Weekend roundup

well I think it might be slightly cooler...only 37 and a bit at 4pm. Adrian not happy! We got up early again and today went for an hour and a half’s walk up towards Séguret between 8.30 and 10.15 ish.

It was warm but there’s lots of shade under trees and between the banks.

Beautiful flowers, butterflies, the ubiquitous anonymous warbler trilling invisibly. And a blackbird. Adrian saw a big green lizard run across the road behind me - didn’t see it but felt its tail flick my ankle!

 I found it quite bearable but we knew we had to be under cover by 11 so headed for the Bar. Very pleasant sitting under the brumitaseur.

Yesterday we went to Ste Cécile early and all the stalls were well up and running. And we think we’ve spotted where to go for Tour watching on 24th. The crossroads by Domaine de Wilfried at the end of our cut through lane.
Watched Killing Eve - getting a bit too silly I think and the music is unnecessary.

Furnace

We had breakfast on the terrace in relative cool.Only 27 degrees at 7.30 and in the shade. Then off to Vaison to pay the tv repair bill - as we arrived our dynamic duo were leaping into their bat mobile for the days’ fixing. In blue this time. They gave us a cheery wave, which was nice.

As we were out we thought why not go and sit in the shady square in Villedieu. It was a pleasant drive in air conditioned comfort and it did cross our minds that we could spend the day just cruising. And then we saw the grey pall of pollution over the valley and our conscience got the better of us.

Reflections in La Maison Bleue

The square was delightful - plane trees giving cool shade, fountain gurgling, sparrows and pigeons taking turns to perch on the ornamental spouts and drink. The lady at Maison Bleu was laboriously and diligently wiping down tables and chairs and placemats.

We couldn’t face another pizza so decided to go to Roaix and see if it was bearable to eat under the mulberry trees. When we arrived, still only 11.45, we were so taken with the cool interior that horror of horrors, we ate inside! I did try the air outside and it was just about OK but would only have got hotter.





And then home. Closed shutters and curtains, 39.5 on terrace, a nasty hot wind, Jaouad still cooking himself on the roof. Carpentras beating all records at 44.5 degrees.

Help!

We was robbed! It promised us 42 degrees but only made just over 38.

Well last night we braved the heat and went to the bar for pizza. They have a misting system so we sat in water vapoured cool.











Telly is playing up, Jean Claude has retired. But he suggested we go to Vaison Service, which we did this morning. Appointment given for 4 pm Today! About 4.15 two chaps in black arrive and plug in tuning devices. Say our dish might be too small. Then leap up onto the roof and adjust bolts and make more digital diagnostics. It worked. But they said it is on the limit of good reception. We know this of course but don’t want to buy huge new dish at the moment.

Then  once more unto the furnace dear friends...up the hill for tea with the Kaisers in their wonderfully cool downstairs room. Bliss.

And in one of my terrace pots a tiny viola has seeded. I feel like Le Petit Prince and need to protect it! No sheep here though🐑

Temperature rising

We stayed indoors. Well I did venture out at 7.30 for bread while it was relatively cool. And we managed to eat it on the terrace in comfort. Next door Jaouad is reroofing his house - not only Mad Dogs and Englishmen!

Flowers are smiling their thanks.
Our middle floor is deliciously cool...

Cool to baking

7.30 departure again and off across the Quercy plateau with fields of golden grains and cut grass drying for hay. Masses of vipers bugloss, red poppies and yellow broom. We zoomed through Limogne, not wishing to experience the dire breakfast offerings there but then found nothing else until a village called Martiel. It had a boulangerie and a table where one could have coffee. Only capsule but actually not bad. And good croissants says my companion. I for my part spotted a giant croustillant aux pruneaux and some slices of same so guess what I had for breakfast! (Only the one slice).

Not too hot yet but we were high up and the day was but young. Instead of going over Millau we took a road off and went cross country through the lakes and down to the Tarn at Rome de Tarn. Occasional good views of the viaduct but it was really too hazy and bright for it to show up properly. We joined the A75 south of it and made our way through the rocky hills into the dry south.

Lunch stop at a bar in Montagnac - basic grilled lamb chops green beans and chips followed by home made set custard in a glass. Just right!

It was now officially Hot. And even hotter when we stopped in Orange for essential supplies. Got to Sablet about 3.15. All well except for two slipped roof tiles. Geraniums had survived and were flowering and got watered at once. Mr Fernandes was phoned and he came within 20 minutes to refix tiles. Phew! This evening we go to J and G who have offered to feed us. So kind.

Groundhog Day

We seem to plough this furrow again and again! La Rochelle to Cahors...but always a slight variation, and it is a nice drive through open rolling countryside. Today we left at 7.30 beneath threatening skies coming from the West. Heavy drops of rain as we sped along the busy road to Rochefort and over the bridge. Only one stork spotted. Breakfast in Cozes rather than St Georges this time. Bit of a palaver to get into the centre because of one way system but we persevered. Only to find the only boulangerie closed...Lundi! Even locals were caught out. However we got substantial  grands-crème (or is it grand-crèmes?) at the bar. Nice and creamy, so they filled us up.

Then onwards south and east past the dear escargots as usual and down into Dordogne, Lot et Garonne and, finally Lot. Sandwich on a hilltop overlooking Cançon then a walk round Puy L’évêque on the banks of the Lot - mostly to kill time!

Reflection in the Lot

We arrived rather early into Cahors to the wonderful comfort of the spanking new Ibis Budget with its smart decor of grey, white and dark orange, a huge bed, aircon that works, and A Real Full-Size Bath. Pool not open yet but we can put up with that.

Quite warm now but overcast, so that mitigates against it a bit. Public Service announcement on France Musique about La Canicule -  drink lots, eat regularly, seek shade and keep in touch frequently with ‘vos proches’!
Coming down to Fumel we passed kilometres of young hazel groves bursting with clusters of nuts. Squirrel paradise. And on the fringes of Prune Central a banner outside a farm, recruiting seasonal workers for the plum drying season - June to September. Dream Job!

Midsummer madness

Yes, we have decided to set forth again and brave the heat. Our last trip was so sadly cut short and one of the hotels kindly, and without being asked, offered to let us transfer our (prepaid-non amendable) booking to a later date. Had to be before 30 June though, so we plumped for departure on 22nd. Thank you Première Classe, Les Minimes, La Rochelle.

Plymouth Roscoff then LR and Cahors, where we’ve booked the spanking new Ibis Budget that we saw being finished but a month ago!

First it was a sad farewell to the garden and our blackbirds. Then to Plymouth via North Tawton and Okehampton Waitrose.

In Plymouth we saw the new tax gobbling Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier parked up in the Sound.

And now we are here in La R after a somewhat slooow boat to Roscoff. 12 hours! We think the reason was that Pont Aven was using the berth for a morning departure so we had to wait. Still it was very comfortable and we got our free on board breakfast - usually don’t bother but it saved us having to stop en route. We actually arrived here at our usual time of 4pm by dint of using the motorway from Nantes for once.
Saw a stork on the marshes on our way into the city. Quite warm but not unbearable though the motorway gantry signs were saying Heatwave...hydrate yourselves! And Paris is in full Canicule Alert with extra fountains in operation and swimming pools open until 11pm.

We took a stroll down to the harbour for a drink
 past the interesting water craft. A glamorous one called Solo from Valletta in grey black and white, and a lovely masted sailing ship from Portugal called Santa Maria Magdalena. Then pizza and risotto at the place in the corner we always go to.

As always more images on Google album Summer 19 - link in right hand column