Off seeing the sights - 30 Aug - 1st Sept
Not a lot of work done over the last three days as we've taken a bit of a holiday - but still lots to share with you; just hoping I can remember what it all is...
Thursday
A really nice day. After a small amount of painting of hinges and fittings for the backdoor shutters, we decided to follow one of the driving routes around the local villages, as described in a guide from the Tourist Information Office. We decided to just take our time. If we didn't complete it (and we didn't; far from it) we could pick up the rest of the route on another trip.
We set the Sat-Nav to take us to the first destination : Espartignac.
Before long we were on some very narrow back-roads, watching for pull-over spaces as we passed them, in anticipation of needing to reverse back if we met anyone coming the other way. We came to a 2 m wide bridge. It was so narrow that concrete blocks had been placed either end to prevent over-wide vehicles attempting the crossing. For the first set I had Sally get our and watch me through - with the second set I was more confident.
The village itself was a delight and was famous for its 'dolmen'. We parked up and soon found a sign showing the way to the landmark and describing the way there as a 30-minute 'simple' walk. We set off.
The path took us out of the village, into the rolling countryside and eventually into a large wood. At each stage the paths got narrower and more basic. Whilst it wasn't a difficult walk, I think 'simple' was a bit of an over-statement. Eventually we reached an area near the river Vezere where, in days past, there has been a ford on a trade-route. An iron-age fort had been built there (though there was limited evidence surviving) and just below it, overlooking the ford, had been established a sheltered look-out post. This was the 'dolmen' . Whilst it has the appearance of a stone-age burial site, that isn't what it is.
We returned to the village and had a walk around. The village church has a well attributed to Saint Martial who created it is response to someone refusing to quench the thirst of a poor woman. Whilst looking at the well my phone went. It was a company in the UK who had interviewed me for a job a couple of weeks ago - they wanted to know if I was still interested. It would have been a great story if I could have put my hand on my heart and told you the call came seconds after I'd stood at the well and wished they would call.
From Espartignac we drove to Vigeois, the former site of a medieval abbey and a beautiful medieval bridge. We spent a very pleasant time here roaming around and enjoying the sights.
Our next stop was St-Ybard. Though this small village had the ruin of a chateau and a nice park area, it was probably the least interesting of the three villages we had visited. I was now getting hungry and, as we were just a few kilometres from home, we decided to pop home for lunch.
In the afternoon we headed out to Lubersac - not because it was a tourist destination, but because it was the nearest Aldi and, today, they had a set of three tables on offer - and I wanted a set for the garage. As it happens, it was a worthwhile drive out as, not only did I get the tables, but we also found this small town had a number of shops that might be useful in the future. It is no Brive or Limoge, but it is a lot closer than either.
Back home we took a walk around the village, visiting a public garden we'd not seen before and enjoying some new views of the town.
Friday
After putting up the backdoor shutters that Sally had prepped and painted during the first part of her stay, we spent the rest of the morning cleaning the house ready for our impending departure on Saturday. Then I received a call and verbal confirmation of the job offer resulting from the previous day's conversation. The start date would no earlier than the 10th September. Based on this and due to the fact the luxury of free-time to come out to France was now to be a thing of the past, we decided that instead of travelling home together on Saturday/Sunday, Sally would get a flight tomorrow and I would then say on until Wednesday and then start the drive home (arriving on the Thursday, after an overnight stop north of Amiens).
The other main event of Friday was a visit from Luke, a local builder. We wanted to know whether our plans for installing a bath/shower room on the first floor were practical and, whilst he was here, I wanted him to take a look at the condition of the joists in the cellar.
Good news on both counts. The bathroom proposal is perfectly practical and he's going to provide us a ball-park price (we need to do the electrics first so the bathroom will probably be a year away - no point asking for a quote or even a good estimate at this time). And the woodworm damage is largely superficial or has already been remedied with new wood installed near/in place of damaged areas.
