Babbling brooks and buttercups

dating back to the thirteenth century, the huge tower attributed possibly to the Knights Templar

"What are you writing about today?"

"Babbling brooks and buttercups?"

"For heaven’s sake woman ..."

It was an effort this morning to squeeze into the lycra and it would have been so easy to give the cycling a miss but once we got going it was great.  We cycled down Donkey Valley (down is always better than up) and it was a real pleasure pedalling alongside the babbling brook and seeing all the buttercups and cowslips.  We both glanced across the coypu field not really expecting to see anything but screeched to a stop when we saw Daddy Coypu bouncing across the meadow towards the river.  I know they are considered a pest but it was good to see last year’s family still in residence.

We cycled past Le Chateau de Sermet,  just visible high above the road through the trees.  In the height of summer it is totally obscured by the trees and you wouldn’t know it was there.  The chateau is privately owned but has an interesting history and was linked to a local French Resistance movement during the war.  I'm sure Cro will know more about this place than me.

We climbed the hill into the bastide town of Villefranche and stopped for a rest opposite the Mairie.  The town was busy today with people casting their vote for the French elections.  It’s anyone’s guess who will replace Monsieur Hollande.

Back home and a lazy Sunday pottering around the garden, eating, drinking and reading.  The good life.