After taking VivaLaVida out of its winter quarters by carrying out a major service, replacing the steering ball joints and some other maintenance work, Emile and I set off again on board for a three-week holiday heading to Galicia, which we hadn’t discovered last year. But after barely a few hundred miles, a big BAM stop us dead in our way!
 
 
1. One of the rear tires decided to suddenly give out on us.
 

 
 
2. It takes me an hour under a blazing sun to change the wheel before getting back on the road.
 

 
 
3. We find a cool spot to sleep, on the edge of a beautiful forest.
 

 
 
No question of continuing the journey without a spare wheel. I decide to change the 4 tires that have more than 70,000 miles and are soon worn out. Going toward Saint-Etienne, the nearest town, to find 4 new socks to VivaLaVida. But it’s not an easy task: we go to three tire specialists who cannot order the required size not common in Europe. Finally, one gives us the contact details of an American vehicle seller, Presticar Automobiles in Grand-Croix, which imports Dodge pick-ups we find him late Monday morning.
 
After two hours of searching and multiple phone calls, he finally finds 4 tires in the right size and I confirm the order. But the delivery won’t take place until Thursday at best. So we decide to pass the time by discovering the surroundings, starting with the Pilat, a local summit which overlooks the Loire to the Northwest, the Ardèche to the South and the Lyonnais to the Northeast.
 
 
4. View of the Lyonnais from the Pilat summit.
 

 
 
5. We find a nice boondocking spot at almost 4,300 feet elevation where we spend 3 nights.
 

 
 
6. There is a stream that runs right next to our camp and Emile likes to play in it.
 

 
 
7. We buid a dam.
 

 
 
8. We also visit the surrounding area, in particular this “giant fir tree” which reaches 150 ft in height!
 

 
 
So it’s only on Thursday mid-afternoon that VivaLaVida, wearing her new shoes, resumed her route towards the West. Three hours later, we find a nice boondocking place on the banks of Lake Naussac while a storm threatened.
 
 
9. After the first thunderstorm. Three more will follow during the night which will still be restful.
 

 
 
10. The next day we cross the gorgeous Aubrac plateau. Our spot for lunch!
 

 
 
After a night in a camping between Montauban and Auch , we will reach the Spanish Basque Country the next day. To be continued soon.