The Camargue

Easter and a return to the South of France, it was such an invigorating trip last year we decided to return, not to the Cote D'azur but The Camargue. We did a one day visit last year and that was enough to entice us back to Saintes Maries de la mar.

Our van under the stars.

Managed an early escape on the Good Friday afternoon and got as far as Strathclyde Park campsite, which meant I could once more take part in the Parkrun there. Then off to Cambridge to find the certificated site I had booked there was totally inadequate, we were in danger of getting bogged down and not getting to the ferry next day. The 3 horseshoes inn in Madingley said we could park in the carpark if we bought a meal and that was very good of them, it was nice and quiet there. Next day, Easter Sunday off onto the ferry and over to France, made it as far as Floret de'Orient, an ideal stopping off point, so well positioned we stopped there again on the return.

Planned to stop over for a couple of nights in Arles but a big festival was on and the had built the fun fare right on top of the camping car parking, driving round the city was a nightmare so decided to go on to Saintes Maries instead.

The Colosseum, Arles.

On the way we passed hundreds of cars heading into Arles, no idea where they thought they would get a park. A couple of nights on an aire but then went onto Camping de la Bris for another 5 nights, we were so comfy and layed back, kept putting off moving and exploring further.

Found there was a bus that went into Arles, 1 euro per trip, Arles has lots of great Roman ruins so had a good look around the Colosseum and theatre, was able to collect a few more medals the French government produce for the various landmarks and antiquities.

The auditorium, Arles.

Took a boat trip onto The Camargue, see the Bulls and White horses

Bulls and white horses

Generally I spent my time walking or cycling, even a little running around the area as well as managing to claim a few geocaches.

Stork

The last couple of days in the South were spent at Aigues-Mortes a fantastic place dating back to the Crusades.

We camped at Les Poisson D'Argent, very unusual aire as the price of camping included the right to fish. This was different in itself as it was a salt water lake. Think the restaurant had quite a good reputation as well, but we never partook. Took a walk along the main road into Aigues-Mortes.

Aigues-Mortes

On the way back to Calais called in once more at Floret D'Orient, what a difference 9 days made, trees now in leaf or blossom, and 30c this time around.

Khali enjoying the warmth, blossom and bird song.

Khali fitted in very well, enjoying the warmth as she seem to be a bit of a cold critter, this was her first trip abroad and her longest, she was a little star.


Looking back it seemed to be a very foodie holiday with the cordon bleu meal at the 3 horseshoes, Bull steaks in Sta Maries and ending at Au Côte d’Argent in Calais.

Easter Fortnight.

Valley of Rocks.

In an attempt to gain better weather for our Easter break we decided to go South, Devon or Cornwall was on the cards for a possible summer trip but we changed our plans pulling it forward, so off to North Devon. We even managed to squeeze an extra day into our plan and took the opportunity to drop in Morton Hall again on the way down, got in a few local geocaches before retiring to the Stable bar for one of there loverly meals. 

Maybe it will be the last visit here, on reading the booking confirmation email, a little later once booked in, I saw they had wanted to charge £3 for Felix the cat who travels with us, can not understand why as he takes no advantage of any of the facilities on the campsite and bring his own cat litter. 

After sleeping later than intended we set off for Hayfield,a long drive, a sneaky little multi-cache right outside the campsite satisfied us for that day and off to The Sportsman, an inn serving very good food, fine ales and our friend Tom works there. 
North Devon was our next stop for a whole week stopping at 

Umberliegh, weather wasn't the best but not the snow they had back in Scotland. Explored a little of Exmoor, Exeter, along with an interesting area called Valley of Rocks and a village called West Down where someone has laid 105 geocaches along the west down way. Needless to say we didn't attempt to go for them all, but did manage 21 a record for us for one day. 
Heading back up North we called in at Formby nr Liverpool, stopped on a friends drive and visited the beach, there we did an earthcache where we had to find some prehistoric mudflats at low tide, this ephemeral  fossil had the foot prints of ancient people and animals. Final stop off on the way home was Moffat, meeting up with the kids, who were once more staying at St Marys loch. We all went for a walk up the Grey Mares Tail falls to Loch Skeen, once there I decided to leave the group and go on to a high terrain geocache, avoiding yet more snow however the uplands of Scotland are arctic. We also found the cache that we had looked for exactly one year earlier and quite easily, as is often said by all in the geocaching game, sure I'd looked there before.
From now on I must try to write posts for the blog more timely.

