Walking From Maire

The 12 kilometre walk on Thursday 14 April from Mairé nearly killed us. Four slogging hills in the route and temperatures in the mid-twenties. In the end Simon totally conked out with just a couple of kilometres of downhill to go. He could have made it back for himself after a little rest, but Joel and Jean-Jacques made the decision to go fetch a car and pick him up at the nearest road. I had to text Christiane to tell her I would be late for the refugee support meeting.

The view looking back to Mairé from halfway up hill number one.

Spring Cinquefoil Potentilla tabernaemontani (Fr. Potentille de Neumann).

The grand semi-circular entrance to the 19th century Chateau de Rocreuse, hidden away in the forest.

European Beech Fagus sylvatica (Fr. Hêtre) (left) and Sessile Oak Quercus petraea (Fr. Chêne à trochets) (right) growing side by side on a trackside bank.

Beech leaves, demonstrating the mnemonic Dominique P taught me the week before -- le hêtre a des poils, le charme a des dents (beech has hairs, hornbeam has teeth).

Buildings in a hamlet.

The so-called Pierre du sacrifice, a big rock on the steep hillside associated with a fanciful story of Druidic human sacrifice. More likely is that it was being quarried but abandoned mid-task, hence the various cavities and slots in it. Not for draining blood at all...

Early Spider Orchid Ophrys sphegodes (Fr. Ophrys araignée).

This puddle formed by heavy vehicle ruts was full of juvenile Smooth Newts.

Le Gros Chillou (pronounced 'luh groh she-oo', as pointed out by Dominque when I inadvertedly pronounced it as 'luh groh sheel-oo'. I do know better, but sometimes one just forgets.) I've no idea if it's a prehistoric pile of stones or a modern one.