Settling in, Part 2

We have had some rain, but today (Wednesday) has been great weather, with a max temp of 25 degrees.

Wonderful views across the valley to the Pania della Croce - must climb it some time - only 1858 m (6095 ft).

A perfect mix of mist and sun

Coffee outside among bits of lathe

Six months of tea (did I get the sums right?)

Sunset over the Pania (on left)

Settling in

On Sunday morning, Pietro and Marijke left for Switzerland where their daughter is.  We took the opportunity of the fine weather to go for a walk for an hour or two.

Back home, we managed to get the car completely unloaded in a one-er.

All set to go - and stay!

Back to the now-familiar view we never tire of

Up through the woods ...

The big unload

Down the Rabbit Hole

After a pleasant night in the village of Saint-Jeannet set off for Barga later than we meant to - had to have a walk around the picturesque hamlet - but didn't take any pictures!

The drive was the opposite of yesterday's slow country roads - ie full-on motorway driving for 6 hours through scores of tunnels, maybe a hundred?  Not too many lorries though, it being Sunday.

Arrived in Barga in time for a warm reunion with Pietro and Marijke and a splendid meal!

View of the Med and environs of Nice from belvedere in Saint-Jeannet

Suitably impressive rock looming above our B & B

Looking into the barrel of another tunnel

Driver's eye view

The next photo was artier!

Nowhere to stop - Apuan alps from the motorway, with crash barrier and lampost

Lavender Country

Drove from Montelimar to Nice on Friday.  We took the scenic route, so far fewer lorries on the roads than yesterday.  This took us through the lavender fields of Ventoux and Vaucluse and the pine woods of the Alpes Maritime. All looking suitably Southern in a clear sunshiny day.

Incredible limestone terrain latterly, but too difficult to stop for photographs on the mountain roads.

Lady and fountain

View over the lavender country of Ventoux, Monts de Vaucluse on the right

Pique-nique in the lavender

Lavender the favourite colour for external paintwork here!

Fantastic rock formations come with the territory ...

Down through France ...

On Wednesday, headed down the "Autoroute des Anglais" to the small town of Langres where we camped last year.  On Thursday, drove down the Rhone to Montelimar - town of nougat!

Isabel's cake for breakfast at the first motorway stop!

Morning view at Langres

The great river Rhone and a modern bridge at Le Pouzin, near Montelimar.

Into (and out of) England ...

Down the A68 to Isabel's in County Durham yesterday.  A walk in the woods - every bit as good as Barga.  Real ale in the evening - they have it on tap down here - amazing!

Today down the A1 to Carol and Ian's near Gainsborough for lunch - we mistimed it so all a bit of a rush, and no time for the photo I meant to take - sorry guys ...  Then quite a tense trip to Hull for the boat - traffic jams in Hull made for a fingernail-biting finish!

Now posting this from the boat - at some expense I may add - not free like good old Northlnk!  But a gentle crossing so far anyway. Tomorrow - Zeebrugge to somewhere in France we seem to have decided.

Isabel, Jack and Barbara in Ebchester

Sunset over the Port of Hull

"The last of England" (apologies to Ford Madox Brown)

Walking About

Bit of an overcast day, but we managed a new walk up by Sharplaw.

On what used to be the "Joogly Brig" (it joogles no more!) 

Betty and Barbara among the beeches

Still some flowers -  a late Herb Robert Cranesbill

The Borders

We are lazing and generally re-grouping in Jedburgh.  Barbara and Betty have actually today made a foray into England!  If M & S in Newcastle counts.

Meanwhile, Bill took a few photos of the historic burgh ...

Typical Border country.  The hill of Peniel Heugh with it's Waterloo monument in the distance.

Jedburgh Abbey, after the depredations of the English over many centuries, finished off in the 16th century by the Protestant Reformation ...

Queen Mary's House, where Mary, Queen of Scots stayed to hold a Circuit Court in the town in 1566

Through the highlands

After an overnight stay with Jean in Helmsdale, the morning revealed that yesterday's sun had gone, and left us with lowering skies, although it was less windy.

A streak of sunshine lights up an otherwise gloomy North Sea, seen from Jean's house

From Jean's, looking up the Strath of Kildonan

Still wet on the Pass of Drumochter ...

On the road again ...

Finally got the car packed, so it's goodbye to emulsion paint and building Ikea units!

Spent a pleasant afternoon meandering down Caithness to meet Jean at Helmsdale in the evening.

Thanks to Jenny for taking the photo!

Stromness looking good in the blustery day 

Old Man of Hoy just visible on the left

It's not only Orkney that has standing stones ...

Lybster harbour a haven in the gale force South Easter