Brive to VillersB

On the road again, we ended up in Brive as a result of a series of TomTom irritations and so opportunistically sent the BAS at McDonalds whilst Wil & I did a big grocery shop at the adjacent Carrefour. Pleased with ourselves, we decided to head for the rowing lake Jeff was at 3 years ago whilst we were missing him terribly in Brisbane.

We descended into a fairytale French village,Lissac, abundant with flower boxes on pavements,one of many decorating the periphery of Lake du Causs. 

Way off the tourist track on familiar tracks, Jeff pulled us up alongside where the Aussie rowing kids set their boats on the water in 2009. A truly spectacular sunset lit up the castles at either end of the magnificent lake and tiny slate roofed houses poked into the steep green amphitheater of hills, invitingly puffed smoke from their evening fires.

In my parallel life, Jeff & I will have a small farm here with limosin cows, an expansive veggie patch and flower garden and a small surgery in town. 

Of course, we’ll speak the devine language and all those we love will live dotted about the surrounding countryside. We’ll run,walk and ride the surrounding lush hills and share many nights by the fire and in the gentle daylight sun.

22/4 

Punchy start with exhilarating run around lake chasing Wil on his bike. I can’t believe it, he got out of bed at 0800 & sacrificed a morning read!

Jeff in true French style atop cycle,pounded the delightfully undulous lush green hills (bursting with fountains & waterfalls from recent heavy rains) discovering  further castles and cobbled villages. Monstrous plate of fibre,yoghurt and fruit and maths then off we go on a day of driving.

Wil absorbed in his book review and Kel doing spelling.

Stop roadside next to yellow crops ( canola?) for lunch. 

Via Loire Valley, castle spotting. Chateaux Cheverny ( Wil recognises it as backdrop to many TinTin scenes) all gated & fenced up requiring one to pay for a sticky beak. 

Jeff clipped & unimpressed , announces he will NOT deviate off the route to see another chateaux.

~510 km later, we pull up 3 hours from our ANZAC day destination again alongside glorious yellow crops.  A day of spectacular rain, coloured clouds, rainbows, limosin & charolais cows, yellow crops,‘castly’ towns and good conversation.

Eddie night stop

Kids giddy with having had TWO movies.  In a truck stop side of the motorway, sleep punctuated by heavy rain on the roof and truckies growling out past us onto their next leg.