Stalker talkers besiege us at every stop - petrol stations, camp sites and in the street, amazed we are Australian, even when they find out the Boomer came by ship, and all wish us well. May get trying in time.

Travel is a big learning curve and a trial of patience . Missed at least 2 motorway exits by not being fast enough to translate the signs. Hope we do not miss any important instructions. "Errant animal on motorway 14 km ahead" turned out to be a shredded truck tyre. Then the toll booth would not accept the credit card it would accept yesterday, would not accept a 50 Euro note until prompted by a voice, and finally had to climb out and feed the "lower down" machine.

Explored Lyon and took funicular railway to Basilica at the top of town, then John had his first crepe and we both had our first French coffee. Now camped for free overlooking beautiful boat harbour near Marseille, first view of the Mediterranean and warmer weather. So glad we were not here in Feb.- most of camp sites would have been closed.

Yesterday was a slow/fast day, the morning spent at Avallon, then hit the road to get to Lyon.

Another slow/fast day today, the morning in Lyon, then flat out to get here to Carro on the Mediterranean for the evening . The camping here on the point is similar to Calais - wall to wall "camping cars", but €6 for the pleasure (low season price). As luck would have, the grounds are full, so we have set up camp right next door, for free! All the other campers are inside by dark to cook, eat and watch TV!

These slow/fast days are only the order of things while we need to make bigger distances - at least we are getting to see a sample of places on the way through.

Off to Frejus tomorrow to see Roger and Judy for the first time, also planning to see them in Istanbul.

Rob and Rob have been delayed in coming over, so we have made a couple of changes to the itinerary: less days in Turkey, all April and May comes forward a week, and now planning a week in southern Norway at the end of May. So far all the rest remains the same (for this week at least). New itinerary yet to be published.