3 countries done already!

So it has been a while since i wrote, so i'll try to keep it short and sweet.
     When I left you I spent the next day riding to Marseille, well just outside of anyway. It was basically another long day of riding, 200 miles. More lovely country roads, I went by Millau, which has an awesomely big bridge. If i remember correctly it is taller than the Eiffel tower in parts. James, Grant, Nicky and I went there last year to check it out when we toured France. From there, the road took me to Montpellier, which i only saw the industrial parts of really, then cut through a National Park to an hour outside of Montpellier where the wind nearly took me off the road. It didn't let up either! It kept blowing, so i had to hold the bike at an angle, and even my helmet got squiched up against my face. Not comfortable, then the gusts would really try to get me off the road. I took the next campsite available. Of course, not thinking i set up camp under trees, so i woke up in the night with the wind howling through them. at times I was wondering if they were going to come down on me. A restless night I can tell you.
      The next day I went to Marseille and had lunch by the sea. So nice! With the sun shining, barely a breeze. Gorgeous. My first proper look at the Mediteranean.

My view from lunch in Marseille

I followed the pretty coast to just outside St Tropez. Lovely spot. Campsite right by the beach. In the morning I went into St Tropez and had breakfast by the harbour. Some very nice, expensive boats are moored there. I wonder who owns them?

St Tropez Harbour

Then I had my first big 'idiot moment'. I saw a petrol station, and i was going a bit fst to stop for the first entrance, so i slowed to go in the second. Pity it was one way, and as i was half way around the very small corner, a car was oncoming. So I braked. I was already going very slow, but as I was in the middle of this corner, braking wasn't a good idea. I fell over. The car drove off which I was a bit peeved about.... But I was fine, now I just had to get the bike up. I took the back bag off, the heavy one, and tried to lift it. Not gonna happen. It was about now that a lovely gentleman saw me struggling, and helped my pick it up. By now the Carb had flooded, so i had to wait for it to dry out before I could think about trying to start it. At least all looked fine cosmetically... I went and sat by the water to scold myself while I waited. When I went back to the bike, it started well with a little coaxing. Thankfully.

My lunch view in Cannes.

       So now I followed the lovely coast line all the way to Cannes. There was quite a buzz there, there seemed to be an event. I had to figure out if it was the film festival? But no, too early in the year. But there were people everywhere with ID tags on. As I wondered about, there were big billboards for TV production companies everywhere. NBC, MGM, even Channel 7 from back home. It must be the TV equivelent. I thought i saw someone familiar, but i'm not sure who. I'm hopeless with those sorts of things anyway.

      I then continued toward Nice. Always along the coast. It's so nice i couldn't get away. At one point I was looking at the sea with the blue sky, then I rounded the corner and saw the snow-capped alps. Wow. The wind got chillier all of a sudden. So I got a campsite about 20 minutes out of Nice, took all the stuff off my bike, and went into town for dinner.

Nice boardwalk and beach

The plan was to have seafood by the beach, but the restaurants had other ideas. They shut at 6! Low season they said. So after wondering the board walk, which goes for about 10kms by the way, I picked the first place I saw. And they had the mussels I was craving! Yay! I sat down and started to read my book. The owner then showed up, and was being very charming with all the customers, some of which seemed to be regulars,which was very nice. And another man who must have been in his 80s,  came over to inspect my mussels.  He even dipped my knife in it to see what the sauce was like! lovely old fella, but not a word understood between us. Then the owner started on me. First it was just guessing my star sign, and talking about my aura, which was interesting, but harmless enough. He kept it this way, and kept chatting, and invited me for a coffe. I accepted as he was being nice. I thought nothing more of it. But when he started to ask me about my sex life, and offer to help spice it up, i thought it was time to go. He said he had been married 5 times, I wonder why!? He is Egyptian\Greek French. What a combo! Now i don't know, maybe men around 60 years old, with a grey curly mop, and darker skin is some people's cup of tea, but not mine. The ony reason I mention skin colour, is because around here there is so much leather in the older folk! it's gross! And with him I couldn't tell if it was natural or not. Not a good sign... So I left him thinking I would come back later, after I did some stuff... Not gonna happen!
      So that brings us to yesterday. I went back to where you can see the alps, and the sea to get a nice photo, and had breakfast on the beach. Then I went back to the bike. I couldn't find my keys! Crap. I spent the next little while looking for them, then found them thank god! Another idiot moment. Nearly gave me a heart attack! I followed that 10km along the forshore back to Nice. And rounded the corner to Nice Port. I then saw the signs to Monaco, and went yep! That's me! And then the engine overheat light came on. Crap again. I stopped at the port, got my manual out and read it while I had a coke at a nearby Cafe. I found out that clutch slipping can make the engine overheat. I did not know that! And as that is how I ride in traffic, i would put good money on  that being the reason. so once it cooled down, i went to Monaco.
        Unfortunately you will have to find out how Monaco was later cause the computer is about to kick me off. Short and sweet eh? Whoops!