Warm enough to have the skylight open a bit in the night so we wake to the sound of birds in the trees above. The young vines look different this morning with the sun behind us and as it rises there is the promise of a fine day ahead.
We are the first of the four vans to leave [a French one came in late last night] and the trip to the seaside starts well with uncluttered dual carriageway. Approaching Port de Bouc we see more Carmargue horses and then a lake with flamingoes. Traffic gets really busy towards Marseilles and then we are right in the city centre. Traffic is manic; twin narrow lanes, often blocked by delivery trucks. Scooters that buzz in and out of gaps that don't seem wide enough. Left turns that start by swinging right then doing a U bend and buses oblivious to all around them. We barely talk to each other for half an hour, then we are out the other side and onto smooth dual carriageway again.
As we climb and fall around Cassis the temperature reaches 19deg and we get glimpses of the Mediterranean sea. Through St Cyr and Bandol it gets really sea-sidey, promenades and palm trees, bright parasols and restaurant terraces.
At 13:00 we arrive at Camping Mogador in Sanaray sur Mer, another 2014 stopover.
40 minutes later we are on our way into town past beds of 'Birds of Paradise', young agapanthus and bright bouganvillea. The town is not too busy, but quite a few people outside bars and cafes.
Ali wants to buy Nick a birthday lunch or dinner. We find le Galion, a restaurant on the harbour front a get a table in the sunshine. Mid afternoon they are only serving crepes, but that's fine. We have our crepes and a beer then go around the harbour. The buildings are all pastel browns pinks and reds and there are palm tree avenues. The inner harbour is full of the traditional wooden luggers while further out are pleasure boats and gin-palaces.
The Mediterranean sea is sparkling blue and all is going well until a loud bang followed by 'flap-flap-flap' signals the demise of the front tyre on the wheelchair. Having survived a blow out at 3 MPH we have no choice but to return to the campsite, but on the way back we see the Tourism Office and go in to ask if there is a mobility shop in town. The lady finds one, rings them for us and they say they will meet us at the campsite tomorrow morning. Then it's a slow and careful trundle 2 miles back to the site.
We'd seen plenty of the town so not really a let down coming back early, and the site is quiet and warm and we can catch up on some other things.
Months of cold, wet misery at home, but today, by the Med, in the sunshine one day of warmth has banished it from our memories.