Reflections on 2 weeks of cycling, on a bicycle journey across France from Provence to Roscoff, discovering that the greatest rewards of slow travel aren’t measured in kilometres but in conversations, quiet roads, and having the time to truly notice the place that we are in … More Cycling Provence to Roscoff : A journey measured in moments, not miles,
Day 8 of our cycle tour from Provence to Roscoff, in France and today the heatwave really hit. We have changed our route to stay safe in the high temperatures of the latest canicule, but today cycled from Saumur to Angers, through the beautiful villages of the Loire valley. A stunning ride, with lots of stops and shade too. But brutally hot 🥵 … More Day 8: From Saumur to Angers, Cycling Through the French Heatwave
Join us on our summer cycling adventure that will take us from Provence to Brittany and across to Devon. On Day 1 we ride along the Veloroute du Calavon and the Mediterrannée à vélo from the Luberon to Nimes and then take the scenic train to Clermont Ferrand for the night. … More From Saddle to Scenic Railway: The First Day of our Summer Cycling Adventure
What began as a disappointment, when our train was cancelled, became an unexpected auction adventure that saw us buying a piece by a favourite artist ( Peter Joyce )in an auction at the nearby Château de la Verdière. With a trip home across the Valensole Plateau, it turns out that this week has been rather better than we imagined
… More Only Because We Were Here: A Cancelled Trip, a Château Auction, and A Prized Purchase
My perfect day in Aix-en-Provence unfolded through exploring the historic streets, market, and classic Provence atmosphere, visiting the Toulouse Lautrec Exhibition at the Hotel Caumont— before ending in unforgettable rugby scenes as Provence Rugby secured a dramatic barrage victory. A glimpse of our life in southern France at its absolute best. … More My Perfect Day in Aix-En-Provence – Ending in Rugby Euphoria.
Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve happily noticed a decided shift towards the settling down of spring, in Provence. Arriving back, after watching the Paris-Roubaix, we stepped off the TGV at Avignon into a bitterly cold, and fierce Mistral, which stripped the warmth from our bodies and left us shivering, as we waited for … More 10 years of Spring in Provence
We had always planned our last day of our trip to the Côte d’Azur, around stopping in Aix, on the way home, to watch the rugby. We know our priorities! Having secured the 2 paintings in the auction earlier in the week, we also had to ensure we were at the auctioneer’s, just outside Aix, … More Walking the Cap d’Antibes
After the cloud of yesterday, we woke today, to blue skies and a gentle warmth in the rising sun. A perfect day for a long walk along the coast path around Cap Ferrat. Cap Ferrat is just the other side of the bay to Villefranche, so all we needed to do was pack the coffee … More Walking the coast path around Cap Ferrat
Thirty seven years ago today Andy and I wandered up the aisle of a little church, on the edge of the Cotswolds, and tied the knot. So how better to celebrate the occasion than to take one of our favourite walks, on the Côte D’Azur, from Menton to the village of Saint Agnes. During the … More The Fête du Citron and a long walk
This year, January seems to have lasted for a least 6 months, if not slightly longer. The days seem to have flown by, yet at the same time, it feels as if the month has passed at a snail’s pace. It’s really very bizarre. But, the weeks have been filled with the basics of life, … More January trip to the Cote d’Azur
Postcards from Provence and beyond 