Route change

Following recommendations from people in the know, we have decided to visit the Dordogne on the way down through France to Barcelona. So now the plan is a week or so in the Loire Valley, followed by a week or so in the Dordogne before heading into Spain. Will still be crossing the border through the Pyrenees National Park but further to the east.

Ferry is booked!

Finally got confirmation from Book F1 that the tickets will be with us soon so the ferry has been booked! Book F1 have been great, they are making a special effort to send our tickets to us weeks before they would usually do so. Now we just have to get road tax for the motorhome and scooter before we go (luckily you can apply for road tax up to 2 months in advance). I'll post a photo of the motorhome when we get it out of storage.

The Route

So, where are we going exactly? 

• The plan is to travel down the west side of France stopping in the Loire Valley, Bordeuax, Pau and the Pyrenees. 
  
• Then, into Spain and a leisurely drive down to Barcelona, stopping at Benasque on the way.
  
• Following the Spanish GP at Barcelona, we will be heading off north back into France to Millau to see the bridge. 
  
• From here we have to skirt round Cevennes National Park to see the roman aquaduct at Pont Du Gard.
  
• Then it's a case of hugging the south coast of France to Italy, visiting Saint Tropez, Cannes, Nice and Monaco on the way.
• OK, so now we are in Italy, a first for us both. Well be travelling round the coast into Tuscany. Visiting Pisa and Florence. And generally hanging around in Tuscany.
• When we eventually get bored with Tuscany, it's off to Venice for some culture and ice cream! 
• And then a bit more of Italy before we enter Slovenia.
• We'll spend around 4 weeks in Slovenia (google maps doesn't route plan so no link!) before heading back into northern Italy.
• Of course, when around northern Italy you really must do Lake Garda and Lake Como!
• This is where we enter Switzerland and head for Interlaken and Grindelwald.
• And if we have time, a trip down to Geneva to visit friends not seen in over 10 years.
• Then it's up, through the Naturparks in Germany.
• And finally, 1 more country before heading back for the ferry: Belgium

Quite a route I'm sure you'll agree, about 4000 miles I think including the drive to and from Dover. 5 months just doesn't seem long enough :-)

Won't be long now

Only another 3 weeks before we are off - hopefully that is! We are waiting on tickets for the F1 GP at Barcelona to arrive before we leave can and have been told that they may not arrive until two weeks before the event which is on 25th-27th April! Which to be honest is a bit of a pain, because we can't book the ferry until we know what date we are leaving, and we can't get the CCI card until we book the ferry either!

It had better be a good F1 GP!

Those we leave behind!

Meet our daughter Kerry (which she hates being called - prefers Kez) and our dog Cassie. Aren't they both cute?

Kez is studying at Lincoln university so can't come with us and we aren't taking Cassie as we don't want the hassle of getting her in the UK on the way back (blood tests and stuff) or run the risk of her getting ill. And of course we would like the freedom of not having to get back to her if we leave her in the van.

Cassie is staying with her Nan & Grandad (and if the pair of you read this, don't let her put on too much weight while we are away!!!)

We'll miss them both terribly!