Forest Gump 2001- 2010

This is a good friend of mine, Forest Gump who died on the 16th May.  Six days before he had to be put to sleep by the vet he was playing in the garden with me.

Such a gentle kind cat, he took a new arrival into the family under his wing like an old 'father' cat.  He will be missed by all of the household here.

Prisoner of the Japanese in WWII

Fortunately I was not born until just after the end of World War II, but my early childhood was full of the stories told by people around me and books and newspapers which I read.  


Even in the early 1950's the papers were still talking about the war.  It was only five or six years since it had ended.


The story I want to tell you about the war relates to the experiences of my father who spent three and a half years as a prisoner of war on the island of Formosa, now called Taiwan.  

He joined the British army in early 1939 before the official outbreak of the war and took part in the normal training which every soldier has to do.  He told me little of the time he spent in the UK during that period of training, and very little of the time he spent as a POW.  It was only after his death in 1976 at the age of 67 that I was able to look through his diaries and papers and put together the full story of his life.


On 30th October 1942 he set sail from the port of Liverpool onboard a troop ship called the Empress of Asia.  They did not know where they were going but thought that it might be North Africa.  They went to Glasgow in Scotland first, then Newfoundland in Canada, then sailed down the eastern seaboard of America to Bermuda and then across the Atlantic to Durban in south Africa.

From there they sailed to Calcutta in India where they disembarked for two weeks of training.  


After that they got back on the ship and sailed to Singapore where the ships in the convoy he was in came under attack from Japanese planes.  His ship was hit several times and so the order to 'Abandon Ship' was given.  After helping many of the troops under his command off the ship he swam ashore to the mainland with many others of his friends.  


After having left the UK with the most up to date arms and clothing, he arrived in Singapore with nothing other than what he stood in.


He re-grouped with several of his platoon and was given charge of a small Bren Gun Carrier - a type of small armoured vehicle and told to go to look for the Japanese in the jungle north of the city.


For three days he and his comrades fought and hid from the Japanese until they finally came under fire from a machine gun in a jungle hiding.  He was hit, though not too seriously, and the Bren Carrier drove wildly along the road back into Singapore.  


On the 15th February the British armed forces in the whole of Malaysia were told to surrender, and many many thousands were taken into captivity.  My father was one of them.


He spent several weeks on the mainland and then shipped off to the island of Formosa (Taiwan) in the hold of a filthy, hot, and unhealthy ship until they finally arrived at the island.


He spent the next three years there in four or five camps.  They were worked very hard and given little to eat.  They had no drugs for the many tropical diseases which abounded in the region and like many others, my father became very ill.


There were no hospitals in the camps, simply a large room where the sick and dying were kept together.  When he was well enough he joined the many work parties which the Japanese set them to.  At one point they spent many weeks in one of the camps building a river bank of stones.  The ideas was that when the monsoons came the river bank would stop the water from running into the town nearby, as it had in the past.


The prisoners deliberately did such a bad job that the first time the monsoons came the whole bank washed away - but threatened to take the prison camp with it!!


Late in 1944 he was moved to the final camp he stayed at, a place called Shirakawa.  This was a camp which had originally been set up just for officers and in time was also used to house the very sickest of the soldiers.  Soon after he arrived in the camp he found his cousin had been living there for most of the war!


I can imagine the reunion they had.  Even with the most limited supplies and food they had it must had been a good time for both of them.


The war ended some six months later and both men left on the same ship to come back to the UK.  My father arrived back in Liverpool on the 20th October 1945 - exactly four years to the day after leaving.

His cousin was married soon after the two men arrived home and my father and his wife (my mother) went to the wedding as guests.


Some time after that I was born, and a few months later my fathers cousin's wife had a baby.  Unknown to each other they both called their sons David.  Quite a series of coincidences.


My father was one of six children, five boys and two girls.  The last of his brothers died last year.  All of his siblings died in their 80s, he died at the age of 67, four years older than my current age.


I recall that until the mid 1950s he would go to hospital for treatment for the tropical diseases and injuries he had sustained during his time in the far east.  I am certain that his early death was a direct result of the treatment he received during his time as a Prisoner of War.


