It has been so hot these last few days that we've not done a great deal. Yesterday morning it got too much for us- we had to escape! So we went down to the river Aigues just under Villedieu and found a track that lead to the scrubby willow banks and the remaining channels. To be honest there wasn't much going on. A couple of wagtails, frogs and fish, interesting flowers and bushes. In the mud beneath the water I spotted traces of heron...lots of footprints.
Then we dropped in on the local coop that produces that most rare of things - delicious Chardonnay! Not that awful oaked American style. I bought a bottle last year and was amazed how nice it is. Great R 4 parked outside.
There was a poster for an art exhibition in the window. Just a local thing in a little chapel but it was close by so we tracked it down. A charming young musician and self taught painter was sitting outside, working on his Mac. Some of the work was not bad. He said he only spoke a little English - ha ha. Lovely proper accent, and anyone who can use the word Randomness correctly when describing a technique - well in my book they speak pretty good English!
Had lunch in Roaix, where to Adrian's amazement there was both rabbit and calves liver on the menu (and ravioli thank goodness). Dilemma. Which to choose? The decision was made for him. The liver was on a first come first served basis (it is really popular) so you had to give a second choice. As they were so busy, by the time it came, guess what? Yes, rabbit. But apparently delicious. By now I was drooping from heat and we flaked out in the middle room watching a hundred fit blokes struggle through the Alps.
Eventually the skies grew dark and we had a bit of rain. Lightning over to the north as we sat on the terrace trying to cool down. Then in the middle of the night Armageddon overhead and torrential downpour. Today the storms continued on and off but it is still humid. All we could manage was twenty minutes round the vines at 6.30.
But the window boxes appreciated it!
