Ax Les Thermes France to Andorra

 This morning we picked up Harry from the garage, the clutch was going smoothly so we set off south. We are going to Ax Les Thermes then across the Pyrenees to Andorra and eventually to Spain.

We left Toulouse using minor roads to look for a laundromat in the suburbs. After giving up we decided to head for the motorway and in the last town we overshot the road and drove through a shopping car park to turn around.  We couldn’t believe our eyes, in the car park was a large blue box with an open front and lo and behold 2 washing machines and a dryer. 

 

It seemed a funny way to do the washing but certainly suited us.

Once on the motorway it didn’t take long before we started to climb, it is still very cold, about 10 deg C.
 and now we could see snow on the Pyrenees

Our next stop was Ax Les Thermes in the Pyrenees.  We knew about this town as Sandra and Graham visited it on their way to Andorra in 1985, it is famous for its snow and thermal springs

We set up in the caravan park then off to spend some time in thermal baths. It is the first time I have been really warm for weeks

All good things must come to an end and off we set for Andorra.

Soon we were climbing this very steep switchback road. Harry was cold, I was getting terrified we would slip and Kevin was getting a headache from listening to me as well as listening to Harry to make sure he wasn’t groaning. (You can tell we come from a very flat side of Australia.)  This photo was taken a bit further up the mountain, the red line shows part of our climb, the rest is hidden around the other mountain.

I don’t know why I was worried. As we travelled further it was bright blue sky as we passed the ski slopes and then stopped for coffee.     

We stopped at a shop to check out the drinks situation and found some very nice liqueurs to take along with us. You could buy them in 1 litre plastic bottles. Ideal for packing under the seat in our cellar.

Next it was through the border and into Spain.

More soon!! Too Busy Looking!!!

France April 2012 ( 3rd )

TOULOUSE

On the way to Toulouse we visited some of the places on the Canal de Midi we had visited in 2002. Le Somail which is always shown in magazines about the Midi,

Baby It’s COLD outside

Carcasonne, You can tell from this photo it was not taken today. Today it was too rainy but after a few hundred years things have not changed much in 10 years, but I can’t say the same for my wrinkles when I looked at the old photos.   

                                Castlenaudry

A midi bridge

With Oliver in June 2002

We stayed overnight in a camping ground by the canal.

The next part of the blog is supposed to read ‘we arrived in Toulouse with plenty of time for our Airbus visit’ BUT!

When we got up in the morning and started off the clutch made a terrible sound and Harry wouldn’t move. Poor Harry he is Malade. (Sick for those of you who are not au fait with the French language) or RS in our language.

Fortunately Kevin has a few tricks up his sleeve and once he checked it out we were able to change gears once moving. But, if we had to stop, he had to turn off the motor, change into 1^st then get going before all the feisty Frenchmen behind caused the sky to fall in if they couldn’t immediately charge down the road at full speed. I have never seen such speed hoons as over here.

Because we had booked into the Airbus 380 tour that afternoon and had paid for it we hoped to make it to Toulouse in time. We got there in time for the tour.

Cameras are not aloud on the tour but during the tour we saw the tail fin and cone being transported to the factory and later managed a photo as we left. The top of the fin when on the tail of the A380 is the height of an 8 story building.

These planes are HUGE when seen in the open. The tour takes you into the hangars where they are built, and around the testing grounds. It is amazing they get off the ground when you actually get so close to them.

Parts of the plane are built all over Europe and transported by a huge cargo planes called a Beluga(

which does look like the front of a Beluga whale)

Or by ship, barge then a 3 night road transport convoy to the factory. We had hoped to see the night convoy bringing the fuselage in sections by road that night.

After the tour Kevin talked to one of the bus drivers who fortunately could speak some English and he gave him the address of the garage he took his bus to or repairs. We drove Harry to the Garage Massot in Aussonne. The owner of the garage didn’t speak English but his wife who ran the office did so between sign language, our little French and their little English we managed to sort it out.

Harry is being operated on and having a clutch replacement over the next few days.

The couple at the garage drove us into town to check out the La Villa d’Alsona, a very nice B&B in the village of Aussonne.

We have been here for 4 days in the Chambre Indienne. The décor is Tres Joli, The room has a large ensuite and internal heating so we are nice and warm. It doesn't come with the toy boy.

Breakfast is laid out with a lovely fresh baguette and pastry each morning and we have the use of a small kitchen and refrigerator.

I always wanted a room with shutters they make the windows look so pretty. The little figurines that hold the shutters open are really cute and very traditional.

Check out the small house next door, it is one room wide. I guess you would have to climb over the end of your double bed to get in. I haven’t seen one so small outside of Amsterdam.

There are 2 boulangeries, a shop with fresh vegetables, a dress shop, a tabac and a bar in town, with everything we need. We are a 2 euro bus ride then 2 stop metro into the centre of Toulouse. If you know anyone coming to Toulouse to see the Airbus complex this B&B can be highly recommended.

SATURDAY IN TOULOUSE

On Saturday we were up early and went into Toulouse. We took the tourist train around town

 had lunch, not at Subway but they seem to pop up everywhere.

Many of the buildings in Toulouse are in pink and white stone and many have lovely wrought iron and fountains are popped in amongst buildings.

Gardens are popular, I liked this one with the espaliered plane trees. It will be a lovely sight in the summer.

The walk along the River Garonne was very pleasant

On the way back into town we passed the hire bike rank.You pick up a bike from one rank and after ou you can leave it at another rank near where you have finished with it.  We saw many people using them today.

It was getting cold and the pharmacy temperature sign confirmed  it was time to head home. 

SUNDAY IN TOULOUSE

we were back on the bus and metro to visit the Cite de la Aerospace centre. We had a great day in the 3 D IMAX theatre, the Planetarium, tried out a few interactive exhibits and







Stood next to the Arianne Rocket and walked along the pieces that drop into space at each stage.

went inside a real Soyuz Russian spacecraft















and climbed on board  MIR, an exact replica of the famous Russian space station.

This is what it looked like in Space once it was put together

We spent the whole day playing.

On the way home we had a giggle at these signs on the metro

and wondered about driverless trains. It is a very funny feeling sitting in the front as you go hurtling around bends in a dark tunnel.

BIG DAY TOMORROW
The clutch arrived this morning and is being transplanted into Harry at this moment. We should be off and away by midday tomorrow.