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Author Archives: Al in France
Another day, Another Chateau.
I wasn’t really looking for another chateau, and was just pottering about, taking a small road home as a detour. Following the road and right on the bend I was greeted with this sight. It was one of those moments … Continue reading
Essential Viewing.
There is something you almost have to do when visiting this area…visit a chateau. Having said that, it is almost impossible to avoid them, with about 300 in the Loire Valley. Some are very grand, some small and intimate, and … Continue reading
Posted in Loire Valley
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Loches
This Royal City has a history that stretches back a thousand years, and was at one point ruled by the English. It is safe to say that wherever you come from, you can happily stroll around the ancient streets without … Continue reading
Royal Citadel and The King’s Meadows
There is something really rather nice about waking up in the morning and deciding to just go away. That is exactly what I did the other week. After a quick email to check on availability, I had the pod all … Continue reading
Reflecting
I know that a lot of people go away to relax and have a change to their routines. I’m no different, but the exception seems to be that whilst most are having a nice lie-in, (is it lie-in or lay-in? … Continue reading
Coulon
The small village of Coulon was only a few mins away and being the Easter break, there were plenty of tourists. The glorious weather certainly drew everyone outside and I have to say that it couldn’t have been nicer to … Continue reading
Back on the road.
It has been way too long since I posted and WAY too long since I was away in my pod. Winter is finally behind us and after one of the driest but coldest winters on record, I am so happy … Continue reading
And That Was September.
After what has been one of the worse summers in years, September proved to be absolutely delightful in every way. It had all the hallmarks of an Indian Summer, and most of us bathed in the warmth and almost endless … Continue reading
Posted in île de Ré, Podding
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Chain Reaction
You may remember from my last post that I pointed out a high peak in the distance from the Puy de Sancy. This is the the Puy de Dôme, the highest volcano in the Chaîne des Puys (chain of peaks) … Continue reading
Posted in Auvergne
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Veni, Vidi, Vici
I recently read somewhere that no landscape inspires quite like the mountains. Certainly I love being in the mountains, and really do feel very uplifted when I reach that point where I can savour all that is around me. I … Continue reading
Maggie’s Grand Day Out
Just every now and again, Maggie takes me out for a nice walk! Just a 10 min drive from the campsite, in the middle of a mountain crater, is the lovely Lac Chambon. The trail takes about an hour and … Continue reading
Posted in Auvergne, Maggie
2 Comments
Exploring the Auvergne
I’m always in two minds about not having internet connection when I’m away. In many respects it is really very nice indeed to be somewhere where you can’t be contacted or nobody really knows where you are. It’s also a … Continue reading
Posted in Auvergne
2 Comments
To The Hills!
I wondered if I was going to be able to get away again seeing as the ugly face of Covid is threatening everything again. But here I am, in the Auvergne region in central France, an area of extinct volcanoes … Continue reading
Last Day… (for now)!
As nice as it is to be away, I just can’t stay here forever. Besides, I’m only down the road, so I can get away easily enough whenever I want. My last visit, again in the morning to avoid the … Continue reading
Airvault
Sometimes the simple pleasures are the best, and one of the things I really enjoyed about this campsite was that it was so close to the local town of Airvault. The focal point (as with so many places) is the … Continue reading
Close to Camp
With it hitting 30c + I’m really not inclined to travel too far, especially with Maggie. The surface of the paths and tracks is just too hot for her paws, and being stuck in the car (even with air con) … Continue reading
Thouars
About 20 mins away from the campsite is the town of Thouars, considered the gem of the Deux-Sèvres. I really have to say that I was a wee bit disappointed in the city as I found it all rather haphazard. … Continue reading
Posted in Podding
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All By Myself…..again!
