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August 1998. We leave our suburban home and with two stowaways
on board, point the trusty Xantia south toward the verdant Haute Vienne
and two weeks of tranquility.
Saturday 15 August
With two hours sleep behind us, and 600 miles to go,
we pack the car under cover of darkness and leave home at 05.45. We drive
in pouring rain to Dover for the 07.45 ferry. Fourteen hours and a couple
of missed turnings later we arrive at the Farmstead
at L'Age.
Sunday 16 August
To St. Mathieu for supplies (jambon & haricot verts
festival market) then after lunch Janie swims in Le Grand Lac (Milhaguet). Monday 17 August
After shopping in St Mathieu and lunch, Janie swims
at Le Grand Lac and Nick
settles down with a good book.
Tuesday 18 August
To Nicky & Robin's, 115 miles (2.5 hours) away... after
lunch we go to The Three Lakes for a dip... Later, before going out to
dinner Nick puts black tape over the headlights and we drive home in virtual
darkness. Arrive at 02.00 and knock down a horeseshoe ... doh!
Wednesday 19 August
Recovering from yesterday. More swimming for Janie,
more reading for Nick.
Thursday 20 August
Nicky & Robin come to us - lunch then swimming at St
Mathieu then tea...
Friday 21 August
Rain. To supermarkets and Tourist Office in Nontron.
Concert
at Chateau de Rochebrune in the evening.
Saturday 22 August
Rain. To Syndicat in Chalus and then St Yrieix for
a bit of brass
band music in the street.
Sunday 23 August
After a rainy start the day brightens. We meet up with
Daphne and Mary and go to the Lac
d'Etagnac, near Rochebrune. An
invigorating dip for some (though
not all) is followed by lunch at Rochechouart
and a walk around the ancient
church . Then back to Etagnac.
Monday 24 August
Rain in morning. South to the Grotte de Villars in
the afternoon, then via St.
Jean de Cole to dinner at the Auberge at St. Bartheleme
Tuesday 25 August
Spend most of the day on
the beach at the Lac at St Mathieu. In evening concert in Chalus with
renowned sopraniste, organist and trumpeter. We leave at half time due
to painful amplification.
Wednesday 26 August
To market at Piguet followed by lunch at Abjat.
Janie swims at the Grand Lac and Nick walks through the forest... short
trip to Marval in the evening (no ice cream) followed by photo opportunity
at the big
house by the lake on the road to Abjat.
Thursday 27 August
Rochechouart in the late afternoon - Museum
of Contemporary Art at the Chateau, shopping and then dinner at the
Hotel de France.
Friday 28 August
Dinner upstairs at the Taverne at the Chateau of Montbrun
in the evening followed by drink downstairs with Derek and Diana. Local
jazz musicians.
Saturday 29 August
Set off at 11.00-ish. After saying au revoir to bread
woman and a final coffee at the Terrasse
we leave St Mathieu at 12.15 (1580 miles). Drive pretty much solidly all
day (kudos to Janie for her heroics on the Peripherique) and reach Calais
at 21.15h. Arrive home at 22.50h (BST), a 2137 mile round trip.
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