From the Ardeche

At last, after nearly three weeks, an internet connection to get the blog updated. This is the first tranche.

6th to 10th June - Ampolla (Camping Ampolla) 
56 miles from Torredembarra

Small, simple and shaded site, directly opposite the local beach with one of the Ebro Delta Nature Reserves adjacent. 

The hills behind the town (La Sierra del Boix) go up to around 1000m and the Ebro Delta seems to be 90% rice paddy - with a few reserves retained for wildlife. Seemed to be out of season for birding, guess the main broods are fledged and away - also the wrong time of year for migrants. Tried some bird photography one day - but hopeless with a 200mm lens. 

A couple of long cycling days out. First up into the hills behind the town and the next day out to the Platja del Fangar a huge sand bar that encloses the north-east side of the open lagoon that Ampolla faces.

It began to get hot and temperatures were into the 30's by the time I left.

Ebro Delta -  A cooperative Stilt

Ebro Delta - Tern
All the species look the same to me - this may be a Common Tern

Sierra del Boix - Typical scrubby Vegetation at about 500m
Thyme and Rosemary dominate and the air is pungent with their oily aroma.
This shows the only date palm that is indigenous to Europe.

Sierra del Boix - Typical scene

Sierra del Boix - Looking over the foothills to the Ebro Delta
Ebro Delta appears to have got lost in the heat haze!

11th June - Tamarite de Litera
101 miles from Ampolla

Drove up the Ebro Valley and via Lleida to reach a small town, Tamarite de Litera. Stopped over at a free air next to a sports hall. No shade and with the temperature at about 35C in the afternoon the van was 41C inside when I got back from an early evening walk at 20:00! Some interesting rock outcrops and field patterns behind the town.

Ebro - North of Mora del Elbre

Tamarite de Litera - Barley Fields and Hills behind the town.
Oddly shaped fields controlled by the structural geology of the
limestone ridges. Barley harvest on the 11th June

Tamarite de Litera- More ridges and fields and a typical landowner's house

12th June - Peyraguades les Agudes (near Luchon)
171 miles from Tamarite de Litera

Oh dear! Not a day I want to remember! The original intention was to do two stop-overs on the way to France. After a pleasant trip into the Pyrenean foothills, Arrived at the aire at Tremp, where I had intended to stop; but it was in the upper thirties, concrete again and no shade. 

Decided to head on up into the hills for the next planned stop-over at an aire at Espot in the Parc Nacional d'Aiguestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici. After strugging up a narrow pass to about 1800m I discovered that the 'autocaravanes' were now banned from 22:00 to 08:00.

Grrrr...no more aires in Spain on my planned route, so at about 7pm I started the trek across the remainder of the Pyrenees into motorhome friendly France via one massive pass (Puerto de la Bonaigua - 2072m) into the Val d'Aran and then another (Col de Portillon at the Franco-Spanish border - only 1293m - but with an awful road on the Spanish side). Eventually ended up at the aire at Peyraguades les Agudes at about 11pm!  At least the view from the aire at 1600m in the morning was some compensation!

Castello de Farfanya
Imposing church and castle perched over the town

Castello de Farfanya
Swallow Tail Butterfly near the castle

Val d'Ager

Pas de Terrdets from the car park
Impressive Canyon like gorge
 The road hugs a shelf on the right hand side

Pic Perdiguerre (3222m)
Gorgeous compensation for the day's hassle
Waking up to an early morning view from the van, at 1600m,
at the Aire at Peyraguades les Argudes