He died in 1976 at the age of 67.  His four brothers and two sisters survived into their early 80's.  His early death was due in no small part to the ill treatment and diseases he contacted whilst a 'guest' of the Japanese.  If you would liek to learn more of the camps on Taiwan, then visit this web site. 

A Bit of a drive through Europe

(I should point out that this journey took place in 2009)


It’s been a long time in the planning, but at last the day has arrived when we are going off to the wilds of Europe for three weeks. It seems to have taken ages to arrive, but at last it is here.

The Hymer has been off the road for a few months, mainly because of work, but we decided some months ago that we would have a long holiday this year, and it became even more imperative when our cleaner decided she and her boyfriend were going to get themselves hitched.

Nothing much I could say would persuade either of them not to do it, so we got ourselves an invitation. Very nice too, in deepest Slovakia of all places.

So the trip starts off through France, Luxembourg, Germany, Czech republic, Slovakia and then returning through Austria, Italy, Switzerland and France.

We will be stopping off for a few days here an there (mainly in the Czech Republic0 to stay with friends and in France as well to stay off with my long standing friend Jean-Michele and his lovely wife Anne. It’s been too long a time since we say them both and their three boys, so we are really looking forward to the whole trip.

Wednesday 3^rd June 2009

Last minute frantic panic when I did a last and final check on the lights and indicators about two hours before we were due to leave showed that a front headlight and rear tail light were not working. This was one week after the Hymer had had an MOT. Shot it straight back to the garage (fortunately not too far away) and a very shamefaced electrical type fixed the duff bulbs in short time. “It probably went just after the test” he said, “Yeah yeah yeah” I thought. I just hope this is the last thing to go wrong. Fingers crossed.

So, we left home about 6.45pm and started off in beautiful evening sunshine for the wilds of Dover.

Yvonne was no more than ten minutes into the journey when she suggested that if she could sleep whilst I drove then she would do the driving tomorrow. Poor thing, she was shattered after a fairly hectic week and a half at work. So, of course, I drove all the way. Not complaining at all. I enjoy driving and it is a long time since either of us have done such a long trip.

Arrived at Dover three hours before the time for our ferry so the good people at Norfolk Line (former employer of mine) gave us tickets for the 0200 ferry, and didn’t notice that the MH was over 2.5 m high and over 5m in length. All in all a good deal as the cost was only £41.00 return!

I really don’t like ferry crossings. During the day you are surrounded by screaming kids and crowds of people wandering around aimlessly, and at night it is difficult to find a comfortable seat. So, we joined many other people by crashing out on the carpeted floor of the café to try and get some sleep.

After about 45 minutes I got up and walked to the bar for a hot chocolate to be joined a few seconds later by Yvonne.

“Do you know?” she said, “You have 100% wool and nylon stamped over the side of your head”. I grinned and said, “And you have shag pile on yours”. Touche!

Thursday 4^th June 2009

So, we arrived in Dunkirk and set off the crowds to try and hide ourselves as quickly as possible in the traffic. But at 0500 hours local time there wasn’t a lot of it about.

For the first time we have taken Tom Tom out of the UK, and joined a queue of other Brits in the first available layby to tell the stupid man where we were and where we wanted to go to.

“Take us to Luxembourg, but avoid motorways like the plague” we said, (Well he does know that we don’t like paying for the privilege of driving on their roads). So off we trotted like good old tight fisted Brits that we are, and spent the next few hours going through Arras and Lens and places like that. Not my most favourite part of France, but it did save us some brass.

Arrived in Luxembourg early afternoon much to our surprise, and theirs as well I assume. What a place! Driving at break neck speed with a bunch of maniacs one minute and then out in the most wonderful forested landscape imaginable the next.

Wonderful clean place, tidy, nice people, smart, and apparently as anal retentive as they come. At one point during our journey out of the place – brought on by a sever bout of panic in the center of the city of Luxembourg. Who on earth calls their capital the same name as the country? This is surely the height of laziness, or a severe lack of imagination.

