We had a fairly quiet morning in the campsite with Dave and I helping Dave S with some weeding while Fran finished moving into the summer kitchen. I also did a little bit of embroidery. Weather was fairly overcast but improved as the day went on.
Once it was clearer we headed off for a walk around the lake Etang de Saint Estèphe. The Daves took the electric bikes and Fran and I went in the car.
Dave – this was my first go on an electric bike and I have to say I was very impressed. To get to the lake walk is just up a very long hill, and a down bit at the end. By the time I got there I had barely raised my heart rate. I guess I could have had a lower setting and so got a bit of exercise but……
When we got there I had a very short go on the electric bike, I was not keen to ride it along the country roads as I have not been on a bike for about 12 years!! We did a very gentle, flat walk around the lake, which was beautifully set up with picnic areas, a beach and some very comfortable wooden sun-beds. Halfway around we went over the river via a chain style ferry which in this case was operated by the walkers themselves. This involved winding the ferry over to our side of the bank, and once on board all pulling a rope to get to the other side. This was really fun and accessible to all ages because you could go across the river very slowly according to how strongly you pulled on the rope. We had a nice lie down on the giant sun-beds and then the Daves went back by bike once more and us by car.
We had a late lunch of soup with taboulé and melon as we would be having dinner pretty late after a cinema visit at Nontron to see the Downtown Abbey film with the Zumba ladies. The film was really good and even funnier watching it with subtitles in French as there was a French plotline in it, lots of observations about the French and the English and even a few sections in French which then were not subtitled. It was a brilliant film, very well done and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
The Daves meanwhile had had a nice walk around Nontron, taking some photos and chilled out in a local bar.
Dave – I was quite impressed with some of the buildings and how old they were , even in a town with no other tourists in it. Nontron is world famous for its knives! It even (of course it does) has a museum.
We then walked over to meet them and went to a very nice pizza restaurant, Pizzeria les bains douches ( in a building that used to be public baths) which had an outdoor terrace with a good view. We all chose different pizzas so we could have half of one and 1/2 of another. The waitress was very helpful and gave Fran and Dave some flyers so that they could publicise the restaurant at the campsite.
We rounded off the night back at the campsite watching a few sketches including the Catherine Tate interpreter sketch and a NYC cabbie musing on the vagaries of the French counting system.
Wonderful photographs.
So much walking, there is nothing better.
The pencil Cyprus trees are SO beautiful.
You all seem to be having a great time together.Jx🌻