Day 2. Tuesday 9^th May 2017

The morning was bright, clear and sunny but not sufficiently warm for breakfast  on the terrace. Today mike had asked Angie if she could arrange a visit to Les Geants du Ciel. http://www.geantsduciel.com/ at Chavigny. This was some ninety minutes away. With Tom driving and questions being fired at him the time passed quickly and we parked just outside the ruined castle walls.

Peter and Jill at the castle.

A short walk up the hill and someone suggested a coffee. It was now pretty close to lunch time and so Angie suggested a restaurant in one of the old medieval buildings sat on top of this rocky fortress. Alas, the builders were in. However, she had a backup plan. Another restaurant not far from where we had parked the car. This proved to be a gem. It seemed far too small to even hold us six. There were already customers sat within having lunch. We were shown up a few steps and into a room at the back, very bright with paintings adorning the wall. We passed a very large terrace that had the wind not been blowing we would have sat on.

All apart from Mike went for the a la carte. A few beers, a carafe of vin and the meal was over. What to our untrained eye looked like a mere bar had provided us with a very good meal at very reasonable cost. “I’ll remember this for my next visit” said Angie. Looking at me with a smile.

"Only a small dessert for me!"

This visit to see the “Giants of the sky” was one of her standard visits for visitors to her. This was her 6^th visit. I believe she could have stood in for the presenters should one fall ill or off the battlements!

It may not be Magners Cider but it will suffice.

We returned by 1745 hrs. No sooner had we settled down to drinks on the terrace than Angie appeared with a selection of cakes and gateaux. It was such a lovely evening that we four decided upon a small walk about. Angie had suggested we not wander far as dinner would soon be ready. “How long do we have?” asked Mike. “An hour.” she replied holding me for a second or two with her gaze. She knows how much I love the local paths through the woods. Jackie and I have spent many hours exploring, with barely a soul to say “Bonjour” too.  The Sentier du La Buis is the local commune’s footpath and is sponsored and maintained by them. It runs around the various hamlets for some 12 or so miles. We took one of the shorter ones and were back within the hour for pre -dinner drinks.

Turn in by 2215hrs.