Can you imagine someone visiting Germany, or America or even England and when questioned by their friends as to where they have been tells them not only the name of the country but the repeats it when asked where in the country they went to. Real smack in the teeth time.

Stopped overnight at a really nice small campsite by the side of the river in Bittburg. Opposite a fairly horrendous campsite with bars, shops, swimming pools and kids. The one we stopped at cost us the massive sum of 6 Euros for the night including electricity, and run by a very pleasant and accommodating guy who seemed to have the monopoly of Dutch and Belgian statics on his site. Great location by the river and quiet. Good nights sleep after a bottle of wine and then woke with the dawn (well 8.00am) to make an early start.

Friday 5^th June 2009

Climbed up through the hills into the lower reaches of the Mosel intending to do a re-run of a trip Yvonne had done with her father many years ago. Somehow or other the roads had changed a little bit and we ended up on the crest of the hills instead of down by the river side.

Not a problem though as we did manage to drop into the beautiful town of Traben Trabach and from there followed the river first on the right bank and then crossing over time and time again to the opposite. Fantastic villages who are obviously setting out their stall to accommodate all types of visitors. Free motorhome stopping places and about as many which seemed to rely on an honesty system costing 4.50 euros a night. Wonderful scenery which we took advantage of by taking a 4.5K walk into the forest to visit the medieval castle of Burg Eltz. Well worth a visit just for the wonderful peaceful ( and not too strenuous walk) through the forest until you get to the castle. Superb place.

Drove on towards Koblenz and had an interesting journey through its flyovers. Busy place, not too many places to stop. So we pushed on down the Rhine and passed the Loreley (German spelling) and then asked Tom Tom to find us a campsite for the night. “Do a U turn “ he said, So we did. Taking us back into a town we had just driven through. OK, not too bad. “Go right at the roundabout “ Yes, we managed that. “Turn right at the next junction” Yes we did that. “Go ahead for two hundred yards and catch the ferry, and relax”. Sarcastic so and so.

We didn’t, the ferry was only suitable for cars, and not a 3.5T Hymer.

So, we decided to push on a little towards Nurnburg, and wound up in the pouring rain on a service area with the worlds supply of truckers. They were fine, just a bit noisy when the revved up a got going in the morning.

Saturday 6^th June 2009

The news on the radio this morning was all about Barac Obama, and Sarkozy from France attending the D Day celebrations in Normandy. No mention of the German Prime Miister being there.

Pouring hard with rain all day. Bloody miserable. Compounded by the fact that some idiot typed in the wrong destination into the tom tom and we spent one hour going the wrong way along the motorway, and then another hour retracing our steps. What a berk!

Only consolation was the sight of a rather badly smashed up Porche which had gone hurtling past us in really torrential rain. He had had an argument with the central reservation crash barrier and damaged his no claims bonus. The amazing thing was that although the fast lane was blocked and had a break down wagon doing its thing, the only Police presence was one solitary estate car with its blue lights going behind the wreck. Can you image the UK? We would have had three miles of warning signs, four hundred yards of cones and about half the police force in the UK to deal with it. Not the very efficient German Police, on solitary officer standing in the rain. Now that’s how the job should be done.

En route to Nurnberg on the B3215 we were just about to negotiate a set of lights at a bridge when we saw a walled town by the left hand side of the road so made a fairly rapid left turn into the place. Mainbernheim was the name of the place, half way between Wurzburg and Nurnburg. Fantastic place, unspoiled by tourists, but a wonder little medieval town with towers at the main gates and a wall running right around it. Great hot chocolate and rhubarb meringue for me and chocolate torte for Yvonne. Shame to leave the place. Give them our love if you call in there.

The rain came down again after a pleasant hour or so drive into Nurnburg. En route Yvonne got onto the interweb to see if there was a suitable campsite as we fancied a bit of luxury this evening. Only one, near to the main stadium by one of the university departments. Good old tom Tom made it for us, only to find that there was a Rock in the Park concert on tonight. Campsite, parking places, in fact the whole damn place was chocker block. No chance.

