We woke early and hustled the troops out early, hoping to get to a couple of swimming spots. A quick carrefour stop for more strawbs and cheese, and we headed back along the Tarn. After the initial incredulity from the three that this was not a trip from one bouncy castle /slide pool infested campsite to another, interspersed with ice cream as sweety breaks, they have settled down and seem to be enjoying it! Taking the road easy, we stopped for a quick look at the swimming possibilities, parking up under a huge overhanging cliff. Geoff found the perfect spot! Just bellow rocher de champignon ( which is swimming spot number 114 ) we found a delightful spot. Burbling waters lapping the shore,  shallows to play in, enough current to float downstream for a bit. Perfect! What followed was a most relaxing day. The actual wild swimming was rendered less wild be the frequent boat/canoe”s gliding past, but very enjoyable non the less! It goes without saying that the crystal clear water sparkling in the sunshine was bone chillingly cold! Pip enjoyed it less and less, but at least she got to relax in the sun afterwards. Everyone swam (though Memem had a wobbly moment when she spotted an eel slide off into the depths….) Rio and Orlando went for full underwater swimming for some smurf sweets! It was decided that Elodie could go up to her neck. She just about managed it, but on being invited to take a second dip, said ‘i’ve already tried that cold on’. Slightly hairy moment when we tried to cross the river (we had seen a man,his pregnant wife and small child cross, so thought it was totally doable) possibly crocs are not the best thing to cross a river in, or possibly the children were too light, but they could not really stand against the current. Elodie screeched  (this was because her crocs were trying to escape she said) so what with a wobly duo  (Rio was waiting on the bank. Ellegedly for Paps to come back but highly likely waiting to see what happened to the rest of us!) And having to carry the useles’s hound, we aborted the cross over mission! A last swim and to bed. Trying to ignore the overhanging rock face! We had the clever idea of putting the rubbish bag outside which obviously resulted in some expectant creature trying to make off with it in the night. Goozle woofed, I peered out of the window, and it was the work of a moment to send Geoff out into the night to pick up the scraps which had been strewn wide and plentiful!

‘Huttopia’ is a very pleasant camspite!  Berty got a slot amongst the daisies and we had warm showers all round! I have been using the bottle method up to now, but the others have been making do (very happily) with the odd river splash! The Goozle hound is taking her enforced swim every day, and is smelling less like a manky sock as a result. I can’t say she enjoys them!! We had a leisurely morning with tea, coffee and book reading and feeding a trio of ducks. The three were playing their own complicated version of top trumps, followed by a swim in the pool! Much fun had by all.  We later noticed the ducks swimming in the pool!! We found a nice resting spot by the river, and while I got a few supplies, everyone else with Narla, Simba and Nimba built a dam! We saw a pair of swans nesting on an island (no photo unfortunately). A please tell spot. As you may have noticed we opted for another night here, and off tomorrow! Upon consulting his maps, Geoff found a way round the road block, so we set off early.

Left with beautiful sparkling sunshine on the river. Only a few drops on the ground under the faithful engin, so possibly no oil leak after all. Getting going in first gear is a challenge, and Geoff seems to need to stop in the middle of a steep hill to check his barings frequently enough to allow Memems storm clour a small airing! However, mr sunshine reigned for the majority of the day!Spectacular scenery along twisty mountain roads, and no meetings with any other wide loads, which was great.  The D200 was beautiful and completely deserted. Stop for lunch in a shady spot. Got a bit twitchy when I discovered Geoff had overlooked a couple of upcoming tunnels on the planned route!! After a little deliberation (Geoff found a camping car site which recommended the route with no mention of tunnels) we opted for a campsite by the river for the night and to leave the route planning until the morrow. Dam building then bed! So far so good! Minor issues such as coffee, washing up liquid, hot chocolate, and wee spillages and stinky cheese oozage  far out numbered by the good stuff! And to cap it all, those pads are secreted away and have not been mentioned! (Well possibly once by Rio, but only in a half hearted sort of way! )

Leaving our small piece if scrub behind, we hit the small, narrow, twisty roads. Stopping for a quick tea break, we stumbled on a nifty little swimming spot for lunch. A spot of wild swimming for all (except for memem who was in charge of lunch!) Geoffs second mistake. He omitted to check the map for tunnels, and when we did reach the minute tunnel he (possibly I should have noticed it as well but thus is a debatable point) didn’t read the width limit. I am trying to blank from my mind the tunnel trip. Prodding furiously at the seemingly useless light buttons and a huge line of furiously honking French cars which have materialised from nowhere plus a largish 4×4 coming the other way. We made it through intact to be informed by one of the honkers that there were two more tunnels ahead…..geoff”s life’s expectancy was pretty rocky for a moment, but a kindly chap saved his skin by pointing out a twisty path we could take! Cor! ! This is another pretty village purched on the edge of the Tarn. Beautiful setting. Sups,  a bit of ‘the horse and his boy’ and another restful night.

After our pleasent tootle through farmland and rolling hills we decided to head to an Aire de Service in Albi. Geoffs first mistake….. our plan was to cruise in, pop Berty into this lush sounding spot right behind the cathedral, and have a stroll round the city. What actually happened was that we got instantly lost. Then followed a jolly couple of ours of hideously narrow, one way streets. After having driven round the cathedral a billion times we plugged to address into the phone. The place basically wasn’t there. Much cursing later we found an Aire. We would have been forgiven for missing it as it was a small piece of scrubland on ghe side of the road. Hot, scratchy and hungry, I prized my hands off the wheel. Geoff eased a kink in his back. All three squeakers leaped out brightly demanding food and skipping along the filthy, dog crud infested pavements!

Slept surprisingly well, and our spirits revived by the morning sun, we walked into town and looks at the HUGE cathedral.

The town of Pink Garlic! Very pretty, and had streets like Diagon Alley! Also a nice horse and man statue!