Saturday
Both Sally and I had an horrendous night last night, not really sure why. The room wasn't too stuffy, we'd not over indulged in food or wine and there were no (conscious) worries - other than the fact Sally would be leaving the next day (today). We both heard the churches chime 2 am, 3 am and 4 am - and Sally heard 5 am too.
Oh well, at least we were able to have a lie-in, following which we had breakfast, made a packed lunch, had a leisurely stroll around the town and then, just after noon, it was off to the airport for Sally's return flight (which was delayed by over an hour meaning she risks missing her train and will probably get home very late). <Edit: Just had a text from her - she missed it by a minute>.
Thursday
A really nice day. After a small amount of painting of hinges and fittings for the backdoor shutters, we decided to follow one of the driving routes around the local villages, as described in a guide from the Tourist Information Office. We decided to just take our time. If we didn't complete it (and we didn't; far from it) we could pick up the rest of the route on another trip.
We set the Sat-Nav to take us to the first destination : Espartignac.
Before long we were on some very narrow back-roads, watching for pull-over spaces as we passed them, in anticipation of needing to reverse back if we met anyone coming the other way. We came to a 2 m wide bridge. It was so narrow that concrete blocks had been placed either end to prevent over-wide vehicles attempting the crossing. For the first set I had Sally get our and watch me through - with the second set I was more confident.
The village itself was a delight and was famous for its 'dolmen'. We parked up and soon found a sign showing the way to the landmark and describing the way there as a 30-minute 'simple' walk. We set off.
The path took us out of the village, into the rolling countryside and eventually into a large wood. At each stage the paths got narrower and more basic. Whilst it wasn't a difficult walk, I think 'simple' was a bit of an over-statement. Eventually we reached an area near the river Vezere where, in days past, there has been a ford on a trade-route. An iron-age fort had been built there (though there was limited evidence surviving) and just below it, overlooking the ford, had been established a sheltered look-out post. This was the 'dolmen' . Whilst it has the appearance of a stone-age burial site, that isn't what it is.
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| The 'Dolmen' aka La Maison du Loup' |
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| The 'Wishing' Well |
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| Le Pont des Anglais |
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| Chateau ruins |
Back home we took a walk around the village, visiting a public garden we'd not seen before and enjoying some new views of the town.
Friday
After putting up the backdoor shutters that Sally had prepped and painted during the first part of her stay, we spent the rest of the morning cleaning the house ready for our impending departure on Saturday. Then I received a call and verbal confirmation of the job offer resulting from the previous day's conversation. The start date would no earlier than the 10th September. Based on this and due to the fact the luxury of free-time to come out to France was now to be a thing of the past, we decided that instead of travelling home together on Saturday/Sunday, Sally would get a flight tomorrow and I would then say on until Wednesday and then start the drive home (arriving on the Thursday, after an overnight stop north of Amiens).
The other main event of Friday was a visit from Luke, a local builder. We wanted to know whether our plans for installing a bath/shower room on the first floor were practical and, whilst he was here, I wanted him to take a look at the condition of the joists in the cellar.
Good news on both counts. The bathroom proposal is perfectly practical and he's going to provide us a ball-park price (we need to do the electrics first so the bathroom will probably be a year away - no point asking for a quote or even a good estimate at this time). And the woodworm damage is largely superficial or has already been remedied with new wood installed near/in place of damaged areas.
Saturday
Both Sally and I had an horrendous night last night, not really sure why. The room wasn't too stuffy, we'd not over indulged in food or wine and there were no (conscious) worries - other than the fact Sally would be leaving the next day (today). We both heard the churches chime 2 am, 3 am and 4 am - and Sally heard 5 am too.
Oh well, at least we were able to have a lie-in, following which we had breakfast, made a packed lunch, had a leisurely stroll around the town and then, just after noon, it was off to the airport for Sally's return flight (which was delayed by over an hour meaning she risks missing her train and will probably get home very late). <Edit: Just had a text from her - she missed it by a minute>.
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