Ended up in a very nice woodland path by the side of the university used only as a car park by people coming to the university. Nice secluded dead end in a beech forest. Did the right thing and parked well into the side right at the far end so as to be as invisible as possible and settled down to write this log up, whilst Yvonne got on with the left sleeve of the latest knitted thing she is concocting. Looks good, but then I do know upon which side my bred is buttered!!

Sunday 7^th June 2009

Because we were parked probably illegally in the lane by the side of the University we decided on an early start, and by 0830 am we were parked quite nicely in the center of Nurnberg where we had beaten all the rest of the inhabitants to it. Had a walk around the city center which had been very extensively bombed during the war and consequently was almost all new. One of the few buildings to escape the bombing appeared to be the main church in the center, but almost all the rest looked to be new.

One nice thing about the city was the rebuilding of the old city walls around the inner core of the city. These were very high and appeared to be in habited or certainly looked to have some form of use as businesses or residences. At one point near to one of the old gates we saw two road signs. The first prohibited photography, and the second indicated that only people over 18 could go down the street. We soon discovered why. The place was alive with prostitutes! At one point one of the ugliest largest of them suddenly came out of the house doorway where she was applying make up with a trowel and started berating Yvonne. “Go away, no woman” she shouted and came at Yvonne brandishing a hand mirror. Yvonne tried to speak to her but she was having nothing of it and hit her on the shoulder with the mirror, then took her photograph on her mobile phone and pretended to call the police. We retreated.

Stopped in a wonderful café for coffee and cakes in the then only open café in the city. 
Worth the effort.

A very helpful lady in the tourist information office pointed out to us the whereabouts of 
the toy museum which we wanted to see and also how to get to the German documentation center for history of the Nazi party in Germany.

The toy museum was brilliant, wonderful to see so much social history reflected in the design of the toys in the museum. Stretched back to the 1650’s through to the modern era. Great museum and a wonderfully priced ticket. The purchase of one ticket allowed you into all the museums in Nurnberg for free.

So from there we drove to the old Nurnberg rally ground where the Nazi party used to hold 
their rallies. Something of an eye opener. A brilliant exhibition with handheld talking commentary in several languages.

There was a temporary exhibition at the side of the main one which showed the local involvement of people and organizations from the region in the Nazi party. A very brave thing for the people of Nurnberg to have put on, and one which should be commended. It does seem a shame that the German people still seem to have the guilt complex about things which happened so long ago. Maybe good, maybe bad, not sure.

Left Nurnberg for the Czech republic in mid afternoon by the Autobahn. The weather changed and started heavy rain for most of the journey. Yvonne crashed out in the bed at the back for a large part of the way just before we reached the border. Apart from the sign saying we were in the Czech republic there seemed to be nothing different! Very disappointed that we didn’t get our passports stamped! Childish really.

The weather cleared later on as we approached Prague at about 7pm, then spent a nightmare two hours trying to find out way to the only campsite we were able to find on the internet which seemed to be near to the city center. We were very lucky eventually to find it and discovered that it was on an island in the river. Most novel. The site was really good and clean if a little expensive, or maybe we are getting used to wild camping for nothing. Great view from the front of the Hymer up and down the river. From where we were we were able to see several of the bridges across the river. Helpful people at the site gave us an idiot sheet of how to get into the city.

Monday 8^th June

Took the number 12 tram into the city of Prague which dropped us off at Wenseslas Square and spent the morning wandering around the old city. Very very beautiful place full of history as most old cities are. We were both impressed by the puppet making tradition which is carried on. Beautiful wooden puppets of all sizes and cheap imitation Chinese ones as well. Coffee and cake in the afternoon after a long wander around the castle and cathedral where we saw the tomb of one of the Hapsburgs. An awful lot of the city center is under redevelopment at the moment so driving around was a bit of a nightmare. Fantastic views from the castle area of the city and the river.

Late in the afternoon we crossed over the Charles Bridge to the opposite bank and followed our map to find the church of St Cyril where there was a plaque on the church wall to commemorate the deaths of several Czech partisans during WW2 following their killing of Rheinhard Heidrich.

