Two Go For Cheese

[DBK]

We woke surrounded by mist and it was still hanging around when I took Charlie for his walk.

I posted an edited and enhanced version of the shot above in the Photo of the Day thread earlier today but on reflection I think the original is better. Judge for yourself, this is the result after my fiddling!

This oak was covered in large acorns which were falling to the ground as we walked under it. Charlie thought someone was throwing things at him.

Closer up.

After visiting a Lidl for supplies we set off, another lake was our target for today and a fairly big one too.

Which is here on a larger scale.

The Lac de St Cyr takes its name from the nearest village but there are a lot of places in France which share this name. Apparently, it comes from a child saint of the 4th century who had a strong following in France.

Saint-Cyr - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The first thing we saw as we approached the lake, which was created by sand or gravel extraction I think, were these notices.

But angling was still allowed and there were at least a dozen tents around the lake.

Many had rubber boats which puzzled me. My best guess is they use them to distribute groundbait to attract the carp. Most of the "campers" had several buckets of bait.

France has an amazing amount of mistletoe. From the aire we can see a a large dead tree which is covered with dead mistletoe, possibly a victim of the drought, but this tree seemed to be holding on.

However, you can see some dead mistletoe on another tree in the lower right and the tree in the foreground doesn't have many leaves. However, the mistletoe was covered in green unripe berries. I wonder if like the oak and its numerous acorns the plants are responding to the stress of the drought?

There was only one MH on the aire when we arrived and they had this sign outside.

He came round this evening and handed out free maps of the CCP aires. Its all in their app of course but it never does any harm to have a paper map.


Another move tomorrow to somewhere by the Loire.

 

[Lizbiebrowne]

Hydrogen is the cheapest gas to use by a long way compared to helium but it costs about £300+ to get set up to use hydrogen which is why I haven't gone that way for my infrequent launches. Helium is just easier and cheaper for small scale stuff.

Helium is a little safer than hydrogen as well. Although it makes a hydrogen balloon even more interesting if you also add half an equivalent volume of oxygen and then stab it with a cigarette end or red hot wire. The noise of the energy released as the water is formed is quite something.

 

[scousebird]

Many years ago we witnessed a young lady being rescued from the water at Lac de Saint Cyr. She got into trouble in the middle of the lake just as it was going dusk. Luckily she was ok.

 

[DBK]

Many years ago we witnessed a young lady being rescued from the water at Lac de Saint Cyr. She got into trouble in the middle of the lake just as it was going dusk. Luckily she was ok.

I saw what looked like a lifeguard station but I suspect it is only manned in the summer.

 

[Reallyretired]

A now deceased uncle of mine was an explosives engineer working for the copper mines at Ndola (pretty close to Kitwe). Many happy childhood memories of lunches and swims at the club in Ndola, when visiting him.
My Ingwe is Xhosa (and other African languages) for leopard. Loved seeing them in the wild in SA.

A small world. My cousin was a metallurgist at the Zambian copper mines. Then moved on to aluminium processing on the Shannon. Now regrettably deceased.

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[Reallyretired]

Around 1955 I bought a yellow box kite in an ali tube from Arthur Sallis's surplus store in Brighton. They were originally packed in RAF dinghies for ditched to aircrew to fly their aerials. I also bought the 'portable' No 38 Tx/Rx with its separate huge 90v and 6v leaky waxed cardboard zinc-carbon battery that was designed to complement it, although a hand-cranked SOS Morse transmitter was also used..
It never worked well on a decent mains power supply unit in my dry bedroom so goodness knows if they ever worked in a soggy liferaft after being dropped from 1000ft.

View attachment 670452

Takes me back to my teens when a high point of a visit to Brighton was Arthur Sallis's emporium. Also the several junk shops in that area which had amazing stuff. Now antique shops, same stock but much more expensive.

 

[Spriddler]

Takes me back to my teens when a high point of a visit to Brighton was Arthur Sallis's emporium. Also the several junk shops in that area which had amazing stuff. Now antique shops, same stock but much more expensive.

Yes, it was an Alladin's Cave for us lads on a Saturday morning. Stuffed with ex MOD stuff and smelled of Blanco'd webbing and oil.
Almost next door in the same Meeting House Lane was Arthur Mullett's aeromodeller shop, another regular haunt of mine, which smelled of model engine ether fuel.
As you say, it's all antiques and trendy tat shops now.

Apologies. I've just realised that I've wandered from the topic.