So, here I am, on my lonesome once more! LOL. Not that I mind having the whole campsite to myself, in fact it is lovely to have the choice of pitch. I’m only 100kms ‘up the road’ from home just … Continue reading
It’s Been Too Long
Well, what a hiatus that has been! Eight months, give or take. Everything seems to have changed SO much and to coin the phrase, the world is a very different place. Lockdowns and restrictions have kept me at home but … Continue reading
Timeless Florac
Some roads are meant to be taken. The one I am talking about today is the Corniche des Cévennes, a panoramic route linking St Jean-du-Gard with the little town of Florac. With views that seem to stretch for ever, every … Continue reading
Travels without Modestine!
I think that I read R.L.Stevenson’s ‘Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes’ whilst I was still at school. I can’t say that it had any great impact upon me, and I do not recollect a single thing about it … Continue reading
Simply Cévennes.
My morning really did dawn bright and early. The early light soon gave way to a pale blue sky, dotted with tiny cotton wool clouds, and after the obligatory ablutions, breakfast and a walk with Maggie I was on my … Continue reading
Here we go again!
I have been back home for a week now, but I am only just getting around to posting about my latest trip away in my pod. I can’t believe how busy I have been since getting home! Still, all good … Continue reading
Posted in Podding
6 Comments
Falling into Autumn
I really shouldn’t have been so amazed this morning. But I was, because it took me rather by surprise. The regular routine of coming downstairs, feeding Maggie and then letting her out for her first circuit of the garden was … Continue reading
Posted in Nature, Seasons
5 Comments
It’s Coming!
Well, a lot of things are coming I suppose, but this is hopefully some welcome relief from the current ‘canicule’ – heatwave. After 2 1/2 months of no rain and daytime temps that haven’t been below 30c, we are promised … Continue reading
Posted in Weather
5 Comments
Sweating it out!
Well, the French weather site http://www.meteofrance.com is often next to useless, more benefit being gained from a chocolate teapot. Even when you look at the radar, it is wrong. However, they have excelled with their predictions of a ‘Pic de … Continue reading
Posted in Weather
4 Comments
Keeping it Green.
Pinching the idea from Colin’s blog ( https://colinbisset.com/2020/07/23/propagating-in-a-pandemic/?wref=tp ) I feel somewhat inspired to share my humble efforts in the veggie patch. It can be a challenge in this region of France where we get blisteringly hot summers and everything … Continue reading
Posted in Garden, Nature
2 Comments
‘Sunday’ Driver!
As nice as it is, I can’t stay on holiday for ever, and if I didn’t come home I wouldn’t appreciate the fun of going away again. As sad as it is to leave this beautiful area, it isn’t as … Continue reading
Posted in Chateau, Dordogne, History, Podding
3 Comments
Bastides-a-plenty!
It is impossible (almost) to get away from the fortified towns or ‘Bastides’ that seem to breed in this area. There are about 300 of them in the southwest part of France, and the Dordogne boasts some of the prettiest … Continue reading
Castles in the air.
I don’t know about you, but do you sometimes set out on a destination only to find that there is something really interesting on the way there? I was heading in the direction of La Roque Gageac on the banks … Continue reading
Posted in Chateau, Dordogne, Podding
8 Comments
Belvès
The Dordogne is blessed with 10 of the ‘plus beaux villages de France’ (most beautiful villages) putting it in the top along with the Aveyron. It would be very fair to say that a lot of them are similar and … Continue reading
Posted in Dordogne, History, Podding
5 Comments
Isolation with a difference.
Time to get away again in my pod. I had this site booked for a stay in May but with restrictions and the fact that it was still closed, I wasn’t able to visit. No matter, I’m here now. And … Continue reading
Posted in Dordogne, Maggie, Podding
2 Comments
Freedom in the Mountains.
Being in a mountainous region can be very beautiful but also very frustrating, especially when you are a visitor with limited time. Being right at the foothills of the Pyrénées, I was almost desperate to get into the mountains but … Continue reading
Posted in History, Podding, Pyrénées
5 Comments
Castles, churches and villages.
This day was a real tour around the eastern part of the Ariege. You have to love the long days of summer with enough light to make you feel as if you have no need to hurry. Making a trip … Continue reading
Posted in History, Nature, Podding, Pyrénées
5 Comments
Closed today!