Tuesday 9^th June

Lost or had stolen the second set of keys for the Hymer. Search high and low but they did not turn up any where. 

 We had intended to stay in Prague for three nights but in view of the loss of the keys we decided to leave as we did not want to come back from the city to find that the Hymer was missing. Bit annoying really. I took a tram to Smirchov to a key cutter with the one spare safe key we had but he was unable to help me. When I got back I forced open the safe using a screwdriver and retrieved the money we had in there. Left the site about 1pm and took the side roads out in the general direction of Brno doing along the side main road to Kutna Hora. Traffic was a bit of a pain until we got well clear of the city, then it was all rolling hills and countryside. An enormous amount of the country seems to be under cultivation of crops, very few animals to be seen in fields.

Drove on to Caslav and then to Havickuv Brod where we stopped fro a coffee and a wander. Discovered that this used to be known as Austerlitz and was the site of the battle of the same name where Napoleon Bonapart established his control over much of Europe in 1805. came a bit of a cropper in 1812 when he went to Moscow and came unstuck.

From there we headed again on the side roads in the general direction of Brno and tried to find a campsite which appeared to be on the map but it appeared to have disappeared. Stopped on top of a hill in a bus layby close to a tiny village in the middle of no where. Well rewarded by fantastic views across the hills to the western horizon where we watched the sun go down. Wonderful.

Wednesday 10^th June

Poured down in the night and when we woke it was to find that the clear blue skies of the day before were now dark grey and wall to wall. Started to rain as we left about 8.20am and continued for the rest of the morning.

Drove into Brno where we wanted to stop and have a wander around, but only succeeded in getting pulled onto the pavement by a couple of Police officers who asked where we were going. I thought he said where have you come from and watched his eyes go up into his head when I pointed out to him on the map where we had stopped the night before. Eventually we understood each other so I asked him if he knew of any parking. He pointed across the street and indicated there was parking there, so I followed his directions into a very congested car parking area in a side street. Caused a bit of consternation as I maneuvered the Hymer aound parked cars and things.

In the end we gave it up as a bad job and left the city, still raining and headed for the Slovakian border near to Trencin via Uherse Hradiste. Not a bad road but a fair few HGVs on the road. Stopped for lunch at a restaurant near to the top of the Carpathian mountains and then pushed on again to the border. Once we got to the top of the mountains there was a very steep windy road down the other side, but the most beautiful views as well. And the weather cleared up with bright sunshine. So a very pleasant drive down tot the border. The really surprising thing we saw was the old border crossing point with lines of barriers for cars to go through, completely deserted! So, the EU thing seems to be working at some level or other then.

The immediate thing we noticed when driving on the Slovak side of the border was the fact that there were parking areas by the side of the road at fairly regular intervals. There appeared to be none at all on the Czech side, and the roads were better as well. It seemed that the closer you got to the Slovak border from the Czech side the worse the roads became.

I did not want to go on the motorway, but all the signs seemed to be trying to make me go that way. I persisted and stopped at a radar site where two policemen were doing their thing with a digital camera attached to a radar gun. One of them was very pleased to practice his English on me and gave me good directions to Nitra, which is the direction we were heading to get to Victors place.

I rewarded him with a handful of English hard caramels which we didn’t like much, but he seemed pleased, so a result.

Pleasant drive down the road for about 30 kms to Piestany where we quickly picked up the signs for Radosina where we parked by the side of a beautiful church and phoned Martin, but could not get him at that time, so drove on to Velke Ripany where Victor lived. Pulled in to a bus stop opposite the local pub where we became the center of attraction for all the young lads on bikes who kept passing and repassing us to have a cautious look at this strange vehicle. After ten minutes Martin and Erika came and collected us and we drove a short distance to Victors place where we were introduced to Elena, his wife and shoed around the lovely house which Victor has built.

We were then shown around the gardens full of vegetables and fruit trees, chickens, rabbits and a few ducks. They have two dogs, Shadow which is a small black and white thing which is very excitable Arex which is a short of Alsatian. This dog did not like me at all but was quite happy with Yvonne.