 

[chaser]

You are roughly following us up, if you are still looking in at our thread, we have been on two free Aires this last two days, worth a look if you are interested.

 

[DBK]

Yes, it was an Alladin's Cave for us lads on a Saturday morning. Stuffed with ex MOD stuff and smelled of Blanco'd webbing and oil.
Almost next door in the same Meeting House Lane was Arthur Mullett's aeromodeller shop, another regular haunt of mine, which smelled of model engine ether fuel.
As you say, it's all antiques and trendy tat shops now.

View attachment 671681

Apologies. I've just realised that I've wandered from the topic.

No apologies necessary, I love thread drift, how else would I have been reminded of those old model engines? I remember the Mills 1.3cc which I think had the carburettor at the rear? The last one I bought was a PAW diesel which was very powerful. Sadly, I never had the funds to try R/C.

 

[DBK]

You are roughly following us up, if you are still looking in at our thread, we have been on two free Aires this last two days, worth a look if you are interested.

I've seen your posts, for which many thanks but you are going north east now and we are drifting north west, heading for Roscoff.

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[Spriddler]

No apologies necessary, I love thread drift, how else would I have been reminded of those old model engines? I remember the Mills 1.3cc which I think had the carburettor at the rear? The last one I bought was a PAW diesel which was very powerful. Sadly, I never had the funds to try R/C.

I couldn't afford R/C either and had several engines, spending most of many a Sunday afternoon up on the South Downs struggling to start the things before having to run miles to get the ruddy plane back.
A powerful memory is the lovely twittering song of hundreds of invisible skylarks high up almost out of sight. Sadly, I never hear any nowadays when walking the same area.

 

[Barti Ddu]

The only Munsters I know are in Germany.

The town of Munster is in the Vosges area of France, and their local cheese is even available in Aldi.

To be honest, I wasn't that impressed. However Aldi's Chaource is superb. We're on our third pack in as many weeks.

 

[DBK]

The town of Munster is in the Vosges area of France, and their local cheese is even available in Aldi.

View attachment 671703View attachment 671704

To be honest, I wasn't that impressed. However Aldi's Chaource is superb. We're on our third pack in as many weeks.

Thanks, I'll have a look for some Chaource.

 

[DBK]

There was a place I wanted to visit close to the aire where we stayed last night.

The 3m high Menhir de Pierrefitte which is beside a tumulus or burial mound.

There was a curious and I suspect non-native pine growing here.

Curious because of the upward pointing cones.

After a drive through almost continual drizzle this morning we've reached the Loire and are going to spend the next two nights on the CCP aire in Saumur.

The aire is on an island and very close to the town as the crow flies but it is probably close to a couple of kilometres on foot! We will know tomorrow when we give it a go in the morning.

This satellite view of the map above must have been taken recently as it shows the low water level in the river.

I think there is a bit more water now after the recent rains.

In the bigger picture we are now not far from Brittany.

This aire is one of those which is a bit depressing when it's wet. Ideal in the heat but sitting under dripping trees isn't good for moral. When we arrived we ended up on a dark pitch but soon afterwards someone left and we quickly bagged their better spot which had better views.

There is a large and very busy Flower campsite next door which has a new for me accommodation option - garden sheds!

But great fun for youngsters I'm sure. The covered eating area has fairy lights under the roof.

Unexpectedly, because I hadn't looked at the map properly the end of the Island is joined to the bank by a causeway beside the railway bridge.

We did a loop in the afternoon around this end of the island which gave us some good views of Saumur and the château.

We will visit tomorrow.

 

[Spriddler]

I like Saumur, the troglodyte caves and for an undemanding yet interesting hour or so out of the rain, the unlikely sounding Mushroom Museum.

Le Musée du Champignon à Saumur, champignons exposés en troglodyte

Visite du Musée du Champignon en Anjou dans le Maine-et-Loire (49). Parcourez nos galeries troglodytes luxuriantes de champignons en tout genre.

www.musee-du-champignon.com

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[Skez]

After a drive through almost continual drizzle this morning we've reached the Loire and are going to spend the next two nights on the CCP aire in Saumur.

We're a couple kms west of you at a P4N stop on the river. Exploring Saumur tomorrow so will keep an eye out for you. Hopefully better weather for looking around the city!!

 

[Barti Ddu]

We stayed at the CCP Aire in Saumur almost exactly a year ago. Luckily we were blessed with better weather. It's a lovely town.

 

[Mark and Mindy]

We spent a night at that aire 2 years ago, Mark wanted to visit the Military Museum while I elected to stay in the van. have a coffee and read my Kindle because my feelings are that when you've seen one tank you've seen them all!

