Dan and Claire on Sabbatical!!

Welcome to our blog, we hope you enjoy following our adventures!
We split our sabbatical in 2 parts:
Part 1 was from March to June 2010 touring around in our campervan in France and Spain.
Part 2 started on the 7th of July when we left Scotland to cycle through Europe and the Middle East to Africa in the remaining 6 months (back for Xmas).
Have a look at the route below and we'll try to post pics as much as we can!

xx

Cycle Route to Africa

28 Jun 2010

in Monflanquin at Chateau Beryl&Taco

Wow!
we didn't know if we were at the right house first, but yes! it was Beryl's wonderful house in the south of France. An amazingly rebuilt ruine with beautiful terrasses, swimmingpool, great food and the most fantastic wines!
We had 4 very fun days tasting wine (even 1 day in an oldtimer (Triumph) with hats on!), lazing by the pool (or cleaning it..hard work) and enjoying the French classics that Denise prepared. Thanks very much Taco&Beryl for the invitation! We had a great time xx



20 Jun 2010

Le 'Gervingt' (GR20)

Hello, we've been in the hills for 2 weeks nearly and now we're back in mainland France. What a great adventure we had walking across Corsica on the GR20 with Matty Splatty (not matty fatty cos he lost 8 pounds of weight!!!). Lugging backpacks of 15-20kg each in the boiling heat...until it rained and hailed.

They say it is the most technical walk in Europe, Claire and Mat agree....Dan thinks it was piss (although he was seen limping a few times). Old war wounds you see :o)
It feels like we've been in the mountains for ages! What an amazing walk we all loved it and recommend it to everyone who likes walking for 9-14 days....

Back in france for a few days for a spot of climbing and  then heading back north and home to pick up the bikes.

xxx



2 Jun 2010

3 weeks in the sun!!...almost

After looking at the barren white top of the Mont Ventoux for weeks from all directions (a week in Menerbes, a week on the other side in Buis les Barronies and then another week in the Luberon mountains), we finally did it yesterday!! Started from Bedoin, like the Tour de France-ers, and huffed and puffed our way up to the 1909 m high peak. Really cool to do, the mistral wind was making it a bit harder the last 6 km but very worthwhile. It feels like cycle-capital of the world here, full of cyclists and cycle-shops.

Dan: 2 hours up and then 20 minutes down...you get up to 70 kph on the way down. Sneller!!!! :o)
Last week Dan and Jon had a bit of a climbing-fest in Orpierre and Ceuse and I had some time off ;-) Ceuse is really beautiful with the snowy peaks of the Ecrins in the background. And according to the boys the best climbing in the world! Maybe the 1 hr walk-in will feel less steep after a few times... Pictures will follow, we can't get them off the big camera.
Dan: for those climbers reading this, Ceuse is totally amazing!!! and the walk isn't really that terrible .
Zooo gezellig that the chica's came to visit for a mini-sun-break! We had a big camping party with 7 in Bonnieux on a beautiful campsite. So nice to be around friends and walk, chat, read dutch magazines and sit in the sun together. And create culinary meals on the camping stoves yumm.. Renet and I even saw a water snake in the lake where we were swimming!
Sunday night when everyone was gone we felt a bit lonely...
We're staying in the Provence for the rest of this week (beginning to feel at home here) and pick up Matt on Sunday to go to Corsica.
Hope spring has arrived at home!
xx
ps picture of church in Avignon, city of the popes