Thursday 11^th June 15, 2009 Victors and Elena's house

Friday 12^th June

Travelled to Drahos house in Jatov

Saturday 13^th June

Wedding at Kastell Mojmorice

Sunday 14^th June

Recovered at the house of Babushka

In the evening went to Drahos’s parents house for a meal and then lit a camp fire in the garden where we cooked sausages

Monday 15^th June

Left for Austria

Stopped in a layby on top of a mountain and took in the views. Stunning. Just like the miserable tight fisted bastard who charged us 22 euros to park overnight on his campsite. He tried to get us to the use the electricity, but his system didn’t work. Following morning he insisted we stay another night when the electricity would be working by 7pm Got going early. Put us off Austria a bit.

Tuesday 16^th June

Interesting journey during the afternoon when we were hit by the most torrential downpour of rain as we were coming down the mountains. Unbelievable amount of moisture. Went into Klagenfurt which was vey beautiful and had a chocolate and coffee in one the old squares in the city. Rained so hard that the windscreen wipers could not move it. Crossed over the border into Italy late in the afternoon about 5.30pm and almost immediately found a massive car park with facilities for motorhomes which only charged 60 cents a night to park. So we did. Filled up with everything and emptied everything in the rain. Stopped raining during the night and the following morning walked around the town, very pretty. Left there to drive into the Dolomites.

Wednesday 17^th June

Dolomites. Fabulous day driving through the most wonderful mountains. Roads a bit scary though. Stopped at a nice quiet site – unfortunately too close to the main road. But set in pine trees and very pleasant.

Thursday 18^th June

Officially termed the day we got lost around the wine growing region of Bolzano! Stopped in the town for a short time and had great difficulty in finding somewhere to park. Maybe it was because we found by accident the old medieval part of the town. Had a walk round in increasing temperatures. It was hot.

Then got back in the Hymer and discovered that Tom Tom was refusing to pick up any 
satellites so we took to the roads using the road atlas, and got lost. Ended up going up goat tracks high into the mountains until we got to a place called Gain. Stopped by the site of the road to check out a tourist guide to the area and found out that we were about half a mile from falling off the end of the earth. If the roads had been bad up to that point it appeared that they were going to get worse from then on. So, did a very non man thing, an turned around and went back down the mountains. Stunning scenery if you had the opportunity to look at it. But hanging on to the steering wheel by the skin on ones teeth is not really the best way to see the scenery. Got back to the main road and headed towards Trento, which Yvonne said was a bit of a pit. No idea why she came to that decision, but she was right. Nasty little place with too many roads and even more cars and every HGV in the world trying to get through it.

Made out way out and by this time Tom Tom had decided to find us some satellites and find out way south towards Lake Garda. Came across the most incredible castle perched high on a rocky outcrop in a place called Arco. Stopped to take a few photos and then pressed onto Riva del Garda, and straight through as we were unable to stop. The next place we came to is called Limone, and whilst not much larger than Riva del Garda provided us with the most beautiful campsite two feet from the edge of the lake. As we sit her typing this us I can hear the sounds of people talking in the bar a few yards away, the waves lapping on the shore a few more feet away. Temperature (9pm) is 27 degrees, and sticky. The breeze we had enjoyed earlier has died down and it is rather warm. Campsite is great, little shop and bar, very friendly and helpful ladies running the place. Across the lake we have had the joy of watching the sun go down behind us and hitting the tops of the mountains on the opposite side of the lake. Superb views, wonderful weather and a very nice bottle of Chianti to go with the pasta and prawns.

Friday 19^th June

Today we left the wonderful campsite by the side of Lake Garda and went to France. Err. What about the bits in between? Well, as the rain came down in torrents in Switzerland we decided to give it a miss, and to be honest the parts we saw were fairly grim. Which is not quite the picture the Swiss tourist board give you. We came into Switzerland through the Simplon Pass which was stunning, and a bit frightening. Fortunately we went most of the way via a new motorway which is mainly underground or in tunnels. When we surfaced what we saw was boring, and apart from bloody great mountains on either side of us we were in a very flat valley floor with a boring straight road which went through all the towns on the way and was frankly a pain in the arse.

