Garmin – the trouble they cause. We like to blame "him" when a routing goes sideways. We were caught a few times with maps showing these tracks as “roads” in France. One day in particular my route planning confidence took a serious hit. I am sure you were questioning yours a bit as well on this day.

Your pictures tell a thousand words. The always smiling and unflappable Rachael - not so much on the portage? I can now understand why the narrow gap between the two concrete barriers was also blocked with a massive boulder! Glad you made it through safely and dry – best of all.
Great to follow your tour.

Scott and Pat

Wow, you are right - an absolute ten jammer!

By the way, An Autumn by the Sea will now surpass the wonderful Grampies Tour de France in hearts. Dodie says that's because the photos are much superior. Grrr.

I’ve never heard this song, but what a lovely sentiment. I think I’ll steal it for our next entry.

It does feel like we’re living the dream right now, alright. We’re well aware of how lucky we are, in so many ways. So many days seem exceptional and unique. Live it while it lasts.

Yup, I heard about Michael and Ciska - Andrea Brown tipped us off to it. I lost my privileges on Crazy Guy of course, but you might let th m know we’re thinking of them and wish them well in their new chapter. Talk about living the dream!

Cheers,
Scott

Ours also. Beautiful, with fascinating behavior. I love watching them shuffle along the bay, kicking up their dinner supply.

Merci, Mme Rahn!

Hello again Scott and Rocky,

I've fallen behind so I had to cycle-blaze through the last 20 pages or so of your journal, trying to catch up with your travels. You guys are definitely some amazing cycle-blazers living the bike touring dream. I know I, for one, dream about Italy and France, the French Riviera, the historic cities, the culture, the food, the wine, the beautiful mountains and sea. (Amazing pictures, by the way. Your best yet, I think.)

Saint Tropez made me think of the dreamy Pink Floyd song by that name. I cued it up on my turntable this morning and thought of you when I heard the lyric:

"Sooner than wait for,
A break in the weather,
I'll gather my far flung,
Thoughts together,
Speeding away,
On the wind to a new day."

One more thing: I remember you met Ciska K and Michael Verhage on your last trip. Not sure if you saw they just ended their 10-year long bike trip.

Anyway, keep on gathering your thoughts together and cycleblazing away, on the wind to a new day.

Greg

Beautiful!!

One of our favourite birds.

It's great that you are being so adventurous.

That's what Herr Bohn called the ones I remember. They were pretty big as I recall.

You’re right. I researched it a bit myself, and it looks like a large parasol mushroom (macrolepiota procera).

Pretty! But a rule of thumb is, "colorful is poisonous."

Doesn't look like death angel, but I would not touch it! In the mid-70s, I spent 2 years in Germany and a local I worked with taught me around 10 edibles, but that was long ago, and in Germany.

He said "You can eat all mushrooms... Some... Only once!"

200 euros is almost the floor price on accommodations here. Speedy place. Actually, I was thinking this was the place for the flea market, but that’s des puces, of course.

"Place des Lices" caught my eye, because of the impression Boulevard des Lices ha made on me in Arles. It's the site of the weekly market, and full of people and chow. So how did "des Lices" pop up in Saint-Tropez, I wondered, and what does it mean? Google Translate had no opinion on "des Lices", but ventured a translation of "bitches" for "lices". Say what? More searching seems to identify "lices" as the area between palisades when defensive walls are doubled or tripled, but it's murky, and lost in antiquated usages. Even so, I found at least eleven towns in France with Boulevards, Rues, Traverses, or Places of this name. Saint Tropez could be the leader among these, with a Place and a Traverse. In fact it also has a "Parc" and best of all the three star Hotel es Lices. About 200 euros, though!