Another boring day in Pita Pan's life.......

The adventure/challenge of starting up a new campsite has not been going smoothly, as one can expect.Maybe later I will bore you with some stories of that part.

So today I gave myself a break of the campsite before the arrivals start coming.

Naomi and I planned to make a trip to Lac d'Esparron.

One of my guests had told me that they went there several times this week, so I asked him which would be the nicest road to get there. He gave me his roadmap (very detailed) and pointed out the way. First along the fields of poppy's and purple flowers (no lavender), a scenic route, then St. Julien le Montagnier where one can find a panoramic view of the Lake, Greoux les Baines and then down to Esparron sur Lac to relax, have lunch, a swim and along the other side back home.

But, first fill up the tank opposite the campsite. You n ever know, we might get lost in the mountains in the middle of nowhere, so better have a full tank. I grabbed the business card of the garage, put it in my wallet and off we went.

Direction Quinson - easy - hmmmm - where are we? Ah, their is a sign: Esparron, okay let's go that way.So, yes, we never found the way to St. Julien but never mind, we will make the tour the other way around.

Beautiful sceneries, poppy fields, fields of purple flowers (I still have to find out what it is, but it is not lavender).

and then Esparron.

We parked the car, walked over the small market towards the lake.

Beautiful, but this is only the beginning of the lake, we want to see more of it, so start driving again.

A detour to Saint-Martin-de-Bromes, an old Provencal village with about 400 inhabitants, crossed by the Colostre. Above the village rises the 'Tour Templiere', a tower from the XIII century and a church from the XI century, classified as Historical monument. In the Tour Templiere is a Gallo-Roman museum, but not in the mood to visit a museum while the sun is shining (finally).

Greoux-les-Bains

Also on top of this village rises a Castle, called 'des Templiers', classified as historical monument in 1840.

Greoux les Bains is famous for her thermal tradition.

We walked a bit around and had lunch. Now we really found out that the French are having their main meal in the afternoon, no place to have a simple sandwich, all full menu's, so we had a pizza. I developed my pictures taken so far, but we had to come back after 15.00.

Okay, let's go back to Esparron, have a swim and a bit of sunbathing and then collect the pictures and slowly drive back along St. Julien.

Parked the car, wanted to close my window (electric): oho, it's not working, not the battery again!!! Oh yes, the same problem as when I arrived the first time at Montmeyan: tweetie is dead. Relax, no panic. At least we are in the middle of a town, not too far away from Montmeyan. Let's first go and have a coffee (an ice-cream for Naomi), reflect and then act.

While zipping my coffee I called to the campsite. Greg wasn't there, but Shannon at the reception found him and explained what had happened to us. A few minutes later Didier of the garage called. He speaks very quick in dialect, I couldn't make any sense out of it so I passed my mobile on to the man sitting next to me, to whom I explained before the trouble. Talking, listening, talking: Didier is coming with a truck to pick your car up. He will be here in about 1 1/2 hour. I called Holland, the SOS of my insurance. He talked so much, explaining me things I already knew, meanwhile chewing away my call-credits. Anyway, I did the right thing: let the garage tow your car back and I'll call you back. 1 Hour later Holland called: you are covered for the costs of towing your car to the garage. Pfff, that's good to know. Waiting, waiting

, and exactly 1 1/2 hour later: there he is, Didier with his truck. Naomi starts to get to know me: 'with you never a dull moment and smile whatever happens'. So when she saw Didier's truck she said: 'Look, he's also yellow - a Big Tweety!

We jumped in the truck - officially not allowed to take passengers - but two ladies in short with suntanned legs can pull this off - and off we went. And guess what: Didier took the turn to.... St. Julien! The touristy scenic route, curving and swirling like a snake, very small and because I was not driving I was able to take in the views and even made pictures for which Didier stopped in the middle of the road every time I took hold of the camera.

(you see Tweetie in the mirror?)

Around 19.00 we finally arrived at the garage where Greg was waiting for us to take us up the road to the castle. (a 5 minutes walk, but thanks anyway). He told us Isabelle - his girlfriend - was doing some shopping and she was going to buy us some food as well -- Pizza!

Later Didier came up to the bar, telling me he will take care of tweety and will try to fix her as cheap as possible or contact me if he expects high costs. Joking, laughing, leaving with a charming smile: 'if I can't fix Tweety, I will drive you anywhere on my motorbike'. By the way, he is married .... cheeky man, but still a nice gesture.

Eating another piece of pizza (that'll do for this month), a glass of wine, a chat with my guests, who were wondering where I left my car. I went up to see Anthony and Annemarie, an English couple that is staying for 2 months, till the Circus begins, to tell them we were back, they'd already heard some of the story of Greg. A chat, a laugh, a look at Anthony's diary with his fantastic drawings and finally in bed writing this story.

First I thought writing it tomorrow, but to be able to sleep and to empty my (once again) overloaded brain I write it down now.

So, as said, yet another 'boring' day in my life. Still to catch up so many other stories, you will get them, I promise.

For now, time to close my eyes and wishing you all sweet dreams.

A bientot, soon to be continued......... Salut