We have taken the grandkids for a coastal walk with the dog for the day.<b

Left Arles early for holiday makers 09.15 start into road works which were not signposted , but we followed the local out of town, wrong way up one way streets, reversing when ever we had to ignoring all traffic signs until we found the route out.

Fabulous view on the drive along the Cote d’ Azore, stunning to see this coast ,but it must be dune via the old coast road, it’s absolutely stunning but a long drive of which we have not the time for but we have been fortunate to have driven a few years ago.

lots of fun driving through the tunnels dropping gears and giving the cars some welly, great sounds and reverberating from the within , just like kids with new toys or top gear presenters,well Phillip and I enjoyed it!

Hotel in Livorno , Gran Duca and ok stop for passing through, just as well all leisure facilities were closed? Not the best position for tourist as in the industrial and harbour area but very historic dates back several centries , had a good meal in there restaurant .

Stay a few miles down the road stunning beaches for miles.

On our way by train to the big smoke to finally use our Xmas gift of a Thames river trip with lunch.

allready having a problem as abellio greateranglia have not printed one of the return tickets, we will toss a coin as to who is coming home the other will join the migrants and have a better life with all the government handouts available . So just passed through Ipswich like most people do.

having our goodies as we are traveling first class today.

Well as I mentioned, we had the meal, we think from the same restaurant as five years ago? We ordered our meals, thank goodness we forfitted the starter, the meals we huge, the way I like them, can’t see much plate.

The meals beat Phillip, Helen and Pauline, but those that know me i cannot be beaten, I had a Provincial tartare, but there is a sting in the tail.

Back to the Hotel Monchapet, good place to stay clean and close to the city centre, all you need to tour also do breakfast if you want,we didn’t as we pushed of early in the morning 8.30 well we are on holiday.

Street parking, overnight cost E 2.80 and they are safe.

We left separately and on different routes, took us ( Graham &Pauline ) 5 hours, we did not leave as early as Phillip & Helen, had the usual fuel stop,the last time in France, but managed a quick look around shop for the last minute purchase and a bit to eat at the big French restaurant.  Burger King.

We had got an earlier train, but not as early as Philip& Helen, have not seen them since Dijon?  as they were placed on the slightly earlier train so unfortunately missed out o the shops! And a refuel.

For me the provincial tartare did not want to leave France, thank god for good facilities at the euro tunnel.

Weather again great, morning we left 22. degrees C later reached 30 C .

When we reach England saw masses of cloud, what are they! Still 25 C that’s o k ,eventful drive home, that tartare did not like the U K, so it had to leave.

But this has been a brilliant two weeks tour, sometimes long boring roads but other spectacular and fun to drive.

Hotels have been average to out of this world ( tell about them later )  Phillip and Helens company has been great, we have had fun along the way, o Pauline has been great too.

The cars , Porsche and the Jag have done us proud sorry Porsche first as I am writing this!

Managed to see some big numbers on the speedo and we have covered 5000 kilometres door to door, all with the roof down.

a great way to travel.

Graham and Pauline also Phillip and Helen.

Pauline and I had a look round Grindelwald this morning after breakfast, the Eiger mountain in full glory, not a cloud in the sky, unlike yesterday where in the evening it was bathed in the red from the sunset.

This is a picture of the lodge we stayed in, small place with a larger annex across the road, clean but dated, a bit tired.

Pretty drive out from Grindelwald towards the Interlakan follows the river which is dropping rapidly, lot of white water here.

then drove around the lake towards Bern–nauchatel- Dijon, some of these roads are empty of any traffic,good roads and no tolls. Some lovely valley’s and hill to see on the way

Stopped for a brew and cake arrived in Dijon 3.15 pm E6 in tolls,small hotel but very clean , good for stop over and on top of centre

Well how things have changed, we sat under this arch which was in the middle of the road 5 years ago having a meal while the traffic was still using the roads. Same restaurant, but no fumes to taste.

this is in the old town which is now pedestrianised , walked back through park,and now early for bed as long trip to Calais tomorrow, just drive to catch 3.00 Chunnel trip, still hot here 28degree C, then short trip to Norwich.

Hope the weather is still good in the city.

Bye for now.

Well I could keep adding pictures.

We are leaving Como early 8.45 , Graham and Pauline are going on the old route over the St Gottard Pass to the Sustenpass, Phillip  and Helen going via Gottard tunnel and auto routes.

I have been looking forward to this since we arranged the trip.

It was absolutely magnificent,amazing,fabulous,great almost emotional , it was a wonderful drive, roads virtually empty apart from motor bikes,sports cars and cyclists.

whilst driving through the Gottard and Sustenpass temperatures dropped to 8 degrees C .

Stoped for several picture and a brew with lunch.

What a place to drive, the Porsche an absolute dream,twisting,turning ups and downs, brilliant,could have drove it again straight away.

A wonderful drive, almost speechless,well almost.

Only  five and a half hours with stops of at least one and a half, didn’t have to drive a full belt, just took the whole experience in, have been very lucky to have driven the Alps eight times, it is always the same experience, FANTASTIC.

Got to Grindelwald still sunny, so far the whole trip with the roof down, more pleasant temperature 24 degrees C in the mountains.

Quick shower and change for taking the cable car ride up to the first stage,about 30 minutes trip up. Super views to the Eiger had some cloud cover over the top,still stunning to see this.

Staying at the Jungfrau Lodge , a ski resort lodge five minutes from town centre,not bad good meal the still able to site outside overlooking the  Eiger.

A very picturesque town, this place is of route, one way in one way out.