A photo of the day thread

Just a view from the top of one of the hills driving from Mende to Raucoules this morning. Many beautiful views. I must look and see if I can take stills from the dash cam footage (I know I have said it before but still have not done it). More pictures appear in the "Continental Touring" section, subsection "France", thread "Fannying about in France".
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Sadly the haze prevents you seeing the other hills. I love France!

Clive
 
Tonight and probably tomorrow night's resting place. I am just down from the railway station. I should have come here first using coordinates but I simply put the town name in, Raucoules. What a beautiful little hill top town it is. Tiny little streets and an artic parked on the corner with nowhere for me to go! Fortunately a large group of people came by, I think they were official functionaires, they saw me back and escorted me the wrong way up (or down) a one way street by the church. When in a safe place I loaded the coordinates!

Tonight I am here
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When. I arrived I was the other way round but decided to turn and get the benefit of the shade.
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There are refreshments available à la gare avec Odile, regardez
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I am pleased to report that this is no "greasy spoon" absolutely spotless, I hope she will do more trade over the weekend particularly dimanche when the Velay Express runs!
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A general view towards the chateau d'eau.
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The above is a driving trailer from the mètre gauge Provence Nice line. it is marooned on a couple of pieces of rail.

If you would like to see more pictures why not have a look at "Continental Touring", "France", Fannying about in France." I don't like to hog the photo of the day thread.

Thank you for looking, Clive

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Linlithgow Palace yestere’en, in the “golden hour”, an hour before the thunder, lightning and all of the paltry 2 minutes of rain.
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Good morning

What a difference a day makes! First picture from yesterday about this time.
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Next this morning from more or less the same position.
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Thunderclap Newman is playing as I write this. Just had an enormous flash with almost instantaneous thunder clap so basically overhead. It has been like this more or less continuously since about 2200 last night. No blood moons here!

Today's bike ride is on hold.

During an ease in the torrent I walked across to the bin and took a picture of these beautiful bull rushes. I have always enjoyed seeing these. Had a funny moment walking back when I thought I could smell a light fragrance. To my amazement I could. It was the odour of the surrounding conifers and pines. I took a confirmatory sniff of a branch to make sure. It was wonderful for me as I had believed my sense of smell to be dulled. Of course I could always recognise the smell of pine being burned but that is so much stronger and this was so light and if you will pardon me, appeared "refined."
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Only one thing missing from this wonderful time.

It is supposed to clear late afternoon so I hope to ride then. Still, lots of odd jobs getting done.

Have a good day. Clive
 
After making this mornings submission as part of the clearing up I wandered across to the bin with the rubbish. I heard the unmistakeable sound of a "diesel locotracteur" and guessed it may be going to pull out the steam locomotive from it's shed. I rushed back for my camera - as best one can in the crocs bought for me by my fairy when she was around.
I was not disappointed, I had not changed out of the crocs because I did not want to miss anything. I was able to video the locomotive being drawn out, here are two stills before and after positioning on the turntable.
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After
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Some small maintenance was conducted on the front power unit coupling rod leading brasses. From what I observed it seems the spring loaded felt pad had failed and was delivering limited lubricant. It was a pleasure to watch the engineer at work. I confirmed that all was well for tomorrow's ride on the Velay Express.

The weather continued to improve and after lunch I set off for a ride along the former railway line to Dunières. It was a steady and curved climb to Montfaucon then a steady drop to Dunières. What goes down must come back up. I was pleased with my performance in both directions. Below a picture of Dunières station.
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More pictures available (shortly) in "Continental Touring""France""Fannying about in France".

à bientôt Clive
 
What a wierd engine. A 4-4? And two sets of cylinders.
 
DBK said:
What a wierd engine. A 4-4? And two sets of cylinders.
Click to expand...

Hi DBK @DBK

Yes, it is an articulated locomotive (first pioneered on the Ffestiniog Railway by a man called Fairlie), this version is known as a Mallet and features two power units (articulated) beneath a single boiler. High pressure steam is fed to the rear cylinders (you may be able to see they are slightly smaller than the leading cylinders) then the exhaust steam from these is fed to the low pressure cylinders (slightly larger) before being exhausted to atmosphere.

It provides a powerful and versatile unit for steep and tightly curved lines, being narrow gauge assists. This line is mètre gauge.

The U.K. and USA Whyte notation describes this as 0-4-4-0 T but here in France it is described as a 0-2-2-0 T. Vive la difference!

