Welcome to Rob's World, the (cheesily titled) homepage of Robin Rainton.
Given I'm mainly too lazy/busy (take your pick) to write a full 'blog very often there's now a Microblog which you'll also find on Facebook and Twitter, and maybe a few other places too.
Microblog... everyday ramblings interspersed with posts from trips and other activities.
When you're invited to socially distant aperos. Cheers! 
Thanks to the generous hosts - nice to get out a little
Hike Col de Moulata to Hourquette d'Ouscouaou & snowline - ahem - 
Spectacular views. Picnic. Sunny perfection!
Glorious day to ride the Col d'Aspin. Not much traffic but loads of riders out... and cattle... Moo! :)
1st ride in months earns last (sob!) German beer from our Autumn trip. Cheers! Now about that Franco/German border
Homemade focaccia 'cake'. Yes, bit like a cake as couldn't find correct type of flour. Still tastes great so meh! 
Wake up, check weather: Fog. But outside seems sunny. Actually get up & look out other window. Ah - here it comes!
Hello Mr Sunshine! Haven't seen him in days but back in some style (briefly) this evening!
Seems like we are the filling in a cloud sandwich that stretches all the way to Pic de Belchou this morning!
One of our usual walks from home 'in the forest'. You can just about make out our village church on the ridge there.
Ossun-ez-Angles looking in the pink this morning. For a few minutes at least... cloudy now... Booo! 
The below are collections of posts/images organised by trip or subject or other events. Click on the title or image to view each.
France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Switzerland - Autumn '19
Work in progress...
Paris long weekend - June '19
When you are asked to meet up in Paris with family flying in from Australia. Oh, OK then Not our favourite city but to be honest it grew on me a little this trip. No 'work' and mainly random tourist activities probably helped. As did warm summer days I guess. Although I'm sure plenty would say it was too warm in Paris at this time (it was quite toasty in parts!) - those people should live in Australia before making such complaints though
France, Andorra, Spain - Summer '16
Summer 2016 was spent mostly... playing in the mountains
We did move a bit, but even then, it was just to another part of the mountains
This topic will likely be the last episode in a while because life seems to be settling down into a more easy way of life without much movement. Well, at least for a few months it will be that way. Travel pics will likely return next year.
Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland - Spring '16
Spring 2016. Yes, still on holiday. Oops
Quite enjoying the Costa Blanca (can certainly recommend this as a winter cycling destination) but as the weather warms it's time to head back North.
Trip to Germany for the snail's safety inspection - can you believe it's a year already?! Which leads to the obligatory stop with friends both there and in Switzerland. Passing through an as yet unexplored part of the Black Forest & home via the Giant of Provence. Lovely stuff.
We really love the Pyrenees though so this is where the majority of our time will be spent this year I think. Ahem And why not - a dream come true to ride the Tourmalet through walls of snow above one's head is just one of the benefits!
France, Spain - Winter '15/'16
This winter was meant to be spent mostly in the South of Spain & Portugal, but... as I said earlier (see Autumn '15) there were plans afoot in France that required our attention.
Cue spending pretty much all of winter in the Pyrenees. In the snail. Brrrrr?
Well, actually this turned out to be a very mild winter by all accounts. There was a sprinkling of snow on the peaks but the snail only saw a snow briefly for a single day. This meant that there was not to be any skiing on the cards, but, no drama - have bike, will ride
It was only as the calendar rolled along into March that first signs of some proper snow and ice appeared, and as luck would have it this was when we finally concluded our chores. So, job done (for now) we finally got that break to the South.
Not really as planned, but as can be seen, not really a hardship either.
