Finally! Aubeterre-sur-Dronne

By 11am we had taken to looking outside every few minutes, trying to decide, as the sky is bright, whether the rain was here for good, or those small touches of blue sky were going to materialize into something dryer.

Rain or shine, it doesn't make much difference to us, other than the quality of the photos I take. Rain is rain, and though we have had more than enough this past month, it doesn't stop us going anywhere and though in need of a day off, we decided to make a concerted effort to find Aubeterre-sur-Drone. Yes, that means Aubeterre is ON the Dronne River. AND...said river is flooded again.

Our first mission was to get to Verteillac to Le Calice, the UK owned pub/restaurant where we knew we could get a HOT Café Crème, or Grand Crème (double shot espresso). Polly behind the counter has no voice today, so we didn't chat much with her. Instead, we asked to sit near the Pellet Burner stove, around which a group of people were sitting and conversing. I didn't hear the language to begin with, but we did what is usually done in these parts, and greeted everyone in the place with a cheery 'Bonjour!'. They all answered in kind, as folks do here, and my query of them was "Anglais?". Yes! They all replied. We laughed! English Pub, English patrons, right? Well , not a given as one other patron was French (eating his lunch, post church, across the road) and two other women were Dutch (I asked Polly, who confirmed my suspicions, and said one of them was permanent resident in these parts). The three men further along the bar enjoying a Sunday Beer, were all Anglais too.  So much for mixing with the 'locals'...because so many of the 'locals' are Anglais!

Our coffees in hand, we seated ourselves, did introductions, and one of the crowd happens to be one of our English neighbors here in the Hamlet. I didn't recognize her first up...how embarrassing!

For the most part our company has lived here for a long time. We had much to ask them, and they in turn had much to ask us. It was good to be sharing information between us, and gaining new knowledge in the process. We will keep in touch with some.

Noon quickly turned into 1pm, and Waz happened to make the discovery that Fish and Chips with Mushy Peas was on the menu today! Facing the prospect of al fresca dining at home, we decided to try out the F&C with Mushy Peas. First time ever for both of us, eating mushy peas. It appears to be a staple in the UK. Cant say I will ask for them again. I prefer my peas whole, and the petit pois kind...baby peas. These ones had a slight green/grey hue and were the large variety pea which often tastes a bit floury, if you ask me. Now overcook them, add salt and pepper and smoosh them all up. Voila! Mushy peas.

Mayonnaise and Tartare sauce on the plate instead of ketchup for the delicious chunk fries, although they did present ketchup or more to the point Tomato Sauce, which we kiwis are more familiar with. Ketchup is spicier, generally.

The fish was Cod, and the batter was light and crisp. The chips were perfect. Ask Waz, he is the chips man! He approved whole-heartedly.:)

Our new Anglais friends had now departed for their own lunches at home, and we were left to eat in peace...relatively. Paying our bill (2 grand crème and 2 F&C's came to 29 euros, just to give you an idea. No wonder we eat at home most of the time...but, we were on our way somewhere.

THIS time we were going to make it all the way to Aubeterre-sur-Dronne.  Our GPS lady fired up, we headed out of town down a now familiar route towards Lusignac. We had come this way once before to view a house for sale...which we didn't find, but we did find the pretty town on the top of a ridgeline, with fantastic views down a fairly steep valley. Driving on through Lusignac, and not far down the road we find another village...this time further down into a valley. Our destination was on the Dronne River, of course, and this meant (to us) making our way out of the hills into that valley. We didn't expect what we found, however.
Here are some website photos of the town in summer...mostly. https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=aubeterre+sur+dronne+france&FORM=IARRTH&ufn=aubeterre-sur-dronne+poitou+charentes&stid=fd24aa72-3708-179f-17d1-1ff77599162d&cbn=EntityAnswer&cbi=0&FORM=IARRTH

and this is what we found today...

Another small town, pretty and hilly still, on the way....

 Just on the other side of the town is the walled 'Dead Center' as Waz calls it...The Cemetary. They have expanded this one, as we could see by the new wall on the far side.

 I had instant Gate Envy! Arent they grand!

 Driving along the valley floor under rocky overhangs, the fields alongside the Dronne River were flooded.

 And finally, the town we have sought so many times before, lol.

 And up the hill we went, away from the Dronne and the amazing number of summertime activities available down by the bridge, including a man-made beach! these are popular places in many riverside towns. Kayaking etc are also popular summertime adventures for tourists from all over.

 There are ruins up on the hill to the right. Cant quite see what they are yet....and the rain doesn't let up for one moment for me to take photos outside of the car.

 WOW! This appears to be on private property, but somehow I think they two stairways leading upwards are taking people up to the ruins.

 Im driving, Waz is taking the photos trying not to get rain on the lens. Not possible today.

Here is another website you can take a look at...http://www.aubeterresurdronne.com/en/


Ever upwards on the cobblestone road, past old houses (aren't they all old? lol) ..all the while we are saying to each other..."I bet this place is a zoo in summer" and "Who would want to live here in Summer with the hoards of tourist on your doorstep?". I guess we will find out.

 The entry to the subterranean Church. Most of the buildings backed into the cliff.

 This fountain no doubt operates in Summer only.

 Around that corner...a bit tight, but normal in these parts.

 ...and look what we found! The town square. See that flag??behind the back row of trees...you got it...that's the Mairie!

 I couldn't help thinking that the top floor of this restaurant would have a fantastic view. Up to the left of that, and there is a large parking lot behind this place.

 We stopped, took a look around from the dryness of the car, and then decided that we weren't likely to get out, so just go home. Some pretty sights on the way though.

 Just before we crossed the Dronne River at the bottom of the valley. There is a warning on the right hand side about the trees being inclined...turning outwards.

 The river is flooded.

 Up and over the bridge....just love these rows of tall plane trees.!

 Not far away was a HUGE Maison Bourgeoise, which I didn't manage to photograph...you know how it is when you want to stop and there is a car on your tail? That one!...BUT...after pulling to the side to let the car go past us, I managed to take a photo of the private chapel alongside the road, and behind the wall. As we passed this property, we said simultaneously, "That place needs LOTS of work", lol.

 New slate roof though!

Needing to concentrate on the road for the rest of the way home, and taking the route towards Riberac after some small angst about the possibility of seeing lots more new places on the round about way home, off we went.
Nothing new to show for this road home, but there is just no way you could feel anything but happy, even on a wet day, as you go up and down the hills from Riberac towards our current home. It really is lovely, with gorgeous vistas on either side of the ridgeline road.

A coffee on our return, lighting the fire and Waz taking a nap. He's now creating yet another digital clock. We already have three of them on the dresser opposite me. We will get them to the new house, which will probably have multiple digital flashing clocks...as we did in the apartment, lol.

Bye for now. Dinner will be very ordinary. Soup, anyone?