There is such a thing as being TOO efficient!

Lots to report, today.

Yes, there IS such a thing as being TOO efficient. Had we known this beforehand, we wouldn't have gone there, but as the saying goes, "You live and learn". A pity that we always seem to learn the hard way.
Having said that, all is not lost! What the heck am I referring to?
Strike action by the SNCF Railways personnel, of which the fast train, the TGV, is the main rail transport being affected by the strike.
Of course we had ticket  - very carefully planned tickets, I might add... to take us from Angouleme, our local TGV station, to CDG Paris Airport. This is a great way to travel under normal circumstances. That the French Rail Union (or whatever they are called) chose to strike 3 days on, three days off, on the very days that we want to travel, is just bah humbug...and very expensive too!

We have spent the better part of the past week trying to find a way around this strike action, but most unsuccessfully. We have definite deadlines to meet in our travel arrangement from now onwards and we only have a 3 day grace period in which to make any alternative arrangements.

Trying to find inexpensive flights to Paris from Bordeaux has been a nightmare. Hellooooo!!! $600 each! EACH! for a one hour and five minute flight! hmm....gouging?
Then there was the attempt to find flights from Bordeaux (one way) to Zurich/Frankfurt/Amsterdam etc back to Jacksonville, but they started at $2,200 and rose through $8,000 for economy! Nice!

So, here we are, doing what Waz had already found as the least expensive option: Drive!
We will pick up a One Way rental vehicle at Bordeaux Airport, and drive through to CDG/Paris on the Sunday. I refuse to drive through or around Paris on the Autoroutes or the Peripherique (the Paris ring road) on a week day! Looks like we will avoid those roads, says Waz. He has been studying the maps! Good thing. I just drive and do as Im told:)

This is potentially a 6-8 hour drive, including stops for loo and food/drink. Positive thoughts on this one folks, and NO RAIN PLEASE!

Speaking of rain....and Trucks! LOTS of trucks. You have never seen soooo many trucks! In the rain! Trucks are not fun on a fine day, but in the rain they are the absolute pits!

Yesterday, Tuesday, we had a rendez-vous with our friends from Provence, who are in Bordeaux visiting their children/grandchildren. It was wet from start to finish, but this didnt dampen the pleasure we felt at seeing them again after 14 years... I hadn't seen them for that length of time. Waz was meeting them for the first time.

We joined the N10 AutoRoute not far from the house sit, and stayed on that for about 85 kms, heading towards Bordeaux. We stopped at the agreed upon rendez-vous point, a lovely restaurant next to the train station, as luck would have it.
We enjoyed both the catch-up and the food, of course:)

The other three had the Lamb Tagine with Couscous, and I enjoyed the Risotto.  The Café Gourmandise for dessert was excellent. This little 'tasting' selection of desserts is always a good idea. It is accompanied by an espresso.

As it was our hosts 'day off' from Grand Parenting duties (think school shuttles!) they invited us to take a short journey to Bourg, a small town on the  River that they had visited before. As always, these places have history to spare and unique places of interest. Armed with our umbrellas (Parapluie), having parked alongside the river, we made our way to Le Lavoir. This is where the women of the town would gather to wash the clothes. You have to read the explanation...the English is at the bottom of the sign!

 But I am getting ahead of myself, a weeny bit!

Some of the town is on the flat (river front) and some is on the hill above. We obviously have to go UP there:)

 Not a great day for yachting, eh? That river runs very swiftly, obviously tidal!

 Just outside the Lavoir we disturbed the ducks! They had been having a wee swim in the 'pond'.

 One way to get light inside a dark place!

And....once inside...

This place is so much bigger than you think it might be. You can just picture the women in here, washing in one basin, and rinsing in the other, chattering away:)


Obviously, when you come across a scene such as this, you HAVE to go and see where those stairs go!(below)

The steps were so worn in places that they actually tipped downhill! Not too much fun on a wet and slippery day. They were steep too!

 Part of the Ramparts/town wall.

 This archway! WOW!

 You can see how steep this was to climb.

