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briantrumpet

Legendary Member
Location
Devon & Die
Been and wented to France for a month, now halfway through my quarantine (or quatorzaine, to be mathematically more accurate) having returned to Devon. I drove there over two days (850 miles from Devon), once the 'corridor' was cleared... I'd normally cycle/fly/train/bus/walk, but decided to avoid the great unwashed. When it looked like the drawbridge was being pulled up again, I made the choice to remain there another two weeks, and come back 10 days earlier than planned, so I could 'serve my time', and not try to get on a ferry or train to beat the deadline. The roads back and Eurotunnel were not surprisingly, not busy.

So I got another two weeks of the most perfect weather, and now I'm spending my time on the turbo, doing some weights, sunbathing in the garden, and on the internet sorting out stuff for my start of term. No regrets at all. https://unanglaisendiois.wordpress.com/

Goodness knows if I'll get there for the last two weeks of October. It's not looking promising at the moment. :sad:
 

Bonus

Veteran
Location
Ainsa, Spain
Here in the Pyrenees we're having a cracking summer. Plenty of visitors, though less than normal of course. The trails are dry, the roads aren't busy and people are coping with the precautions without fuss.
 

briantrumpet

Legendary Member
Location
Devon & Die
Here in the Pyrenees we're having a cracking summer. Plenty of visitors, though less than normal of course. The trails are dry, the roads aren't busy and people are coping with the precautions without fuss.

In the Drôme it was very noticeable that there were far more French tourists, and far fewer Dutch (in particular). I never see very many GB plates anyway, but I think I saw just five in a month. It's one reason I love it so down there... there's virtually no English encountered or spoken.
 
I've returned from Nice to catch the last week's of a Vienne summer and watch the tour go through my own manor.
In Nice I met a British man and woman who made no plan to be there when the tour was on there, pure misfortune on their part.
They rode crusty looking bikes laden for camping and had been in France for a while when the UK imposed restrictions on returning travellers. I asked them if they were bothered by the restrictions. They said not, both had lost contract work and thought the most important thing was to have a change of scenery after months of living room and trips to the shop.
 

briantrumpet

Legendary Member
Location
Devon & Die
I've returned from Nice to catch the last week's of a Vienne summer and watch the tour go through my own manor.
In Nice I met a British man and woman who made no plan to be there when the tour was on there, pure misfortune on their part.
They rode crusty looking bikes laden for camping and had been in France for a while when the UK imposed restrictions on returning travellers. I asked them if they were bothered by the restrictions. They said not, both had lost contract work and thought the most important thing was to have a change of scenery after months of living room and trips to the shop.
I should have been going to the Vienne and Montreux jazz festivals this summer with my Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra. All cancelled, of course :sad:
 

briantrumpet

Legendary Member
Location
Devon & Die
I bought tickets for the Vienne. They are tucked in a bureau along with the full day for two all facilities included tickets to La Roche Posay spa I won at a charity tombola late in 2019.

It's great value in a stunning setting. We got to see Trombone Shorty in 2017. We've done Montreux as well a few times, but it's hardly got any proper jazz in the main festival, unlike Vienne. And there's some passable cycling around Vienne too. And the shops are much cheaper, not being Switzerland!
 
It's great value in a stunning setting. We got to see Trombone Shorty in 2017. We've done Montreux as well a few times, but it's hardly got any proper jazz in the main festival, unlike Vienne. And there's some passable cycling around Vienne too. And the shops are much cheaper, not being Switzerland!
I have very good memories of the Rhone Valley and the routes less travelled from Lyon to Montpellier. The wine that you don't get to see or taste even from the supermarkets here is superb. Bit too warm in the midsummer for me.
 
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Freiburg is doing okay. Post zombie apocalypse look is because it was Sunday and 0900, and Germans don't get up at that time on a Sunday, especially students.
I didn't cross into France today though because I'd have to fill in a form at work saying where I'd gone...
 
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