It hasn’t been the brightest of days…low cloud, the threat of rain, unseasonally cool but certainly not cold as it is still 20c. I had to get some provisions, so whilst out and about I stopped off in a small … Continue reading
In the know!
I don’t know about you, but I hate it when the name of a place or person crops up and you are absolutely expected to know who or where or what it is! You know what I mean? Not far … Continue reading
Posted in History, Podding, Pyrénées
2 Comments
Le Mas d’Azil.
If I take a walk along the bank of the River Azize from the campsite I come to the charming village of Le Mas d’Azil. The walk itself is really lovely and a chance for Maggie to really go mad … Continue reading
Posted in History, Podding, Pyrénées
5 Comments
Perfect Pitch.
This is new territory for me – the Ariege, or to be precise the Pyrénées Ariégeoises. It is a Regional Natural Park, and as the name implies, it is part of the Pyrénées. It is a wonderland of forests, streams, nature … Continue reading
Posted in Podding, Pyrénées
3 Comments
Worth the wait.
Oh, it has been a long time coming. Or so it seems! Here in France our restrictions from Covid-19 are gradually being relaxed and numbers of people with the virus and the number of deaths are dropping. Good news indeed. … Continue reading
Posted in Podding
2 Comments
All Change!
I’ve been very remiss at posting recently. I must say that I have been very busy with one thing and another, and with spring upon us, the garden has occupied a lot of my time. With the longer days and … Continue reading
Posted in Garden, Seasons, Weather
5 Comments
“Oh I do like to be beside the seaside.”
So goes the song, and yes, I do like to be beside the seaside. I have to say that it has been a long time since I was at the coast and smelling the salty air. With my new pod … Continue reading
Posted in Podding
5 Comments
A Wake For the UK
Yesterday was Day 1 for the UK to be out of the EU. It has little impact here in my sleepy village, for now at least. The Brits living here have no idea what the future holds for them and … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
2 Comments
Seasonal Confusion
Well, here we are…we made it to the end of January! I’m sure that I’m not alone when I say that January seems to just go on for ever and ever. As always, at this time of year, there is … Continue reading
P(l)odding Along!
The month is already racing along at a crazy pace. I always think that January is a rather miserable month with the cold and damp, the dark mornings and nights and when the sun does decide to shine, it is … Continue reading
Posted in Podding
4 Comments
Renewal
Well, there’s no escaping the fact that Christmas is over and that we have moved to the edge of another new year. For some they will be cheering the end of 2019 and the last decade, and others will be … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
1 Comment
Shepherd’s Warning
Well, we have made it through the month and here we are at the end of autumn, meteorologically speaking. I was thrilled to be able to walk Maggie in the dry for a change and no doubt she was happy … Continue reading
Posted in Local travels, Seasons, Sky, Weather
1 Comment
Waiting for…..?
The third Thursday in November is always awaited with a certain degree of excitement here in France. This is the date when at 12.01 am the Beaujolais Nouveau is released – that much-ballyhooed cherry-red coloured vintage that’s best served chilled … Continue reading
Posted in Village
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Misty Morning
Under a mantle of frost and mist, the countryside is looking radiant this morning as the low sun reminds us that winter will soon be upon us. The early morning mist and dew The faintest sunlight shining through, The branches … Continue reading
Posted in Local travels, Nature, Seasons, Weather
6 Comments
Remembering
Armistice Day, November 11th, is a public holiday in France. For a great number I am sure it is seen as an extra day off and a very welcome extension to the weekend. Here in the village our population is … Continue reading
Posted in Village
2 Comments
Adieu, Pyrénées.
Better late than never, eh? I have been waylaid these last number of days and just couldn’t find the time to make my last post from my Pyrénéean trip. Although I am back home now, the memories of my time … Continue reading
Posted in Pyrénées
4 Comments
La Petite Rue 