>>>>>>>Went thru a red light on the very first day. Thought it was a Zebra but there was a hidden side road. Car came out - I went straight into the side ! :-{
>>>>>>>Bike was written off (frame buckled, but oddly the front wheel was fine). Found a bike shop, bought a new bike, and was back on the road in 3 1/2 hrs....
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Straight down from Calais camping overnight near Paris then Limoges then Carcassone then two weeks camping near Palomas on the Costa Brava. Came back the same way.
>>>>>
>>>>>I've stayed at a campsite in Carcassonne a couple of times - back of, and in walking distance of, the old town. Is that where you stayed ?
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>My wife has a back condition so we can't drive very far in a day. She wanted to try camping again (we used to always go that way) and hoped the sun and the heat might help her back. Unfortunately it didn't. I had suggested I drive and she fly and we may try that next time though with her back the airport can be a bit daunting as well.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Still it was mostly a nice trip and as ever France is a nice uncrowded place to drive after SE England.
>>>>>
>>>>>Quiet compared with most of the UK really. Did you take the autoroute or stick to the N roads ?
>>>>
>>>>I think I know the campsite you mean but we where a little north of Carcassone near a village brousses et villaret.
>>>
>>>Probably a better bet than Carcasonne itself - unless you want to visit the town. Very quaint, but very touristy (with the prices that go with it).
>>>Might have been thru Brousses-et-Villaret (the name rings a bell) ; certainly been to Montolieu..
>>>
>>>>
>>>>The driving was a mix of N roads and autoroute. To try and make sure my wife was ok we where stopping every 30 minutes and the main routes are more convenient with rest areas than the more minor roads.
>>>>
>>>>BTW its not really just a generic bad back she has a disease called ankylosing spondylitis
>>>
>>>Had to look that one up. It does sound painful but I see that it's worse if you are just sitting.....
>>
>>
>>Yes its a bummer . My wife tries to deal with it with exercise and posture and diet as the anti inflammatories have a lot of side effects especially if you're taking them for years and she was diagnosed about 30 years ago.
>>
>>Anyway have a good weekend. Good to see the usual suspects are still shouting at each other. :-) I'm not going to join in.
>
>As a usual suspect even when I try not to be, I will bow out along with you. Life is too short.
>
>Best wishes to your wife with her ailment.
>
>Only 10 months until Rio! I expect to disappear into TV coverage for a month as usual. There is really nothing like it, not even the Olympics.

Hi Mike

Well it may not happen if Brazilian opposition groups decide to use it as a focal point for protest.

I would have no sympathy with FIFA I think its time all these sporting tournaments where downsized and 90% of the freeloading fat skimmed off.