A small group of us had been invited by friends in Cahors to spend a weekend with them.

Most of us took the opportunity to add a few days either side of the weekend to see a little more of France and so it was that, very early one morning, Liz & Bill disembarked from the overnight car ferry at St Malo.   Our plan was to enjoy a completely unstructured meander down the western side of France, meet with our friends over the week end, continue down to the Mediterranean coast, meander along to Monaco and then return through the eastern regions and cross back to England via the Tunnel.  This was the first holiday we had taken for which a return date had not been pre-planned, but we had been on holiday with no pre-booked accommodation.

Staying away from the larger roads we drove south, stopping from time to time for refreshment and to admire the charm of the many villages and towns through which we passed.  Liz dug out our 'Logis de France' and we chose Les Herbiers for our first night.

A leisurely second day, more villages and glorious sunshine saw us to the coastal town of Royan.  We took the local ferry across the Gironde and then drove down to towards Bordeaux.  Approaching Bordeaux, Bill decided he'd taken a wrong direction and executed a very neat U-turn on some waste ground beside the road occupied only by a small group of men.  To the accompaniment of shouting and hostile gesticulation, a glance in the rear view mirror suggested we had driven right through a Boules match.   C'est la vie.  In fact the U-turn had been unnecessary and it took us to the centre of Bordeaux.  Rush hour traffic in Bordeaux is not to be recommended!   We stopped for the night at a charming Logis at Aiguillon (just under half way from Bordeaux to Toulouse).  Here we discovered that gin & tonic is not as widely available as we had previously supposed.

And then on to Cahors where we drove straight into a student demonstration.  A good nature'd bunch;  I imagine those who spoke to us were telling us of their grievances.  We'll never know.  And then to meet up with our fellow travellers and our hosts.

Ah yes - all those grapes!  The Queen of Denmark has a Chateau here which she always visits as the harvest begins.  Because her arrival was imminent we could not see round the house, but we did have a private visit to the gardens, vineyards and the very modern winery. In the cellars, the production process nears its conclusion!

And then on again to the South and an overnight stop at Mazamet.  Over the week-end Liz had developed a very painful dental problem and so bright and early, with much local assistance, we found ourselves at the dentist.  No waiting:- examination, X-ray, a good deal of drilling (well they all do that - don't they?), advice and a prescription.  And the cost?  'Hospitalité de France'.  Marvellous and not a form to be filled in either!

Then on to Carcassonne. Quite a walk up here!   In a tiny niche we, and an American tourist, discover an ATM. The American is amazed that here, miles from home, he can put his card in the slot, get cash out, have his account updated and check his balance! But time for refreshment and then to Port la Nouvelle.

A couple of days in a sea-front Logis to gather our breath, and then east along the coastal roads, village by village; town by town.  We didn't want to go into Marseilles, so we diverted north to Avignon.

A night at la Barden (all these Logis do have marvellous menus) and then a very heavy day sightseeing and visiting all those towns and villages on the coast that everyone but us seems to have been to.  A night at St-Aygulf and then along the coast again.

Villefranche-sur-Mer We treated ourselves to a couple of days of luxury in a hotel that, in addition to its roof-top swimming pool, offered stunning panoramic views. This was the view from our room. We breakfasted in the hotel, but ate out in the evenings.

On to Monaco.  What a place to be if you can afford it!  Round that hair-pin bend made famous by the Grand Prix and then north.  When we left Monte, the temperature was about 33 degrees.  It wasn't much less when we stopped for lunch.  But when we'd driven up into the mountains, past signs saying chains were compulsory, and got out of the car at la Richardière, shorts and light shirt seemed inappropriate for 7 degrees.  The Logis was, thankfully, running its central heating.

We were very much in skiing country here.  We had passed through much spectacular country and were to see more that day. There was a dusting of snow overnight, unusually early we were told.  We didn't wait to see if there would be more - we headed north for an overnight stop at Troyes.

On up through Reims and then to Neuville St-Amand.

We had not planned it, but we soon realised we were into the land of War Cemeteries.  Some big, some so small they could only be reached on foot.  And of course the Canadian memorial at Vimy.

Our last night was at Gavrelle before we headed for Calais and the Tunnel.  No delays, a night in Surrey and then home.

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