Happy first birthday, blog.

Over looking Loch Muick.

Its been a over year since I started this blog and its proved very useful as an aid to my failing memory of where we have been and when we where there.

Always seems a long drag from Christmas up to Easter, but the days are getting longer, if only it would stop snowing, we are just about to go into March and its snowed every week since before christmas. We have however managed the odd days geocaching in between the blizzards and a hill walk and no doubt we will get a chance for a couple more leading up to Easter.
Currently planning our next big trip all the way down to Devon with a few stops along the way and having got the van through its MOT, started giving it a spring clean in preparation. Devon looks promising for the walking and geocaching and we are both more than ready for a good break.
I started this entry a few weeks ago and the weather is slowly picking up.  
Geocaching.com says there are now 1 million geocaches active across the world ! "We have our work cut out for us" says Carlotta and I am aiming for 1000 caches by the end of the year.

Search for our 500th cache.

St Mary's Kirkyard.

I suppose holidays this time of year are hit or miss with the weather, especially in Scotland, at least the rain wasn't torrential and things did improve during the second half, if only the same could be said for the geocaching, you would think after accruing almost 500 find in 2 years things would get easier but they don't. 

A visit to Stirling on a drizzly day was made worse when I found the cache details hadn't loaded into the GPSr for some reason, dammed technology !, but I did have them on the PDA with Memory Map, yeah ! technology. Apart from the famous view of the castle from the approach in, I found Stirling uninspiring. 

A visit to Bracklinn Falls brought a nice surprise as we bumped into some other geocachers, something that doesn't happen as often as you may think. I had given this one up in order to take a photo but Carlotta kept going and her persistence payed off. We did want to visit nearby Callander but the place was heaving with the Easter weekend traffic so we gave that a miss. Took an after tea walk from Milarrochy bay C&CC site too Balmaha this was a round trip of just under 6 mile, to find this other cache in the shadow of Conic hill.

A visit to Mugdock County park was very productive, a good number of caches in a relatively small area but an interesting area to boot, views of Glasgow from afar, lots of archaeology old and newer, a very popular place but plenty of space. A DNF here meant we did not reach 500 today.

Off then to the Borders to meet up with the kids, a loverly area to be in but we could only stay 2 days, a visit to the Grey Mares Tail waterfall then off home, but we had to stop off to try to find our 500th cache at the Kirk of the Lowes, again a very interesting spot St Mary,s graveyard overlooking St Mary's loch lots of atmosphere but a DNF for us, when is it going to come.

  

Something I learnt this week.

Before we set of I noticed the water in fuel filter indicator stayed lit all the time, I tried to remove the water from the filter and buy a new one both unsuccessfully, after a little internet detective work I came across a blog about the poor quality of Tesco fuel. I decided to try other supplies, I had in mind Shell, Esso or BP however it was Asda in the end, no sooner had I gone about half a mile, the light was out and stayed out.

Trip to the Trossocks

Isle Loch Lomond
Originally uploaded by FoC Friends of Carlotta

Day one, of our Easter break in the southwest of Scotland. Arrived at Loch Lomond mid afternoon, once everything was sorted it was time for tea and with the rain we just settled in for the night. Watched Withnail & I to get us in the holiday mood, amazing surround sound rain effects, had a bottle of Innes & Gun ale, did I say it was raining.
Day two, rain eased off towards the afternoon, 4 caches found but 2 did not find, whilst walking parts of the West Highland Way, a disappointment in one way but loverly spots along the banks of loch lomond. Rain is coming into the toilet/shower as we seem to have lost a cowling off the roof, can’t think how. Had a bottle of Old Jock Ale, was quite nice.
There's still some snow on the top of some peaks so wont be going to high.

We've gone on holiday by mistake !