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Post by artisans on Feb 28, 2016 0:39:42 GMT 2
Stopping at Harthill Services on the M8, this morning, with Edinburgh in our sites, I was instantly transported to a day in the life of one of our springtime pilgramages to Roda. The buzzards shaking off the dew as they perched alongside the motorway, the splash of colour as an early clump of crocus flowers revealed itself, the first flush of blackthorn flowers about to emerge on a crisp, dry, sunny day. It was a typical morning for us when we are camping in Europe.
I long since realised that waiting for spring is something of a lottery with a short-term gain at best, and that spring, together with the swallows, actually heads south for the winter. On my first trip to Roda by road, in 2002, I found that spring was waiting patiently to return, with every day beyond Burgundy in France bringing me closer to what I had been longing for.
The message is - don't wait for spring ... go looking for it! The good news is that Jan & I will start our next springtime frolic on Wednesday, as we really can't wait any longer for more of this morning's magic.
Steve
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kaz
Roda Anorak
Posts: 3,961
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Post by kaz on Feb 28, 2016 11:14:46 GMT 2
Good Luck on your journey home Jan & Steve and may Spring be with you all the way.....see you soon xxx
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Post by kernowman on Feb 29, 2016 10:24:39 GMT 2
Sounds like you have a spring in your step!!
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Post by daveyh on Feb 29, 2016 15:01:53 GMT 2
Safe travels; enjoy spring unfold before you and be waiting for you on your doorstep in Roda.
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Post by davidandpaula2012 on Mar 1, 2016 2:52:47 GMT 2
When its spring again I will bring again tulips from roda -dam- well I tried ha -safe journey home cause weather of good at moment.
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Post by janiemou on Mar 1, 2016 21:10:00 GMT 2
As Steve has said we are both suffering from that state of restlessness that means we have to be on our travels again. I will try and put something on line as we travel, but the internet is still very much a lottery. For anybody interested in our proposed route here it is:- Sail from Portsmouth to St Malo Brittany Brest Quimper (French Cornwall) Carnac (Standing stones) La Rochelle (Think French Plymouth) Oradour sur Glane (Devastated village left intact from WW11) Perigeaux (Think truffles) Toulouse (Think sausages and cassoulet) Carcassonne (Medieval walled city) Sete/Agde for Easter Avignon for Nimes and Arles Port Grimaud near St Tropez (all canals and lovely houses) Sanremo Italy on the Italian Riviera Cinque Terre (picturesque fishing villages) Lucca (lovely walled town) Sienna (lovely walled city) Sirolo Ancona Igoumenista Corfu!!!!!!!!! PHEW, but so exciting seeing so many amazing places
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kaz
Roda Anorak
Posts: 3,961
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Post by kaz on Mar 1, 2016 21:35:07 GMT 2
Sounds great Janiemou......I envy your strength and determination and guts and stamina....I've only got to drive to Hythe and the Vertigo sets in !!!!Have a great journey, look forward to more news xxx
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Post by daveyh on Mar 2, 2016 12:49:54 GMT 2
Looks a lovely route. I have been to Sienna and as you say it is a great City. It has many awesome buildings and towers and the Piazza del Compo is not only encircled by them but is a great place to take a coffee/beer and people watch. When I was there a local entertainer with just a Ken Dodd like tickling stick was playing tricks on people walking around; touch their shoulder or hair and was so quick time they turn round they couldn't tell who had done it and with what. Their expressions (especially those of Chineese) was so funny to watch. Very amusing; I still laugh thinking of it again. Enjoy your trip
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Post by artisans on Mar 5, 2016 0:42:49 GMT 2
Thanks Dave - we’re on the road now, but spring seems to be going backwards here in Wales! Lots of daffs for St Davids’ Day though, and a woodpecker or two to keep us amused ... We’re looking forward to Sienna, and after that it’s off to Roda.
Steve
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Post by artisans on Mar 10, 2016 22:28:32 GMT 2
The weather in the UK has been atrocious and we were pleased to be finally heading south on Tuesday and starting our journey back to Roda. When we left Corfu in January, it took us 57 hours to get back to the UK and the text we got, just an hour out of Portsmouth, made us wonder if it was all happening again. A storm in the Channel had prevented our ferry from crossing to St. Malo, but we managed to switch to an alternative crossing to Caen just 12 hours later. Whatever, it has changed our itinerary and we had to find a campsite for the night near to Portsmouth, another near Caen, and third one east of Brest, just to get back on schedule. The good news was that the sun came out as we docked at Ouistreham, and the temperature soured to a dizzy 110C!!
Tomorrow we’ll be heading west - totally the wrong direction for Corfu, but a small deviation to see some of Brittany before turning back east and, more importantly south, in search of a much-needed taste of spring.
Steve
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jacks
Roda Anorak
Posts: 3,853
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Post by jacks on Mar 11, 2016 13:21:25 GMT 2
It's been dry & sunny here for about 2 weeks! :-) Wee bit of rain today, but that's about it. :-)
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Post by artisans on Mar 14, 2016 23:34:51 GMT 2
You’ve been lucky, Jackie - it’s been wetter than that in Motherwell. The first pic below is the scene as we started our journey south on March 2nd, somewhere near Beattock, the second one was taken yesterday at Concarneau in Brittany ... I know which I prefer!
We were blown off course in the Channel last Wednesday, but we’re heading east tomorrow and before long we’ll be chasing the sun down to the Med. as we head for Toulouse & Carcassone. If we can get WiFi, we’ll post some photos.
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kaz
Roda Anorak
Posts: 3,961
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Post by kaz on Mar 15, 2016 12:24:34 GMT 2
KEEP THE PICS COMING STEVE...GREAT SO FAR
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Post by artisans on Mar 15, 2016 22:57:48 GMT 2
I’ll do what I can, kaz, but internet availability is no better than in other years. Many years ago, I worked briefly with film-maker David Fairman, whose passion was the painter Paul Gauguin. David was desperate to make a film about Gauguin but, as far as I know, it never got off the ground. Yesterday, we were in a place that David knew well – Pont-Aven in southern Brittany. It was here that Gauguin stayed & painted before heading off to Tahiti. It was once a haven for artists and is within easy reach of the UK. I wish I could show you the pics, but technology is not all it’s cracked up to be! Soon, perhaps …
Steve
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Post by daveyh on Mar 16, 2016 10:22:48 GMT 2
Steve, apparently one of the best places to get good signals and connectivity is Everest Base Camp. Question is if they can do it there why isn't it great all round the world?
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