Où est la plume de ma tante?

Aire sur L’Adour

We left Spain a day earlier than planned, because of the forecast snow in the Pyrenees, and did a long (400 miles) run from Valencia Camper Park to Aire-sur-L’Adour, through the Somport tunnel. L’Aire sur L’Adour is a small town about 40 km north of Pau. We walked in to town along the river (the aire is on the river) and toasted France with deux verres de vin blanc.
Nice wine but a petite shock to have to pay €3 a glass after the €1-20 of Spain. And a chance for Nia to try out her French on the waiter.
And for me to stick my oar in:……”Ma femme, sa Française est superbe, n’est ce pas?”….What could he do but agree?
He moved on before we could ask about the whereabouts of my aunt’s pen.

Eymet Campsite

The next day we travelled to Eymet, a small town in the Lot-et-Garonne department of Aquitaine, and stayed at Camping du Château. It is officially closed but the owner, Philippe, a most charming and delightful man, allowed us to stay anyway. Above is the view from the campsite…a little wet on arrival…

Jupiter

Jupiter is Phillipe’s swan….he bought him a year ago to keep his female swan happy. Mrs Jupiter (Leda to her friends) was on and off her nest and Jupiter was being very territorial.

Château at Eymet

This is the château under which the campsite sits.

Eglise at Eymet

And the church.

Market square Eymet

Eymet is an old bastide town with an arcaded medieval market square.

Mill at Eymet

This is the old water mill at Eymet, once used to grind flour and now in the process of being restored.

Orchard at Monteton

On Monday we moved a few miles west to lodge on the drive of our friends Dave and Judy, who have lived in the Lot-et-Garonne for the last three years. They have a house surrounded by plum orchards and with stunning views over the valley to the SW of them.

Plum blossom

The orchards are covered in blossom at the moment.

What have they been taking?

Nia with Dave and Judy.

Château

We had a great few days exploring the region with Dave and Judy. There are many pretty châteaux scattered about.

Vine Bud

And many vineyards, all just coming in to bud.

Penny and Dave

We visited a chocolate factory ( as much to taste as you like!). This is Penny being evicted from the drivers seat of Dave’s car, where she had moved as soon as we had gone chocolate tasting.

Issigeac

We walked round the pretty old village of Issigeac and found this be-flowered bike guarding a street corner.

River at Nerac

This is the town of Nerac, once the stamping ground of Henri IV.

Nerac

Henri IV château.

Lake near Marmande

We took the dogs for a walk around this lake near Marmande, I guess the place where those lovely fat beef tomatoes first grew.

Tree Frog

This is a tree frog, apprehended lurking near Judy’s cuttings and begging to be photographed.

Morning mists at Monteton

Early (well 8 am) on Friday we left Monteton and drove 300 miles north to the aire at La Suze sur Sarthe, on the first leg of the journey home.

La-suze-sur-Sarthe

Evening at La Suze.

As I type this we are sitting on the aire at Ouistreham, near Caen, waiting for the Sunday morning ferry. So this will be the last post for a while.

À Bientôt.

[with thanks to Jane for reminding me of a useful stock schoolboy french phrase]

About Peter and Nia

Rambling about Europe with the Kray Twins (Colin and Penny).