Summer Tour 2012

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Setting off for an English touring holiday, for a change, hoping to see parts of the UK we normally drive thru on the way to the ferry. So its Sussex and Kent here we come - despite the weather forecast.

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Home again

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After breakfast we had a quick look at the remains of Lydford castle (actually a prison) which was right beside the Britstop car park. Then we called in to see cousin Barbara and John on our way home and as we left her about 12:00 there was time left to fill. But the weather was overcast and quite murky all the way into Somerset and we decided to carry on without looking for another overnight stop. The weather did brighten up later on, after we had called at Gloucester services so we left the motorway and drove back up the A46 through the Cotswolds. We stopped at the garden centre near Lutterworth and picked up some tomato plants and potting compost. The compost is to pot on the vine plants that we have been nurturing all the way from St Emillion. They are not looking too healthy but hopefully can be saved with a bit of TLC and John Inness No3.
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Basque Epiblog

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This was our first GRJ holiday but it was to an area that we already knew from our motor homing days. It was very well organised and had an excellent tour manager. We enjoyed the combination of free days and organised trips. Hondarribia is a lovely town on the France/Spanish border, or as the locals would prefer, in the middle of the Basque country. Its mix of old medieval town, a seaside location and foodie vibe, close to San Sebastian and Biaritz makes it an ideal sightseeing  holiday location.  The Jauregui hotel was perfectly placed between the pedestrianised street of tapas/pinchos bars and the old harbour, where the regular ferry goes to Hendaya in France. It did not have a pool, spa or lounge but the tables and chairs outside were ideal for people watching and taking a drink out from from the bar. The group dinners provided plentiful food and wine and an opportunity to make friends. The food was not gourmet, except the panacota, but varied and adequate given that 38 peo...
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Bilbao and Guggenheim

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Our last organised outing took us to Bilbao and the Guggenheim museum of modern art. The coach initially dropped us by a bridge over the river to allow us to walk into the old town. We did an audio guided tour of the cathedral and grabbed a couple of tapas in the market and some coffees in a bar before meeting up again to be dropped off at the museum. The most impresssive aspect for me is the building itself all stainless steel and glass. The art works are all massive and approachable, but not too close or you(we) get a bebuke from the security guards. We had 2 hrs to take in the art. We gathered by the cafe for a cool drink before heading along the Ap8 motorway passing San Sebastion to Hondarrebia for packing and our last dinner together.  Trevor Grove, an ex editor of the Sunday Telegragh and Evening Standard, thanked our tour Manager David Cotterill after dinner for his excellent organisation and good humour. He returned the gesture by commending us for being the biggest and bes...
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