Ardeche is a wine growing area deep in the middle of France between Lyon and Avignon. We are here for the week with the Slavin’s, Ray, Martin, Blair, Callum & Sheryn and the Pellegrin’s (the New French family) Jean Jacques (Jackie) & Andree Maria, Chloe, Nola, Julie(Chloe’s sister), Julien & Rita. Others to arrive during the week are Rob & Leo (with kids Tom & Ella) from London, Ester (Kiwi girl from Cardiff), Andy & Helen from Cardiff.
Monday morning we head into Montelimar, we need to stock up the cupboards and we are preparing a BBQ for everyone tonight . More supermarket fun this time with the Slavin’s and another full trolley. Callum claims it as his best tourist attraction in France. We head home to start the preparation. This might not sound like we are doing much but it all takes up a lot of time and it mid afternoon before we are back at our Gite.
The BBQ appears to be a big hit with the French especially when we dished up pavlova.
Tuesday morning we are off to do the touristy things and we punch Vallon-Pont D’Arc into Tomtom. Two minute away from our Gite turning left and heading up over the hills on this windy narrow road. Tomtom seems to have every goat track going on it. Ray had woken up with an unsettled stomach today so there was just the five of us and we could go in one car. Margaret sat in the back between Blair & Callum and has a few stories to tell. We wandered around the town and had lunch before catching a free bus to the Arc. It was about 5km out of town, most of it beside this beautiful river that had people galore along its banks,swimming, kayaking and sunbathing. The Arc was an impressive natural rock bridging the river. Sheryn and the boys went swimming with the boys being embarrassed by their struggles to climb this rock that the locals were almost running up and jumping off. They did finally make it and I will give Callum the accolades for doing the biggest bomb.
Sheryn had made some threats about what she would do if she didn’t get to go through a castle or a chateau. She would do unspeakable things. We set Chateau de Vogue into Tomtom, about an hour away and towards home. It was quite an impressive building from the outside but not very exciting to go through. Sheryn, Margaret and I did that while the boys headed out to find a drink. We weren’t that far behind them. It was then off home for swim in the pool. Callum discovered that he had left his man bag at the restaurant where we had the drinks so him and I did a quick trip back where fortunately they had his bag. The girls went out on a hens night and the boys were left to fend for themselves. Not a problem and I was in bed sound asleep when Margaret arrived home.
Wednesday Ester arrived early, Martin had picked her up from the train at Montelimar We headed back into Montelimar to do some dress shopping but also have a look around and pick up more beer and groceries. Back home to our Gite and the pool and another BBQ. A relaxing day with a few beers and wines. We also did a degustation at the winery where we were staying sampling around nine or ten wines.
We were supposed to go out for a Bucks night with Martin but he wasn’t allowed. I don’t think Chloe trusted Martin’s brothers and tomorrow is the WEDDING DAY.