Monday 10 Sept.

It had to happen, the down day... Setting off from Lyon at 10.45am , we pushed through the heat of the blazing sun on the toll road towards Montpellier on the Coast (2 hours - €42 toll charge ... ) stopping off at a motor way Aire at 1pm for the quickest sandwich stop ever, as only full sun parking spaces available.   En route, Andy braked skilfully and sharply around 2 white vans (racing each other?) who swerved suddenly into our lane, having changed their minds about taking an exit slip road at the last minute. Scary stuff . We opted for a campsite on the coast with access into Montpellier itself, with a pool, called Montpellier plage. Friendly reception staff, shady pitch , approachable Polish neighbours, brand new toilet/ shower block, but overall not the best pot luck decision. This 3 star beach campsite , whilst small and quiet, turned out to be in the middle of a built up strip of utilitarian holiday flat development, with only beach paraphernalia stores and fast food cafes for miles, the beach itself had a long stony strip which made wading into, and back out of, the sea an uncomfortable experience, and the campsite had a still pool of water behind it, making it a dead cert, we gathered, for mozzies, esp the dengue - fever carrying tiger type mosquitoes (which have invaded S France and grown more populous since the heatwave this summer). We didn't get to chose our own pitch either . Andy spent a good hour before bed time, persuading the mosquitoes to quit the interior of the van, under extreme duress. His eyesight is truly amazing. Eventually accepting these limitations , we decided to move on tomorrow. I applied citronella spray to every accessible skin surface, settling down to a heavily lemon smelling night.   Andy had his most patient hat on today, so thanks to the skilful driver, the sympathetic partner, the mosquito man and the evening cook .