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.
After 3 weeks away the lawn didn't go too mad, but still hours of mowing! Small bonfire too. Roast snail anyone? 
Impromptu lunch... just because we were passing 
And dish of the day is pork filet mignon... Nom, nom, nom! 
Tonne up North to Lac du Gabas. Could be last sunshine for a long time but what a day to end our endless summer!
October Tourmalet in full summer kit. Amazing conditions but think that's last of the year. Now bring on the snow! 
Sunrise at French motorway services. Views around here were fantastic from the road but no photos while driving!
On the shores of Untersee. We were last guests of the season in this campsite & they gifted us the stay! Danke!
Dragged into another bakery in the Black Forest. Well... one has to compare & contrast the local fare, yes?
Rothenburg ob der Tauber in the rain... still a lovely place but let's find somewhere warm to eat and drink!
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.
