Wednesday 30th June 2010 - Going Home

Up very early and off to Poitiers Airport. Arrived there about 9 and Dot returned to Champagne Mouton and the second day of La Grande Fete. I just had a coffee before going through security to await my flight to Edinburgh at 10.45. It all went very smoothly and a quick shuttle bus to Haymarket Station saw me catch the 12.16 train to Motherwell before having to wait for the 13.33 to Carluke. I was home by 2 o'clock. It was wet and windy! Ah well!!

This is the last blog of my holiday. Click here if you want to view the relevant photies in My Gallery. Then click the slideshow icon.

BYE!!!!!

Tuesday 29th June 2010 - La Grande Fete

Another nice day and after breakfast it was a trip up to Civray looking for a new post box - the old one had been damaged by an unknown vehicle. Unfortunately, we couldn't find one suitable and it was a bit of a wasted journey.

We arrived back in Champagne Mouton in time for a meal then a walk around the village. It was La Grande Fete that weekend and the theme was the years 1900 - 1930. It was a slow-burning start to the proceedings and we watched things develop from the terrace of Le Plaisance before another walk around when the various events got underway.

For such a small village it did itself proud. Many people were dressed in period costumes; some shops were also part of the display; children were playing period games; and there were displays of period bicycles, horses and carts and cars.

We then popped over to Confolens for a wander about before Church in St Maxine's at 6 o'clock.

Arriving back around 7 for an evening meal, was later followed by a great evening's entertainment in the Place des Halles. Many people had taken up the offer of a period repas for 12€ including wine, the entertainment was provided by local musicians, and a stage and dance floor plus bar completed the scene. It was great to be a part of, and witness to, such an event.

Our only regret was that I had to be at the airport at Poitiers for 9 o'clock the next morning. So we had to leave at midnight - which is just as well, as the cheap wine was beginning to take effect. Beddy-bye time it was.

Monday 28th June 2010 - Ile D'Oleron

An early start; breakfast, then the bikes on the back of the car and off to the seaside - the Ile d'Oleron. It was a much cooler day - only mid 20s - and becoming overcast. The sun was trying to break through when we arrived on Ile d'Oleron. We set off and after a couple of hours pleasant cycling, we stopped at a nice restaurant and had some Moules et Frites overlooking a pretty little harbour scene.

Luckily for us it was while there that the heavens burst open. It cleared up for our return and by the time we arrived back at the car, it was lovely and sunny again.

We journeyed back by way of Cognac and Angouleme and once again the heavens opened just as we arrived back at the house.

Sunday 27th June 2010 - God it Is Getting Hot!!!!

Another lovely morning and after a late breakfast it was into Ruffec and a visit to Le Clerc for some shopping. Stopped off in Nanteuil-en-Vallee on the way back for a meal in the St Jean. Another excellent repas!

 It was bilin hot!! The afternoon was spent trying to escape the heat! Mid 30s! No walk tonight! Just a drink in Le Plaisance followed by bed.

Saturday 26th June 2010 - Another Relaxing day

Another beautiful day. I weeded around the house first thing but it was still a task that left me soaking in sweat.

After changing my clothes, it was off to the Shopi once again and do the messages for Dot arriving that afternoon. I had a coffee in Le Plaisance before going over to Le Blankass for a drink and a wee read of a book in the sun. Dot arrived late afternoon before we had a meal and then finished the evening off with a drink in the Le Plaisance.

Friday 25th June 2010 - A Rest Day

A lovely day dawned and wiped away the memories of the wet ending to the previous one. I went to the Shopi for some messages and popped into Le Plaisance for a coffee on the way back. I was entertained by some local elderly gents before getting back to the house and getting my bike out for a run down to Nanteuil-en-Vallee and a meal at the Auberge St Jean. It was a gorgeous day matched by a gorgeous meal in a lovely setting:. I took my time to savour it all.

The bike ride back in the hot and clammy weather was mercifully short and I spent the rest of the afternoon sitting outside in the sun.
The evening was passed watching some football on the the telly in the Le Plaisance before going off to bed.

