Sonnieres to Greasque

October 7th.

118 miles.

Backtracking to some extent, we headed back into Provence as the weather forecast for the Marseilles area is looking good for the end of the week, and we really do want to visit the city and take a boat trip from Cassis to visit Les Calanques.

As we drove towards Arles we met with some hefty thunder showers, but the weather cleared somewhat as we skirted the southern edge of the Alpilles.

Provence is somewhere we have travelled through rather than lingered in, so our journeys on its less busy roads over the past week or so has revealed just what a varied landscape it is. For example the aire at Greasque where we are staying now is in the car park of a mining museum, complete with  winding gear - not quite the bucolic vision of 'A Year in Provence' but interesting nevertheless.

Not a stereotypical Provencal scene 

Soon after we arrived we were joined by another British van. These brave souls were half way through a year long tour having stopped work and rented out their house. By their standards our situation seems almost risk averse, having waited until we had the certainty of occupational pensions before venturing forth. Glll who enjoys reading the blogs of long term motor homers has come across a number of people who gave taken the plunge in middle age and simply jacked in their jobs and hit the road. Bravo!

Laura phoned; she is feeling traumatised by her experience with the kitchen fire. No wonder, being trapped in a burning room is the stuff of nightmares. Lots of phone calls to check on her situation. We just hope that it does not put her off university completely.

On to Cassis. I don't feel we have arrived properly until I have relaxed with a coffee in a cafe by the sparkling Med.