Day 4: On the road to the beach

We woke to rain and slightly rumbly thunder. Such a change from yesterday. 

This  morning we went to the car via the pharmacy! Steve is a little sick with head cold and bad cough. Hope it fixes before Greece and certainly hope I don't get it. 

We headed towards Pont de Gard and visited the Roman aqueduct. How clever were those Romans? It's so well built - up close you can see the effort and labour that went into it. Surprisingly large number of Australians around the site. Maybe all heading to the Lifesaving titles? Or just on tour. 

Onwards towards Nimes and our sense of direction deserted us. We parked in a car park thinking we kind of knew where we were and didn't have a map. I think we walked all the streets (the unsavoury ones) before we found the Roman arena. Again impressive building. What are the Romans building now?

We also got lost going back to the car but in the much nicer part of Nimes and saw many older gentlemen playing boules,  or pétanque as the French call it. I suggested Steve should  start a pétanque club for retired gentlemen back in Australia. He just gave me "that look". However I think it's a great idea for retired men. Gives them a reason to get  together, not get injured, have a chat and end with a drink. What's not to like? (At least wait until I am retired - Steve!)

Then it was on to La Grande Motte. This is the Surfers Paradise of Montpellier. Sits on the Mediterranean, with lots of sea front, no waves to worry about and lots of
restaurants and shops selling plastic sandals, beach hats and towels. We checked in and have a nice, somewhat smallish room looking towards the water. A friend from Brisbane came knocking and we now have drinks and dinner organised. 

I had a big walk along the sea front and up through some ugly apartments looking for a little supermarket so I could buy Steve a few food supplies for his race tomorrow. Such a long walk. Tomorrow I'm getting a hotel bike - but Steve is not!

We went for dinner with some if the other Sunshine Coast people at the yacht club next door to the Hotel Azur. It was pretty good. No foam in sight except on the rocks outside the club. During the night we had the most amazing storm. Thunder, lightening and  pouring rain. Hope it's all gone by tomorrow. Had to shuffle back to the hotel in the last of the rain.

I'll be heading to the beach later than Steve. I might get to have a swim!

Photos to follow