Thursday 24th June 2010 - Journey To Champagne Mouton

An early start for another day of travelling. Having packed the night before and already having paid my bill, it was just a case of getting my breakfast at a wee place round the corner from the Hotel Urkia. Then, having collected my rucksack, I walked to the Amara Euskotren Station for my 45 minute journey to Hendaye just over the French border.

This is a fascinating wee station and operates trains of the Basque company Euskotren. Whilst waiting for my train to depart, I was entertained by the sight of a machine washing the carriages of a train standing at one of the platforms. The machine itself was pulled along the platform by hand whilst large, revolving, vertical brushes cleaned the carriage sides. It was very effective too. The train's inside was basic and functional - well suited to short journeys such as the one I was undertaking.

In a matter of 40 minutes, I had arrived in Hendaye, France and crossing over the car park to the Gare SNCF, I retrieved my ticket from the Automatique Billeterie. On looking at the departure board however, I noticed there was no indication there was an afternoon train departing at the time on my ticket. A visit to the ticket office confirmed that the afternoon train was cancelled and I hurriedly had to change my ticket for the train that was to leave in 4 minutes time!!! It was a rush but I managed to make it just in time!!!

I found a pleasant seat in First Class and settled back for a restful journey. Stopping at Bayonne, I was joined by another passenger going to Paris Montparnasse. His name was Daniel and he was an Immoblier (an estate agent). We had a lovely conversation in French - and English when words failed either of us (me more often than he!!) - and it helped pass the time on the trip through Aquitaine north to Charente and my destination of Angouleme.

It wis bilin hot in Angouleme!!!! Hot! Hot! Hot! And the long steep hill up to the town was in full sun! Arriving at the Tourist Information on Place des Halles, I asked for the timetable of the the bus to St Laurens de Ceris. The kind lady seeing me suffering from the heat also allowed me to take some water from the water fountain. I was very grateful and threw back several cups before going back outside into the searing heat.

I didn't go far. Just across to the Chat Noir Brasserie and a few cold pressions!!!! Lovely!!!! Luckily there were some huge electric fans placed on the terrace of the Brasserie and it was very refreshing to sit and relax there until it was time to go for my bus.

Buying a sandwich and a bottle of cold water, I made my way to the rear of the Hotel de Ville and awaited the bus to St Laurens. The bus mainly ran to suit school pupils, and as such tended, to take in several schools on its route. That being the case it was quite a leisurely trip and it was getting to 6.30 by the time I was set down in St Laurens de Ceris.

St Laurens is eight kms from Champagne Mouton and I had cycled it before. It was not going to take me too long to walk it. Halfway there, there is a little village called Vieux Cerier and it was there I planned to stop for a wee pression before the last leg to Champagne Mouton and my sister's house.

That was the plan. The weather had other ideas......

Setting out from St Laurens, I noticed a wind getting up but the sky was still relatively clear. However, about two kms into my walk the heavens opened and it bucketed down. I mean bucketed down!!!! I was soaked!! I decided that there was nothing for it but to plod on, and, as I reached Vieux Cerier, it had thankfully stopped.

Rather than stop for a rest in the little bar, I continued on, hoping to get to Champagne Mouton before the weather deteriorated once more. Ha! Ha! I was only about two kilometres from my sister's house when it came on again!!! It was as bad as before!!

Just then a car stopped and the young driver opened a welcoming door. I was so fed up and wet that any of my limited French escaped me. I dumped my rucksack in the back and I plonked myself down into the passenger seat. We introduced ourselves (his name was Kevin) and then we shot off along the road. I mean shot off! His car didn't have functioning windscreen wipers!!! I could hardly see but I knew the road well enough to realise he was driving too fast. What a way to end up after all my adventures - in a car on its roof by a French roadside; deid!!!! Luckily Kevin knew what he was doing!??! In a couple of minutes I was in L'Hotel Le Plaisance greeting its owner Chokri once again and sitting down to a meal and something to drink - having dried off as best I could. The rain continued to pour down as we sat watching some football before I took my leave and crossed the road to my sister's house. Fumbling in the dark, I turned on the electricity and the water before tumbling into bed exhausted.