Cruising up the Coast

Some easy climbing close to the house

 

We bailed from the Ariege and drove north and east, with a windy stop at Saint Victoire to a very nice pad on the outskirts of Toulon. The eight days there were very pleasant, with climbing and hiking, plus some book work - pretty much our standard life style these days. Then it was on to Saint Rafael, when we first retired, we spent a couple of winters around here, escaping the UK and working on the Cote d'Azur guidebook. I was surprised how little I could remember about area, turns out it was nearly 18 years ago! The pad is very smart and there is a newish guidebook out, hopefully that will keep us busy for a couple of weeks.

 

On the Road Again

Climbing at Auzat - always a pleasure

After two months in Cyprus we nipped back to Kalymnos for a couple of weeks. It is always good to be there though the weather didn't really play ball, we had a spell of nine days when the north wind roared and daytime temperature sometimes only reached 7C which was a bit of a shock.

Then it was back to Chez Arran via a night in Stansted for a week's cat sitting while Jon and Jacci were in the UK. Spring has come slowly to the Ariege though the longer days and a bit of gentle climbing have been a delight. I'm pleased to report that the car started first press of the button and Andorra still does cheap booze and petrol.

In a couple of days we are heading to the Gard - an area we have never visited - interestingly I can't remember the last time we went somewhere completely new - it may have been years ago!

 

Cyprus - Just About Done Again

Middle of winter - but not too shoddy

 Seven weeks on Cyprus and just one more to go. As ever it has been easy living considering we are here in the depths of the northern winter - the weather has generally been superb though there has been the odd damp spell, but it always pleasantly warm and we have managed to get out for a walk/climb every single day.
Accommodation s high quality and remarkably cheap - a two bedroom apartment with big terrace, bath and fast Wi-Fi for the cost of camping in the UK - why wouldn't you spend a bit of time here! 

Of course the real reason we go to Cyprus is because it isn't in Schengen so any time spent there doesn't count towards our pitiful 90 in 180 day limit in the rest of the Schengen zone - Spain, France, Germany, Norway, Iceland, Italy etc.