Went over the St Gottard pass and St Bernard pass to get out of the place. Now this was seriously scary. Fortunately there was a lot of low cloud and I could not see much to my 
right as we clung to the side of the mountain as the road went up and up. Yvonne the steering wheel as we went round serious hairpin bens. At a certain level the cloud made things almost impossible and visibility was reduced to 30 yards or less. I gained more information from the map on the Sat Nav than I did looking at the road. Not a happy time really.

Lots of cafes and restaurants on the top of places proclaiming they were the highest 
café/restaurant in the world with a view of almost nothing in the cloud.

What a journey!

Came down off Mont Blonc and stopped in a parking place in a village I have no idea where, with three other motorhomes (all French – so felt safe) Rain poured all the time up and down the hill, so I didn’t see a lot, but Yvonne managed to take some piccies, and tell me all about the fantastic view deep down in the ravines were traveling alon.

So, here we are, stopped in a very nice parking place courtesy of some French local authority and having had a good warming meal and a couple of drinks. Enough for one 
night.

Saturday 20^th June

Drove on to Chamonix and spent a few hours there. What a wonderful place. Superb town with many old and new buildings. Obvious that it is the skiing and climbing caital of Europe, many many shops selling equipment for the two sports. Most of the big name expensive shops were there, but no Netto?

Drove on through the mountains to St Gervais and then on to Annecy and around the lake for a bit. The whole world was in Annecy so although we had felt it might be a place to 
stop for the night we decided not to and push on for a bit.

Got as far as Aix les Bains and drove to the bottom of the lake there where we stopped for 
the night in a motorhome park. Not the best place in the world as far as views are concerned but cheap enough as it was for free. Had a walk along the lake edge and then into the center of the town. Bit of a bugger to get the as the sign posts ran out after a mile or so and we had to ask a lady who gave me good directions in perfect French but to bloody quick. Anyway, we made it to the town center and found it to be a lively place with many people walking around taking the early evening air. We were a bit bushed so decided to stop and have a drink at a café on the Rue de Geneve by the war memorial. On our way to the café we heard the sounds of a major French wedding coming our way. Flash cars with many people including the bride driving down the street blasting away on their horns and hanging out of windows. Great sight and I told Yvonne of Jean Michel and Anne’s wedding in Normandy and the same get up.

Then as we sat down for our drink in the sunshine there was the sound of a French police whistle being frantically blown. We looked to the war memorial to see what could have been a tranny but turned out to be a young woman walking around the war memorial blowing here whistle. The thought went through our heads that here was the town nutter and we were going to be attacked, but it turned out instead to be the traditional hen night for the young woman who was being accompanied by her friends who were daring her to do all sorts of stupid things. They had obviously dressed, she was in high heels a mini skir, and the most horrendous make up imaginable. But they all in good spirits and pulled together two tables next to ours to have a drink.

So, we finished our drinks and left to catch a bus by the side a large van making and selling the most wonderful smelling pizzas. The bus came and the driver told us that he was going back to the Old Port, so we hopped on and for just over a Euro we got back to the Hymer. Spent a comfortable night and left early Sunday morning.

Sunday 21^st June

Drove off back up the lake following the side roads to Bourge en Bresse. Made very good time apart from several cycle races which caused a bit of consternation from time to time. Apart from them it seemed that the rest of France was still in bed. Started off about 8.30am and arrived at a wonderful little village called Asquins not far from Auxerre by about 3.30pm. Very tired as we had covered a lot of miles but it was worth it to be in the Bougogne region. Totally different country from the high Alps, high rolling hills covered in trees and vines, and of course wonderful wine. Booked for two nights at the municipal camp site which was close to a wide shallow river which ran through the village.

During the late afternoon we walked up through the village to the church and discovered that there was a Fete de Musique in the church. Stopped there and listened to a couple of wonderful groups and two girls singing only to the accompaniment of a lute and guitar.

