Writer: Helena Bergström
What heat we have in the south of France now! Temperatures are well above 30 during the day and it is cap. We have had a great week in beautiful natural areas, although it was not exactly as planned ...
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Midsummer and nice days with company in the motorhome
Peter's son Robin and his wife Alexandra visited us in the motorhome, and together we visited Dijon and Beaune in the Burgundy wine region. We experienced both sights and wine tastings, and we also came to the charming "wine village" Meursault. There was a market here when we arrived, and we took the opportunity to buy a nice tablecloth for our large camping table!
The canvas was suitable perfect for midsummer! We set up a lovely midsummer table with both Swedish and French delicacies. We had everything from herring (bought in Sweden) and prawn soup (brought from Sweden) to cheeses and charcuterie from France. We found gravlax (Gravlax de saumon) in a French supermarket and we made beetroot salad ourselves.
Alexandra spent a long time, together with Chat GPT, making songbooks with nubbe songs especially for us: about our trip in France... So much fun!
Not exactly as intended ... and onward journey!
Then things didn't work out exactly as planned, and they don't always. We had planned to continue the trip together with Robin and Alexandra, to show them the amazing areas of Ardèche and Gorges du Verdon.
However, they were tired, after a lot of work, and felt that the heat and camping life did not give them the relaxation they needed. They decided to go back to Sweden after Burgundy, and we continued alone towards the Ardèche... On the way, we spotted delicious Ideal Palace!
Fantastic Ardèche
Ardèche is an amazing area that we love! We have been here once before, but that visit was relatively short and we have long wanted to go back. Moreover, we missed that visit the Chauvet cave back then - and we had the opportunity to do so now!
We stayed at the same campsite as last time - Camping du Midi - and here we got a great spot overlooking the river. Intense bird chirping, morning dip in the river and canoeing trip... it may be a 3-star campsite, but it's a 5-star nature experience!
Summer heat in France
It's hot in France now, and we're slowing down a bit. There will be quiet summer activities and cold, fresh salads. Of course, there will be some work too... it's a prerequisite for travelling!
This week: Grateful for ...
Things don't always turn out as planned, but it can be ok anyway. We are grateful that we got to spend a week in France with Robin and Alexandra, and we are grateful that we get to continue discovering this beautiful country.
Your turn ... what are you grateful for this week?
The week ahead
It won't happen if we go to Gorges du Verdon. We got a bit carried away when things didn't work out as planned. Instead, we hang in Ardèche and the coast, until it's time for us to go to Corsica. Because we have a ferry ticket waiting for us ...
Did you miss the last Happy Friday? Read the Travelling companions and return visit to the river cruiser Victoria
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English (UK) 
Svenska
Jossu says:
Nice that you still got a week together and also got to celebrate midsummer together. Hope they get much needed relaxation at home in Sweden.
This week I am grateful to have booked an autumn trip to Tokyo, and for my kind and fun colleagues who brighten up my working days.
27 June 2025 - 6:12
bmlarsreseblogg says:
Even if it doesn't turn out the way you planned, it can still be good and it was for you. We have had a really good week on "golf tour" with JoY in Småland. The weather started with rain and storm to two days later almost give us sunstroke. Now we hope for decent weather next week because then we intend to go out to Bohuslän, but first a little visit at home.
27 June 2025 - 8:57
Anna i Portugal says:
Things turned out the way they did when they didn't work out. And it's good if you can accept it and continue to have fun. Have friends who are in Corsica with their sailboat, hope you like the island, I would like to go there one day.
27 June 2025 - 9:28
Znogge says:
Sometimes things don't work out as planned, but you still had a great week together and a good Midsummer.
We are very happy with our three days in Blekinge. It was a late caravan premiere this year but better late than never.
Happy Friday!
27 June 2025 - 11:19
Eval8 says:
It was still some nice days you had together.
Well, I guess I'm actually grateful that the car broke down while we still have warranty, but it still ruined our weekend, so I'm not solely grateful. But it could be worse so in the end I'm still grateful 😅
27 June 2025 - 11:40
BP says:
You should never plan things in advance, because things often don't turn out the way you planned. What awaited Robin and Alexandra is a rainy Sweden with temperatures between 11 and 19 degrees with occasional exceptions when the thermometer rises to 22-23 degrees. So, they don't need to expose themselves to 39 degrees exactly,
Now I like heat and would easily enjoy your trip, maybe not necessarily in a motorhome, but still;-)
Have a great holiday!
27 June 2025 - 20:41
JoY says:
Sometimes things don't turn out as planned but it can still be good. What heat you have, according to the weather map it seems to be so in most of Europe. If you are still in Ardeche, and you are keen on another cave, we visited, Aven dÒrgnac.
We have had fun days with different friends since Midsummer. This week on golf tour with BM and Lars, What weather it has been 16 seconds metres and top hat mittens that ended yesterday in shorts / linen.
27 June 2025 - 21:51
Tove says:
If it does not turn out as planned, it will be something else - and it was 🙂 but of course it feels a bit anyway.
Nice roads there, albeit winding - and into a tunnel, I like that picture.
This past week I am grateful and happy as I spent a lot of time at the gallery, together with my gallerist. Hanging, placer, small party Thursday and then vernissage Friday + manning up Saturday and Sunday. Just today I am happy to be there 🙂
30 June 2025 - 8:03