Saumur Armored Museum: the history of the tank

Official site of the museum of the armored vehicles of Saumur. Come visit more 15 showrooms, more than 800 tanks and vehicles from the 1 World War to today.

www.museedesblindes.fr

 

[Lenny HB]

I'm getting suffering with your thread John, 'er indoors is on a low cholesterol diet I'm suffering, I love cheese.
Sod it I'm going to get some cheese & bickies.

 

[DBK]

I'm getting suffering with your thread John, 'er indoors is on a low cholesterol diet I'm suffering, I love cheese.
Sod I'm going to get some cheese & bickies.

Melted goat's cheese on a salad for lunch today. Mrs HB could have eaten around the cheese and left it for you to finish off so you got double helpings.

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[Lenny HB]

Melted goat's cheese on a salad for lunch today. Mrs HB could have eaten around the cheese and left it for you to finish off so you got double helpings.

View attachment 672166

Good job its only a picture can't eat goats cheese my tongue goes into orbit.

 

[DBK]

Good job its only a picture can't eat goats cheese my tongue goes into orbit.

This one was very mild.

 

[Orion]

…….. my feelings are that when you've seen one tank you've seen them all!

Not just tanks there though!

 

[Riverbankannie]

Love Saumur, we have often stayed in the Best Western Adagio shown on the map. In July the river is normally as shown. We go in MGs to the Retro car event at the nearby village Le Puy-Notre-Dame. Last time there we took a visit around the French Cavalry stables Cadre Noir de Saumur

 

[DBK]

We walked over the bridge to Saumur this morning.

The centre of Saumur has some attractive spots and plenty of restaurants if you want to eat out.

It takes about 30 minutes to reach the château. On the way are some curious buildings.

The first glimpses of the château. It is possible to go in but the interior is mostly 19th century from what I read so not our thing.

Some random shots.

Views from the ramparts.

I liked this bench just below the château. Given the mistletoe is it a bench for kissing?

After our walk we took the 'van to the services to discover the cassette emptying point was blocked and overflowing. Not a pretty sight on a Sunday morning so we drove 3km to the other CCP aire here in Saumur.

It's a much quieter aire but is plagued by tiny flies which are a bit like large midges. They don't bite but are irritating. The river views are almost a compensation.

But the familiar warning signs are present.

Here's a curio. French wine (bought in France) with a screw top!

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[Skez]

Nice to bump into you this morning DBK !

We dodged the showers to explore Saumur - an attractive town, but - Note to self, No matter how many times we've visited France, remember that everything is closed on Sunday!!

Enjoy the remainder of your trip.

 

[DBK]

Nice to bump into you this morning DBK !

We dodged the showers to explore Saumur - an attractive town, but - Note to self, No matter how many times we've visited France, remember that everything is closed on Sunday!!

Enjoy the remainder of your trip.

Nice to meet you too!

 

[KiwiKampers]

The river in Saumur looks very low.
Are you a cathedral/church snob DBK? Do they have to be pre-19th century for you to consider looking at them?

 

[DBK]

The river in Saumur looks very low.
Are you a cathedral/church snob DBK? Do they have to be pre-19th century for you to consider looking at them?

Good point! I've visited places before which are full of 19th century stuff and find it boring. Old paintings and furnishings which are relatively recent compared to the age of the building can make the interior look like a second hand furniture shop.

 

[DBK]

The aire we were on last night is about 3km upstream from the one in the city and was a much quieter place as you might expect. But it suffers from flies, or to be more exact some sort of gnat. Millions of them appeared when it got dark. We had a window open but fortunately had the fly screen up. Once we spotted them we quickly closed the window but this was the state of the net this morning.

Fortunately, a gentle brushing removed them. But the service point was another matter!

That grey/brown sludge are their corpses. Attracted to a light I think but they were easily washed away with my hose.

But I was almost tempted to brave the flies and stay another night because a field close by was full of tiny mushrooms. Too small to harvest, they were just peeking through the soil but in another 24 hours they would probably have been perfect. I think the rain and warmth has kick-started them into action.

This sign on a tree stump was intriguing.

Beware of bee stings!

And we have now officially completed a circle because we returned to Le Pertre where we stayed at the end of August.

Post #37 on this page describes our stay so I won't describe the place again.

Two Go For Cheese

Looking forward to news from you and Charlie.

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

I'm now going to sit down with the map and work out where to go next. We have 10 days left in France.

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