Cycling La Voie Verte

Over 3 weeks ago, the weather was so nice, we decided to make the most of it and put the roof bars on the car and took the bikes out to do something we've been meaning to do for over 3 years, go to Sarlat and cycle the 'Voie Verte', a 25 kilometer cycle way that's on a disused railway track between Sarlat and Cazoules. This is the first time we've cycled for a long time so a 50km round trip was maybe a little too far so we did the whole route over 2 trips.

We were not disappointed, the whole route was so well maintained it was a pleasure to cycle on. Mile upon mile of wonderful scenery, one of the highlights was passing through the beautiful village of Aillac where from the railway bridge you look down one side onto the village rooftops and the other side onto a spur of the Dordogne where local fishermen (and women) were catching fish non stop from the water. If you look closely at the picture below you can see the sun reflecting off some of the fish in the water as there were thousands feeding on the bait that they were being given.

 This is certainly a trip we'll be recommending to our 2014 visitors!

Tree pruning, french style!

I took this picture last week during a visit to Montignac, as is normal at this time of year, all the trees had been pruned of last years growth, leaving a spectacular display of twisted branches caught by the afternoon sun and set against the blue January sky.
Unfortunately since this was taken the weather has changed for the worse, mainly very wet but still not as cold as previous years, still there's still time for that to change also!

Morning exercise.

One of the special things about being in France, for our guests and ourselves, is the early morning walk to the boulangerie  in Le Moustier for the breakfast pastries and bread. There has always been a walking track leading from behind Les Granges into the village but over the last few years it has become obstructed by a fallen tree and consequently became overgrown and impassable.
So before Christmas we went to our Mairie to ask if anything could be done, within a week the path had been cleared of the fallen tree and debris making it possible now for everyone to walk to the village without having to walk on the roadside.

It also now makes it possible to do a 15 minute circular walk along this track then after you've got your bread etc walking back along the river side path, under Le Moustier bridge and back to the front of our property, now that's what I call a lovely start to the day!

Snowdrop time!

Just spotted these in the garden in front of the house, the first of this years snowdrops are very nearly in bloom! Not had time to look at previous posts but I think the mild weather we're having at the moment is having a considerable effect on all the plants, at 16 degrees in the shade, there's no wonder!

Numbers down but not for long!

Still no sign of seasonal weather, looks as though we are slap bang in the middle of the warm gulf stream at the moment, hence the 13 degree temperature outside and it's forecast to get warmer next week after a few storms over this weekend, we'll see!
2013 visitor figures reflect the fact that there were less large group visitors renting the house as compared to 2012, but we had many more visitors, couples and small family groups, in our gites.
Visitors by country of residence were:-
                 2011     2012    2013
Australia       27      35        11
Belgium        -          1         2
Canada        8          2         10
Denmark      -          2         -
England       87      133       116
France         38       19        20
Germany      25       21       11
Greece          -          2        -
Ireland         3          4         6
Netherlands  12         1       9
New Zealand 6          5       2
Philippines     -          5        -
Poland          6          -        -
Portugal        -          3        -
Scotland       4          7        5
Sweden        -           -        5
Swiss            -          1        -
United States 43       25      21
Wales           2          4        2
So bring on 2014, so far the house is already booked for 50% more weeks than last year therefore the figures are set to rise, we once again look forward to welcoming new and returning guests in the coming months.

Sunset on 2013!

A beautiful last sunset of 2013, what a year that was!
After last nights celebrations which we saw in the French new year then an hour later the UK new year (any excuse to double up on the new year toast with champagne!) the first day of 2014 is warm and fine, a good temperature for a new years walk to clear the head.

Philippa and I would like to wish you all a very happy new year, who knows what 2014 may hold, whatever it is, it'll be on the blog!