Hope my response is not too boring!

Clive

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Cleve said:
Hi DBK @DBK

Yes, it is an articulated locomotive (first pioneered on the Ffestiniog Railway by a man called Fairlie), this version is known as a Mallet and features two power units (articulated) beneath a single boiler. High pressure steam is fed to the rear cylinders (you may be able to see they are slightly smaller than the leading cylinders) then the exhaust steam from these is fed to the low pressure cylinders (slightly larger) before being exhausted to atmosphere.

It provides a powerful and versatile unit for steep and tightly curved lines, being narrow gauge assists. This line is mètre gauge.

The U.K. and USA Whyte notation describes this as 0-4-4-0 T but here in France it is described as a 0-2-2-0 T. Vive la difference!

Hope my response is not too boring!

Clive
Click to expand...
Not boring at all, fascinating. :)
There another train à vapeur a bit south from there which runs between St Jean du Gard (where there is a free aire beside the station) and Anduze. Sadly I missed the steam train so could only video the diesel one.

 
Hi @DBK

I am pleased to report that I visited the line in June staying at Anduze. This was not my first or will it be the last visit. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. After this I was off to Pont du Gard (another repeat).

Below is a picture taken this year of the operating engine.
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This picture taken at Anduze where there is plenty of free parking but no facilities other than rubbish. There was a "traveller" presence in the top corner with a definately fraudulent Brit registered caravan/car combination in appalling condition. The gendarmerie and police municipale drive by at regular intervals but do nothing despite a large panel at the entrance forbidding their presence. Provision for "gens de voyage" is made elsewhere. Sorry, rambling again. You will find my entries have a definate leaning towards ye olde trains. I am presently en route (slowly) to Switzerland for a glut of mountain railways and paddle steamers. The journey passes Lamastre (Tuesday) and Mont Blanc around Thursday/Friday.

Cheers Clive
 
Another recipe from "The Book" tonight. Cornish pasties. Mrs DBK said she made the pastry too dry so it started crumbling - but they are coming on well I think.

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Went to St malo and pleasantly shocked as my perceptions were totally wrong. Lovely town and walk with great beaches. Staying at lohen just about 1km south of dinan and easy but hilly walk. Aire is free with free water and you've all seen lovely photos of dinan so the one at night is of the view from the van. Parking for 6 but 10 here now. Reckon another 4 could squeeze in if they do it french style
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Good evening,

Today as promised I went for a ride on the Velay Express from Raucoules to Saint Agrève. The journey is about 26 KMS and takes 2 1/4 hours with stops at Tence and Chambron--Mavet.

The train left on time at 1000, the line is best described as tortuous. Many tight curves and very steep gradients. I shudder to think what it is and what it was like in the deep snows of winter. It was a part of the Vivarais system providing a communication lifeline for the rural population.
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Above the train ready for departure. It was well loaded throughout with people joining and leaving at the intermediate stations loaded with their picnic hampers. At each station provision was made for those who may wish to picnic.
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Above arriving at Tence
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This is the altitude of Saint Agrève station - Snowdon is 1085 metres!

If you would like to see more pictures and read more ramblings on, why not have a look at Fannying about in France in the Continental Touring, France section. (Give me a chance to upload it though)

Tomorrow I transit to Lamastre for more trains on Tuesday. Yippee!

Clive
 
suavecarve said:
Went to St malo and pleasantly shocked as my perceptions were totally wrong. Lovely town and walk with great beaches. Staying at lohen just about 1km south of dinan and easy but hilly walk. Aire is free with free water and you've all seen lovely photos of dinan so the one at night is of the view from the van. Parking for 6 but 10 here now. Reckon another 4 could squeeze in if they do it french styleView attachment 246027 View attachment 246028 View attachment 246029
Click to expand...

Interesting to hear about your earlier perceptions of St Malo. It's one of our favourite places to spend a long weekend (We live near Portsmouth and often go there as foot-passengers on the Ferry for the weekend). If you drive through town en-route to somewhere else then you are definitely missing a real treat inside the city walls and the beach below.
 
This weekend we stayed fairly local around Winchester for Mrs Humberto's Birthday. I saw 2 extreme versions of Street Artists at work, a tradional street-artist (actually painting a Winchester street) and "The Mighty Gareth", a Chainsaw Juggler and Sword-Swallower.

Something for everyone in Winchester.

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