May 2026

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1st - May Day in Oxford and James joined in on some Pagan fun As did the whole city In South West France, Stephen and Paulie greeted the season with a pedal some misty mornings
. 4th - post breakfast stop for a fresh jus d'orange 5th - In Adelaide Cam and Olivia packed for their trip to France, a wedding in Glasgow, and an Italian visit Wine was stocked up in preparation of the duo from Adelaide, James from Oxford, and a brief weekend visit from Olivia's Cambridge-based pal Maddie
A second BBQ was purchased to handle the culinary logistics of vegan and omnivore guests (the important political premise of the separation of Birch and Steak). A lunch break with Storm 6th- the Duo were ready to board their flights 7th - a day (plus) later, they arrived from Paris at Montauban.
. Cam's first visit to the village All was rosy Including the roses at La Cachette. Reds first bloomed
The pink. The welcome lunch menu was ready. . .
8th - the day started with promising weather So it was off for a cycle up the hills of La Corniche . .
And then a rest before the next event.... A visit to the aeroscopia musée aéronautique next to Toulouse Blagnac Airport (the home of Airbus) where James was to due to land a few hours later . The Concorde was a cosy and impressive aircraft
. The huge Airbus Beluga At 18:30/6:30pm James arrived from Oxford A hug and then the guys had a coffee before Olivia's pal Maddie flew in for a weekend visit 30 minutes later.
The grand tour up Roc d'Anglars Followed by a walk up anouther part of the Cirque de Bône - le Roc Demye to what the guys call the 100 foot journey path (after the Helen Mirren movie in which it was shown) . .
James brought his 360 degree camera for practice. Some cool videos are on "AthoCinema" linked from the home page. . . Meanwhile in Brisbane, Nick prayed to the Culinary gods before Chef Jess delivered her Sous-chef de Cuisine lessons
Today's lesson - working with sugar in pastry cooking . Well delivered lessons resulted in an impressive outcome. 9th - In St Antonin it was time to hit the water
Stephen and Paulie headed down l'aveyron As did the team . pit stop for a picnic lunch
And some hours later it was time to return to base. As always, Sunday was market day . Maddie was delivered to the bus in Montauban to head back to Cambridge. The team took then a gentle walk around the village
Stephen decided to play sculpture model 11th - In Australia it was Mother's Day so Nick & Jess joined mother Elizabeth and Grandma Margaret with his Half-Bro's. Margaret was in rehab after a medical scare. Cycle time in St Antonin Noble Val .
Farewell drinks for the Adelaide couple. 12th - time for Olivia & Cam to head to Glasgow. The remaining trio went to check on the Templars La commanderie at Vaour Paulie nodded off in the sun
and it was back to the village And the sun set on another day. 13th - James and Stephen cycled up into the hills again. In Scotland, Cam caught up with old pals from his days working in Glasgow.
. 14th - James returned to Oxford. 15th - wedding time near Annbank in Ayr 18th - ‎Next step for the intrepid travellers was Parco Regionale dei Monti Lattari, Praiano. Campania, Italy
20th - In St Antonin the paving was at last finished outside Michael and Storm's, so it was time for Storm to do some planting 21st - a lovely morning greeted Stephen on his pedal up to the plateau Meanwhile in Italy, Cam & Olivia explore Taormina, Sicily .
22nd - In St Antonin the duo took a walk up the "stations of the cross" hill for a different view of the village . And a picnic lunch In Italy, the guys tasted the local produce at Parco dell'Etna, Castiglione di Sicilia, Isole, Italy
. AthoTurnbull parents were a bit uncomfortable with Cam & Olivia climbing up Mt Etna to sulphur, snow, and the potential for an eruption (last happened in August 2024) . 23rd - on her morning walks Paulie got into the habit of stopping off at the outdoor exercice machines
24th - sunset in Sicily Back in St Antonin, La Cachette's cherry tree delivered . In Italy. Regusa relaxing
Regusa real estate Regusa relative physicist, Archimedes 26th - Siracusa Siracusa at night
. In St Antonin Yolande asked Stephen and Paulie to dinner. The gals check if this very hot day had cooled down. Yolande opened a lovely St Emilion that they finished the next day in La Cachette's garden 29th - pal Jon Outridge arrived from Australia
Getting some sun and movement allowed him to stay conscious until the evening after 30+ hours of travel . Meanwhile Olivia and Cam arrived back in Adelaide and toasted to the end of a lovely visit to the northern hemisphere. 30th - Stephen started the day cycling to Cazals via the plateau. He had always admired the only kangaroo in the village
Stephen adjusting to a new girdle-like jersey. A "Large"size seems to be based on the dimensions of male models in the manufacturng country. The trio went for a spin to see local landmarks. Penne. Bruniquel. During the following few weeks in June Jon was ready to see more of the region and share some great adventures.