100m from the boat and 20m from the very warm waters of the E'Tang. Not very busy at all, and the evenings were spent drinking, recovering from a hard day or playing cards.

As the temperatures in the south are so hot- the usual scrub fires are in abundance. In Meze we were right on the path of the Canadair planes flying into the E'Tang toscoop up water for a nearby fire. All 4 made over 12 fly through - picking up 6,000 litres of water a time. Took a video but couldnt down load it so photos--

As the nights were so warm, we decided to try sleeping up on deck- our only company (apart fromthe mozies) was the green flashing light--- we managed till 5 am when the mosiqotoes really decided we would make a nice breakfast.

Lovely evening meal with more entertainment in the Marina at Meze.

And more jousting!!!

We all left Meze together headimg abck towards Frontignan. An arieal view of some of the oyster and mussel beds.

and spent a few nights in Frontignan--and off to the square 😀

We left Aileen, Gahame and Sue and headed off to Aigues-Morte for a couple of nights to finally get the winter tent fitted and the generator checked over....moored in the main basin this time.

Finally left Aigues-morte by boat for the last time. Up to the Petit Rhone and then the mightly Rhone.

Arrived at Aramom, 12kms down stream from Avignon. A fantastic spot-lovely captainaire and after cycling 12kms into Avignon - we decided this spot was perfert.

Very small village but it has 2 bars (14 euros for 2 large beers and 2 glasses rose!) and 2 boulongeries, a few resturants and a amazing pizza place. what more could you wish for.-----Max got to watch the Rugby at 9am!!

A night out in the village square at Aramon--BASTEILLE DAY, 14TH JULY.

While we waited for steph to fly into Marseille , we cycled around a bit - unfortuately on one trip Lucy mis-read the map - it was 26km ONE way, not round trip - but we cycled though oarchards and sunflowers- it was ok in the end. And our new fruit bowl with enough grapes to make a very early vintage 1/2 of wine.

And beware of closed railway stations---

We caught the train down to Frontignan where we left the car so we could pick up Steph from Marseilles Airport, and drove back through Aigues-Morte to catch up with Hans and Angie.

Steph arrived into the heat of 35 degress to stay for 5 nights, and we spent a full four days tripping about, eating and drinking and enjoying ourselves.

Carrieres des Lumieres- MONET shown in the amazing quarry at Les-Baux-de-Provence

And a short programe of Douanier ROUSSEAU.

AVIGNON, - the bridge, Palais du Papes, and in the old square.

The Rhone is a lovely river- the water beautifuuly warm and clean so swimming off the back of the boat made perfect sense in 35-38 degrees.

AND OF COURSE saturday morning Rugby...second All black test against France---we tried out the second bar this time in Aramon. Its take your own breakfast from the boulangerie too👍👍

Off to PONT DE GARD, the amazing Roman aquaduct, (middle 1st Centuaryand ceased to be used for water in the 6th centuary), that took water from the springs at Uzes to Nimes, over 50kms with a drop of only 25cm per km.!!!!

AND then we took Steph to experinec see the bloodless Course Camarguaise, where the Raseteurs have to snatch a rosette or coloured cords off the horns... these bulls take 3 years to peak at their game and are the most important part of the show-- they breed them very fast ..

so so so fast--

Never actually seen this before on our previvious visits-

--Luckily this guy was only winded and a bruised face- so the bull was recalled - rest break for 5 mins and its all back on😊and he went on to have some very good runs after that even with limp. ... bet he felt crap the next day.

The horse and bull breeders are very proud to hold up tradition of breeding these camargue bulls and horses on their often family run Manades (farms). The horsemen and women always look so good in their colourful shirts and rugged old jeans.