North into France

 

I'm devastated, I've just heard on the news that the sycamore tree at sycamore gap on Hadrians Wall has been felled in an act of mindless vandalism 🤬🤬🤬

I visited the wall and walked along to the tree from Steel Rigg.

It is a most iconic sight standing in the gap and whilst I glad I was able to experience it, it's a terrible shame for future generations that will never have that experience.

There's talk of replanting it of course but it'll be a hundred years before the view is restored.

I've just heard there's a call for a metal sculpture as a replacement, presumably in the shape of the tree to enable the view in a couple of years rather than centuries.

I hope they catch the moron with a chainsaw.

Britons most iconic tree - gone.

This is my day on Hadrian's Wall 

https://chrismackietraveladventures.blogspot.com/2023/06/hadrians-wall.html

Anyway, we drove from Lekeitio this morning in an north easterly direction towards France. 

The sat nav somehow managed to find us a mountain pass to climb over despite the coast road looking more appealing.
But it was still very scenic.

I'd decided to splash out on toll roads today as the non toll journey was nearly two hours longer.
Sometimes it pays to spend a little. The route planner says it should have cost 12.25 euro in tolls but they've not registered on the app yet to confirm the actual amount.

We've come to a Camping Car Park site. We've used these before and they offer good value for money.

The trouble with this one is they're still building it.
I was aware it was a new site, but not that it was still under construction. To be fair it's mostly ground works, but there was still a good bit of din for much of the afternoon.
So I'm going to put a complaint in as this should be made clear in the app but it wasn't mentioned.
Who knows, I may get a refund of my 13 euro ?
 
It's a lovely area called Arjuzanx, I've no idea how to pronounce it.
It's next to a nature reserve and lake where there is a lovely beach and what looks like safe swimming.
Lots of activities too like pedelos

                                     The Lake and beach at Arjuzanx






It's hot here but fortunately we have 230 volts hook up and so air conditioning is operational 😀

We also have Shield Bugs for company and they seem determined to get inside Ed by landing on the hab door fly screen, and waiting for someone to open it so they can fly in.

So it's a constant job flicking them off before opening the screen.

I didn't much enjoy the drive on the motorway, far too many lorries and white vans dashing around to get somewhere in a hurry. The motorway is also quite twisty and narrow on the Spain section so you have your wits about you.

The France section was easier, but I was still glad to arrive in one piece.

Back to non toll, snails pace tomorrow 😉