HOMEWARD BOUND THROUGH FRANCE

Finally left Germany after a fraught time along the Rhine, map book rather old went wrong a couple of times but arrived in Pont Les Moulins at a small campsite for the night. Much hotter once we left the mountains.

Our last night for a short while, going upmarket camping staying at my brother and his wife's house in Fours. Excited at seeing them again even though its only been 5 weeks!

Arrived at Jim and Jennys to a great welcome, they are the best hosts!

Just three days with them before we head to the ferry on Wednesday evening.
Relaxing time, enjoying ourselves.

                                              THEATRE ROMAIN AND VIDE GRENIER

CHILLING IN THE POOL AT JIM AND JENNYS

ROY EARNING HIS KEEP CLEANING THE POOL

FOUR MUSKATEERS

JIM AND JENNYS BEAUTIFUL HOME

JIM AND  LOLA

POND AT JIMS

MORNING BIKE RIDE

OFF INTO THE BLUE HORIZON

LUNCH IN MOULINS AT THE CAFE ROYALE - OUR WONDERFUL HOSTS

AUSTRIA TO ITALY TO AUSTRIA TO GERMANY

We left beautiful Matrei and headed south to Lienz then west to the autobahn near Bozen, taking us through Italy, worse roads and high diesel prices, we were not in Italy long. Northwards on the autobahn with a couple of charges 4 Euros in Italy and 9-50 Euros which we think think was for the Brenner tunnel but were a bit unsure which tunnel it was. Our lunch stop was at a rest stop on motorway with the first museum ever built on a motorway. The artist had a thing about water!
We arrived at the expensive Ferienparadies Natterer See camping 39-10 a night which was heaving. Lots of kids enjoying the lake and different types of camping, which makes up the pics on this blog.

                   THESE REMINDED US OF HOBBITON LORD OF THE RINGS

Left Austria and the mountains in a rain storm while driving most of the way on the autobahn. Sun came out as we left one of the tunnels, it was easy driving and not too busy but never been through so many tunnels including the 10.3 km Arlbergtunnel 10 Euros. The rest of the journey along Bodensee was ok but road works everywhere. Camped in Stockach and had a wander round the town.

ARLBERGTUNNEL

THE RAIN STOPPED!

STOCKACH STORK

STOCKACH CHURCH

FINALLY SHE SHOWED HER CHICK

THIS FIGURE IS ON THE TOP OF THE PREVIOUS PHOTO - QUITE BIZARRE

PART OF EUROPA PANORAMAWEG

Our last day in Austria, tomorrow we set off for France by Friday.

We took the Goldried gondola up above Matrei – took 15 minutes to get us to 2156m, would take 2 hours to walk up!

A lazy day today, sun was shining despite a thunder, lightning and hailstones couple of hours in the night.

We met a couple from Shrewsbury on way up and chatted and they went on ahead, we had lunch mindful of the black clouds gathering. Almost at the top of our highest point

we decided to turn back, thunder crashing round and echoing through the mountains and then the rain but not as much as we expected. Back down on the gondola we met up with couple again and they came back to ours for drinks.

So sad to be leaving this stunning area but more adventures await. Good news Roy got car sorted this morning at the Nissan in Lienz for the princely sum of 381 Euros. We're good to go tomorrow!

                                              THE ONLY WAY TO CLIMB!

                                                   
        ENDLESS ALPEN ROSE

                                                  THE MIGHTY  GROSSGLOCKNER

                                                              LUNCH BEFORE THE RAINS

                                    NOT LIKING THE LOOK OF THOSE CLOUDS BEHIND ME

                                                      WE'LL JUST GO TO THE TOP!

                                            STORM CLOUDS GATHERING TIME TO TURN AROUND