Monday 22^nd June

Got the scooter out and drove to Vezelay about 10kms away. Super old village on a hill which we could see from Asquins. Met a great guy originally from Flanders, who was the most wonder sculpture in wood, glass and metal. Yvonne went in and had a good look around and then came out and asked me to go in a look as well. We got talking and he explained to us how he got some of his ideas. He is very very talented, but like many artists had to supplement the income of himself and his wife with bed and breakfast for tourists. 100 euros a night for three people seems a bit steep.

We had a walk around the town and visited the basilica and then went back to Bernard van der Bouches (which was his name) and got him to show us around his B&B rooms. Stunning is too easy a word to use. They were just incredible. Maybe we will be back to pay another visit next year during March when we might have the opportunity to see him working on his things.

Wonderful scultures.

Tuesday 23^rd June

Went off the beaten track on the road to Auxerre to visit an old quarry site which is being re-built as a medieval castle. Everything is being done according to plans of the time and 
using materials of the time, and techniques. Wonderful place.

Little bit of a problem getting there as we ran into a route barree five KMs from the site. Took a diversion through some farms and ended up right slap bang in the middle of the road works. The whole of the main street of the village was being resurfaced. Watched the locals getting around the problem and followed suit. Bumped through them and asked the way of a couple of lads who were by the side of ht road and should have been in school. Turns out we were not all that far away. Spent about three hours in the quarry Geodlond (or something similar) and then pressed on.

Auxerre.  

Found a municipal campsite close to the river and the football stadium. Went for a walk around the town to discover that it is a very old wonderful place. Had a drink in one of the squares and then walked back to the camp. A bit hot tired and footsore by the time we got back. Yvonne performed her usual miracle with food again and we slept fairly well.

Wednesday 24^th June

Left Auxerre and traveled north to JM and Annes place in Montesson.

Paid a visit to Fontainbleau during the afternoon where it was so hot, but what a place. Spent a good few hours in the chateau which is magnificent.

Left there late afternoon to travel to Paris. Hit the Boulevard Peripherique and all the rubbish traffic. Not a good journey, but par for the course in a major city.

Arrived there early evening and had a wonderful meal with them and Benjamin who is still at home. Jeremy is in the Army (Paras) and Matthew is at week boarding school to try and get his BAC for the second time.

Very difficult to sleep as it was so hot.

Thursday 25^th June

Went to Paris for the day by train and tube. Sweltering. Spent a most enjoyable five hours in the Louvre and then two hours on the Rue de Rivoli searching for gifts for Yvonnes work people and clients. Got back to Montesson about 7.15pm and had a shower as we were both a bit sticky after a very hot tiring day.

Dinner with JM and A and then she took us for a walk around a very pleasant lake in the 
park nearby and then showed me where to get some tobacco.

Friday 26^th June

I went for baccy in the morning and got well and truly caught out in a horrendous thunderstorm. Whilst sheltering under a tree a bastard in a white van deliberately swerved to splash me. I was soaked from the waist down so decided to cut my losses and get on with it.

Got back, had lunch then we left.

Stopped for a short time in Chantilly to try and show Yvonne where they used to live, but could not find it. Drove on up the motorway and got to Dunkirk port only to find that customs were playing silly buggers with some people and we missed our ferry by ten minutes. So we are now on the port in number one position waiting two hours for the next ferry.

Customs tell us it has been pouring down in the UK over the week, so nothing much new there.

They lied. It has been very hot.

Saturday 27^th June

Midnight ferry got us through the port of Dover by 1.30am with Yvonne driving. Traffic almost non existent so we made very good time to the service area at Beaconsfield by 3.30am. Both a bit tired, but once we saw what was on offer and the state of the site we decided not to bother staying ther and pushed on, with me driving and Yvonne sleeping in the back.

By 6.00am I was dead at the wheel so decided to pull off on the Staffordshire service area. Climbed over Yvonne and crashed out. Woke about 7.30am and had breakfast then left.

Arrived home 9.30am knackered but happy.

About 3700 miles in total.