………Sunlounge, snorkel, “sunnies”, stacks of sun lotion, …… whoops …… oh ……. I’m meant to be discussing Mark’s checklist and final preparations for his “Tour de España” ……. El Camino Challenge!

What? How is all that going to fit in your bike panniers? It’s amazing how all the “essential” items add up!!

When you read this, Mark will be driving a hire car he collected from Montpellier Friday, to his starting point, Pamplona, Spain!! He will arrive Sunday & hopefully his “hired” bike and panniers will be waiting at the hostel for him. A trial training ride to check the bike is “ship-shape” (wrong metaphor choice) & ready for action first thing Monday morning.

The Côte d’Azur has lived up to its name with idyllic, stunning, aqua beaches!! We swam/snorkelled & relaxed at our private beach we discovered whilst kayaking at Le Lavandou, south of Saint Tropez……all the hard bike-training & Mark even manages a snooze of 10 mins (unheard of for him!).

Our Camping du Domaine with it’s 1,200 camping sites was full of mainly German and French. Not an Aussie in sight!! Ha!. It’s perfect location on the slopes overlooking the Mediterranean & even Bruce has a sneak view of the sea and passing yachts! Crowds on the beach all enjoying “family fun” & well behaved. Every kind of watercraft is out there!!

Their website: http://www.campdudomaine.com/en/

Images of the location and activities:  http://www.campdudomaine.com/360/campdudomaine/index.html

Hello …… here comes the beignet (donut) and ice-cream singing salesman!!! Mark succumbs!!! Ha! Planes are flying past with advertising banners ….. The circus is on Sunday & would you believe, more “bull events” — this time they are coaxing them into the piscine (swimming pool)????

The end of August and the end of summer holidays for French and German ….. Bev is looking forward to having the pool to herself & completing some laps too!!

All Sytems Go!! & Mark ‘s exciting adventure beckons. I’m going to miss him heaps but know he will “enjoy” & gain a lot from amazing experiences and the new challenges that are ahead. Our blog continues, however it may be disrupted by the odd mountain climb or two, physical exhaustion, bad internet connections, heatwaves, storms …. Sweaty palms, …… you get the idea!!?!

You may well be asking “is it wise to leave Bev and Bruce in the South of France – left to their own devices …….. mmm what shenanigans will they get up to????”