WALKING TOUR.
Monday June 12 .
We decided to walk upstream from the town along the tow path beside the canal.
The scenery was beautiful with lush grasses and spring flowers everywhere. They are regularly tended by council workers who replant and water them when necessary. We stopped to watch as baskets and men were hoisted up in a cherry-picker to the strong brackets above our heads. They made adjustments to the hoses which deliver water to the baskets when needed. The beautiful flowers are a feature in almost all the towns and villages in Brittany.
As we came back into the town we noticed the wood piled into the fork of a tree and behind the home. There didn't seem to be the same amount of wood as saw stacked everywhere in Slovenia though.
We ended our walk in a small bar/restaurant on the canal and ordered the set menu and drinks to reward ourselves for our efforts!
Little did we realise how hugely delicious it would be for a very moderate price of €12 each. Three courses, then cheeses with drinks included and the raspberries came from the bushes behind us in the garden.
Tuesday June 13.
We enjoyed the walking tour so much we decided to hire bikes and ride the next day.
Only electric bikes were available ( luckily we thought!!!), so we paid our €17 for a half day and peddled off along the river, downstream with our packed lunch.
The tow path was completely flat and easy to ride so it was no hardship to cover a fair distance.
We stopped often to look at the locks, birds, buildings and beautiful trees and an Englishman capturing the beauty on canvas.
There were a few fishermen along the banks of the canal using incredibly long poles (no attached reels) which I hadn't seen since I was a child.
We stopped to eat our baguettes stuffed with meat, salad and the pumpkin seeds which Herta gave us. Some of us dangled our legs over the lock wall while a younger person had a snooze in the sun!
It was a very relaxing last day for all of us and our last with dear friends Libby and Eric who fly home to Darwin tomorrow. Bon voyage!
Mohon Village.
Our gite, more than 300 years old, was a very comfortable home with three levels with exposed beams, sloping floors and low ceilings.
Our exchange hosts Alan and Philippa were next door and on the far left of the building was another small unit which they rented or exchanged as well.
Council Chambers.
On one of our walks Glenn and I saw the caravans, a man fishing and a woman hanging washing so we said hello and they invited us onto their land They were an English couple who were setting up a carp farm for sport fishing and planned to live in France. They had been successful in getting their daughter into a primary school which was essential, and they we very pleased as they considered the French school system superior to the English. They told us they paid €14,000 for a habitable house which amazed us but after talking to our exchangees, we realised that the French are happy to sell to the English who will then renovate old farm houses and they sell them very cheaply.
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