Château Marquis de Vauban, Blaye (day 2)

Our second day at the Château Marquis de Vauban. 

Today with temperatures due to peak at 41c we decided to walk out early, taking the path alongside the river Gironde to the town.

This is the Gironde where the German U Boats would have travelled from the U Boat pens in Bordeaux to the Atlantic during the second world war. We visited those pens in a previous blog.

The route passed through the citadel where a horse jumping event was taking place. With the heat building the horses well groomed coats glistened.

After each horse was ridden around the short course it was hosed down. We thought of the donkeys and horses in Morocco who toiled all day, and were left to graze on bare ground amongst the rubbish. How they would have loved to be cooled down like this.

A river cruise boat sat on its mooring, some of the visitors, mostly Americans had disembarked to take a look around Blaye. The fair is in town, which masked the true identity of the town.

 Coffee and pain chocolates at a popular cafe our Sunday morning treat. But the cost! We'd become used to coffee, tea and pain chocolates in Morocco for less than four pounds, sometimes less. Back at the chateau, after a busy night many of the vans began to drift away. We originally were only staying one night, but with the intense heat, and being in no rush, we thought we should stay for another.

So a lazy afternoon of reading and showering, using our pressurised lifesaver jerry can, before the day crept into evening. It's strange how on days when you do very little, they seem to pass by quickly. A bit like life. Don't spend too much time planning for the future, live for the day. Tomorrow is not guaranteed!

Château Marquis de Vauban, Blaye

However tired you are, one thing is guaranteed during the summer months, and that is you will wake up early, and if you're lucky, some mornings you'll get to witness an absolutely stunning sunrise of vibrant orange, as we did this morning. 

With no need to rush, we are driving less, stopping at familiar places.

By lunchtime we were back at Chateau Marquis de Vauban at Blaye.

Ten pounds a night which includes a free bottle of the estate wine. What's not to like?  And as a bonus some new sculptures have appeared since our last visit.

We are now in Bordeaux country. The countryside green with grapevines as far as the eye can see.

 Arriving at the chateau early we were able to bag a great spot in the shade. We've booked for one night, but already think we'll probably stay another, especially as the temperature tomorrow will be 40c. We also think Marge deserves a rest. The last time we spent two days anywhere was at the end of our visit to Morocco. We've been driving everyday, sometimes for many hours in uncomfortable heat. Time to slow down we think!

Meilhan-sur-Garonne, Lieu dit Au Jardin, France

There's something about driving through the French countryside. Picturesque villages, warm, inviting, rustic. And this morning that exactly described our drive. Sunflowers, sweet corn, beans, growing on sunbaked earth.

When would it rain again! We haven't seen any significant rain since our first day in France, over seven weeks ago. We are heading towards the coast, hoping despite the heat, the air might feel fresher. Not wanting to drive too far we made for a former campsite, now a campervan park right beside the canal Garonne. Once again we were in former cycling territory.

The last time we passed the campsite there were just two campers on it. Now it's a paid area, there were around thirty. Because of the intense heat we've not been able to walk out as much as we would have liked. But this evening once the sun was down we walked alongside the canal, aware that the sky above was darkening.

Then the trees began to sway, shedding leaves that fell fast into the still waters of the canal. It won't come too much, we thought. Well, it did.

Thunder, lighting, rain. How long have we waited? How long did the parched earth have to wait? The torrents of falling water made us think of the wildfires burning in Spain and France, hopefully some of this deluge would pass their way. Just over a week ago we were on a campsite at Los Gallardos. A few days ago the site was evacuated because of smoke drifting across from a large wildfire close by. Crazy to think we'd been in the area not that long ago. Well Marge, we're nearing the end of our trip, at least you get a good old clean after days of driving dusty roads. Tomorrow we will be back to normal. Temperatures touching 40c, and wall to wall sunshine!