The first of many.

The full story of the rise, fall and rise of our motorhome is one I will save for another day. The result of that fiasco, however, is that the poor soul (yes, motorhomes have souls, in exactly the same way that we do) has been in temporary retirement for quite a few years. Now, refurbished, it lives again, and last weekend saw a trial run to check that it was all hunky dory. It performed magnificently.

This was also meant to be the first of very many trips of my retirement. However, due to the bank, solicitors and, well, the bank’s solicitors, my retirement was once more delayed. After producing out of a hat a completely new, never before seen, unreadable and unsignable document at midday on the day of completion (nice try bank) my retirement was delayed another week. (I’m finally there!)

Our trip was to the beautiful Dordogne:

We stayed the weekend in a campsite in Sarlat…

…with friends Ian and Mifa.

I love wandering around old towns, and Sarlat-Le-Canéda is no exception. Rich with architecture and history. From grand edifices…

…to the quaint but slightly surreal.

As is usual, there is the obligatory market…

…thankfully offset by the obligatory cafés…

I love the stonework…

…the detail…

…the flowers and, er, geese….

…and cognac!

After a couple of days we headed back south making a few stops en route.

First stop Beynac, a riverside village where Ian once lived a while in tax exile…

No, not actually in that actual castle dominating the skyline however, but among the lower streets where the peasants lived…

…where they could look up at their lords and masters…

Well, the trip worked out extremely well, with our home on wheels performing well, although the new gps seemed to be intent on leading us astray.

We are now readying ourselves for the next trip, to Puy Du Fou, further into northern French territory. We’re meeting there with Annick’s siblings to enjoy the attractions. Should be interesting. I’m told it is more theatrical and adult than a normal theme park. My hopes are high for some adult entertainment. Nudge nudge, wink wink…

Anyway, I’ll leave you with some random photos of Sarlat, starting with the Lanterns of the Dead…

Enjoy!