 This entry to the town on the hill is known as  the Porte de la Goutiniere. It was the site of the town's drainage system, from the middle ages through the 19th century.  I hope you can read the rest of the story. It doesn't sound very 'savory', to be honest.

 I chose to walk up the ramp, as did the others. Yes, that was steep too!

 The store with the lamp in the window (blue surrounds) was the site of another memorable visit!...later!:)

 Continuing around to the right we found  Les Halles...the undercover Marketplace.

 Yet another portal...and going dowwwwnnnn.

Next up...inside the church...

 LOVE these doors and their hinges. Some construction going on in the area of the Organ, which was missing a couple of pipes. I always like to look at the flagstones in these old churches. I think I have said this before....Imagine all the feet that has walked those stones! The stained glass windows were particularly good and the colors in them so clear.

 Again, read the English at the bottom of the sign.

 I have to say that the gargoyles were pretty underwhelming. I am partial to the ones that stick way out from the roof, thereby keeping the water well away from the base stones of the church. They are decorative spouting! really!

 Next up...The Citadel, which sits high above the river, and overlooking it and the town ramparts. I imagine the gardens look lovely in summer. A bit sodden today.

 It is very low rise, but rather pretty in it's symmetry. It looks like it is now used as a Salle de Fete. There is a catering kitchen on the left side.

 Look at all those new red leaves on the small bush frames perfectly by the stone portal :)

 Part of the town Ramparts, overlooking the wide river.

 The bell tower of another church. This one has a little more romantic form than the other.

 I love grand entrances. Does this one qualify?

 Exit the Citadel, and make our way up the road further. I had spied a ruin that needed inspection. This was to be the last of the discoveries, as there was a cuppa to be had, somewhere.
I hope you can read the French!

 It isnt a large building, now, but by the look of the large hinges on the top end of the building, it had huge gates. Perhaps they closed over one of the entries to the town! Alongside, were the ramparts.

 There appears to be a round tower...see it??

 Those hinges I talked about!

 Remember I pointed out the dark blue building with the lamp in the window?
This Salon de The was delightful, and a most welcome chance to sit and chat and enjoy a Chocolat Maison.

 The Lamp!

 You dont quite expect such a modern interior inside such an old façade.

 These cups are lovely...very sculptural. The Chocolat Chaud was excellent!

Much fortified, and having warmed up and dried out somewhat, we made our way back down the steep steps to the car, and back to the restaurant parking lot where we left our vehicle.

Our wonderful hosts spoke slow French/Franglais for and with us, and as happened in 2004 when I last saw them, the language instruction was valuable, if exhausting for all of us:)  We look forward to seeing them again, and probably visiting them in Provence, with much pleasure.
They went on their way back to the Grandkids and we made our way back to the house sit.

Back to the trucks!
The first half of the journey it rained heavily, but the rain didnt slow the truck traffic down. They were wall to wall most of the way home. Many times they were so close together, and often overtaking on the two lane Autoroute, that there was no way a car was going to get in between them. They are supposed to travel at 90 on the 110 kph (for vehicles less than 3.5tons) Autoroute, but I clocked several, when I passed them, doing at least 105kph. Scary in the wet! Travel is supposed to be 10kph less in the rain!

This made for very stressful driving, of course. Truck traffic on the N10 is heavy at the best of times. We pass trucks from Spain, Netherlands, Germany, and other northern European countries. The N10 is one of the main North/South routes through France. It is the route we will take most of the way to Paris, a week from now.

Back to that efficiency thang!

While at the restaurant, our hosts offered to help us get a refund on our TGV tickets. Their help was gratefully accepted, and a refund was done in no time at all.
We should NOT have done the refund BEFORE  calling the travel insurance company and asking them about how to proceed with the refund/new travel arrangements. However, they did tell us to send in any receipts for new travel, to claim a refund which would be 'considered'! Hmm...doesn't sound promising, so this is why we aren't booking those $600 (each) plane tickets...just in case there is NO reimbursement for that 'Disruption to Travel'.
I guess we will see a bit more of the country! Like I said...positive thoughts for rain-free travel!!

Night night!