We started with a few days to settle into the house, greet neighbours and attend the odd village dinner.
The big news of course is not our arrival in France but rather that of father and son setting off on a canoe trip of a childhood (if not a lifetime). For those who are not up to speed, they are canoeing the Dordogne river from Argentat (the last of the hydro-electric dams) to Libourne (just before it gets too busy near Bordeaux). It should take about 2 1/2 weeks. Both of them are documenting it with notes and photos, as the plan is to further research and write it up as a book this winter.
A wide-bottomed (i.e. super stable) canoe was purchased on-line and collected on the day of the family's arrival. In fact, it made its appearance at Bordeaux's train station on the roof of our car, where Monsieur M. picked up the 5 duffle bags, a collection of other smaller bags and his mum.
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| Never say no to a caleche ride! |
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| Taking a break from unpacking |
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| There's the "year will go by in a blink of an eye" migration craft in its new home |
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| We always have something for Gramps to do |
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| relaxing on my grandparents' old bench from Kent |
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| relaxing in even finer style! |
The big news of course is not our arrival in France but rather that of father and son setting off on a canoe trip of a childhood (if not a lifetime). For those who are not up to speed, they are canoeing the Dordogne river from Argentat (the last of the hydro-electric dams) to Libourne (just before it gets too busy near Bordeaux). It should take about 2 1/2 weeks. Both of them are documenting it with notes and photos, as the plan is to further research and write it up as a book this winter.
A wide-bottomed (i.e. super stable) canoe was purchased on-line and collected on the day of the family's arrival. In fact, it made its appearance at Bordeaux's train station on the roof of our car, where Monsieur M. picked up the 5 duffle bags, a collection of other smaller bags and his mum.
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| carrying the canoe down the little alley in front of our house |
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| loading it onto the car in front of the village's most iconic house |
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| tightening the straps |
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| We will be checking that muscle at the mid-way and end points |
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| Ready for the launch |
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| and 2 1/2 weeks of each other's company |
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| The NB liquor bag is a classy touch |
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| The canoe loaded and ready to be off |
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| and off they went... |
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| Another view of the old tanneries at Argentat where the trip started |
They are about 1/3 of the way along and so far so good - no boredom (Dad's concern for son); no allergic attacks (Mum's fear for trip); no capsizing the canoe (Seb's worry for trip).
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