Author: Franco

Snaketails in the Forest

There are dragonflies called Snaketails or, rather, there are dragonflies named Snaketails by our American cousins. In the British English world, the Green Snaketail (Amerispeak) is the Green Clubtail (Britspeak). Naturally, the French-speaking world and the German-speaking world have other

Posted in 2010 New Forest Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,

Gifts for Guillaume

Francine and I are Francophiles of long-standing. About 30 years ago we used to enjoy travelling around France in a cheapo 4-person ridge tent. [Ed: A nominally 4-person ridge tent has just about enough space for two civilized people to

Posted in 2010 New Forest Tagged with: , ,

Scouting Ride

For those of us who might be seasonal Odonata freaks and who just happened to be planning a trip to The New Forest, Francine stumbled across a useful little Web site descriptively entitled New Forest Dragonflies. This Web site is

Posted in 2010 New Forest Tagged with: , ,

To the Woods, to the Woods

Satan’s little disciples are supposedly now safely locked up in school again so, in theory at least, it should be safe for civilized folk to enjoy a little peace and tranquillity in the big wide world. For one reason and

Posted in 2010 New Forest Tagged with: , ,

A Roundabout Way

Many years ago when Francine and I started travelling to France, there were no roundabouts. All road junctions were just that, junctions – cross-roads and the like. There were, of course, a few oddities peculiar to the French, such as

Posted in 2010 Spring Tagged with: ,

Great Drivers – NOT!

Much as we may love France and many of the French we’ve met, it has to be said that they are not the world’s greatest drivers. They believe they are, of course, as is evidenced by the fact that they

Posted in 2010 Spring Tagged with: ,

Something Fishy

Our ferry is tomorrow (Sunday) at around midday. Once again we’ve made for our favoured and brilliantly run campsite in Neufchâtel-en-Bray, Normandy. It’s an easy 2½ hour run to Calais from here, providing we don’t run into any bouchons (traffic

Posted in 2010 Spring Tagged with: , , ,

Annual Migration

Approaching the end of another trip around La Belle France. As usual, Francine and I had to decide how best to approach the unwelcome journey north: three easier days or two longer days. Also as usual, once we get onto

Posted in 2010 Spring Tagged with: , ,

Assault on Andorra

… on foot, that is. Having spent a v. hot day a few days ago discovering the relative cool (24°C/75°F) of the Soulcem barrage (dam) in the Vicdessos valley, we fell in love with the place. It’s a stunningly picturesque

Posted in 2010 Spring Tagged with: , , , , ,

In for a Good Cause

Last year while travelling in France I was developing my usual cracked heels problem from sun and sandals (without socks!). Francine, having somehow managed to drag me into a sports shop, spotted some helpful looking shoes called Techamphibians by Salomon.

Posted in 2010 Spring Tagged with: , , , , ,