Sunday. Last night we actually had clouds and wind and rain, fortunately not until 9.30 as we also had next door for apéro on the terrace! That’s two evenings on the trot as Denmark and Berkhamstead came on Friday. They, however, had to swelter with fans.
This morning it was cool, hooray. Sunny and breezy too so we drove out onto the plain for an explore of the vines. First those on the Cairanne cut through road. There’s a patch of unknown cereal crop there. Is it spelt??
It looks like the swifts have gone - not so much as a farewell fly past. Bee eaters were invisible but vocal - too windy to precision bomb their prey. Lots of kestrels and, we think, a roller that perched on a sign then loped off. First blackberries eaten by the little étang.
Then along to the flat flat area outside Ste Cécile with its Italianate lines of poplar and the grandly named Domaine de la Présidente.
We parked down a rutted track and walked there and back. Quite a few other folk - a cyclist, a jogger and a chap with cigar in a 4x4 who drew alongside to ask if I’d seen a grey Renault with an elderly person who’d been missing for 48 hours!
We followed little tracks in the general direction of Travaillon hoping maybe for a drink. This one was a goodie!
Travaillon bar was closed so we pressed on across the plain to Violès to the café at the crossroads, mercifully free from 40 tonne lorries, where this elegantly presented grand- crème was consumed in lieu of Sunday Lunch. But I say! hot milk served separately. Usually only get this up north.
And Art in the Streets produced this - le phare du Four, with a backdrop of the excellent butcher who goes to Malaucène market.
Walking around was great, cool air but underfloor heating from the warm pavements. Pizza for supper.
