Days 16/17 – Final retreat

Final retreat went according to plan. We were not spotted and managed to remove ourselves from the country in good order. Final rendezvous at Calais was achieved and we were evacuated without incident.

Day 15 – Friday 25 July – initial retreat

Up early to give time to remove all traces of our presence at this base camp. This achieved we handed over to the locals and departed.
Made excellent progress, crossing the Millau viaduct without incident. Stopped to photograph the position and structure for use back in Blighty. Paid the toll – we don’t want the locals [...]

Day 14 – Thursday 24 July

Final full day of our campaign. A small sojourn to Maury in the morning followed by an afternoon of R & R back at base camp. Tomorrow we retreat. We leave the locals to fend for themselves and depart in good order. To ensure the retreat does not fail we need to leave this location [...]

Day 13 – 23 July – Market day

We spent the morning at Quillan market. A day long affair for the clothes section. Wonderful to find a stall selling nothing but socks! The Fruit & vegetables part was only open for business in the morning. We bought supplies.
The alleyways are thick with window-boxes. Really France is Geraniums, accordions and cats sitting in [...]

Days 11 & 12 – 21/22 July – Further reconnoitring of the area

Days of reconnoitring! Quillan is a pretty town. We managed to infiltrate without the enemy realising and took photos of several strategic positions through the back-streets and alleyways. We will return on Wednesday to meet the market stallholders head-on.
A study of the Gorges of the area has also been achieved both by car and on [...]

Day 10 – Sunday 20 July – Rest day for us but NOT for the Tour de France!

A day of peace and calm. Watched the Tour de France on the TV as they went through the Alps into Italy. Blimey these men are fit. If the top tennis players of the world were as fit as this lot then no-one would tire in the 5th set! Mark Cavendish seems to have given [...]

Day 9 – Saturday 19 July – Set back!

The Major decided we needed to conquer Narbonne. We made excellent progress and arrived in time for coffee – always important where The Major is concerned. The reason for the trip was to investigate the wildlife – mainly bird life (feathered variety). The Major did spot a pair of Penduline tits making their way down [...]

Day 8 – Friday 18 July – Assault on the Chateaux!

Major Dickie had us up and away before breakfast! We collected the rations as we passed the boulangerie! Today was an attack on the Chateaux of the region. Shatteringly we managed three. By the end of the day I have to say I was shattered at the chateaux. No more I pleaded.
Each of these edifices [...]

Day 7 – Thursday 17 July – Tour de France – 12th Stage.

We encountered one of our neighbours on the way to the boulangerie this morning and got invited to see her cats – all 80 something of them! I think we may avoid her in future!
The road was closed at 1100 hrs. The road closing people came past a bit earlier and stopped by our gate. [...]

Day 6 – Wednesday 16 July – Initial skirmish

Assault on the fortress. This required energy and fortitude to scale the heights on foot. The Fortress of Puilaurens is situated on top of what felt like a small mountain! Built to repel invaders – it very nearly won where I was concerned. The Major bounded up like a mountain goat. Wonderful views from [...]