Friday, 17 June 2022

Harvest is Suspended

Ooops! I forgot to do a blog post for yesterday.

We were working on Wednesday, and Susan took this photo from the front seat of Claudette of a farmer between Chenonceau and Amboise harvesting his barley. It's the first harvesting we have seen this year - slightly early, but not surprising given the heat and dry we have been suffering.


What was surprising is that yesterday morning a notice was issued by the prefecture, forbidding the lighting of fires in the forests, and recommending the suspension the harvest between midday and 5pm for three days in order to reduce the likelihood of fire. It's the first time we can recall having seen such a request.



The temperature on Saturday is forecast to reach 42C, with a real feel somewhere around 50C. Luckily we're not working tomorrow, and Susan has cancelled her botany outing in a former quarry with no shade. This means we can hide in the dark after swimming and attempt to stay half cool.

We are, however, working today.


1 comment:

Jean said...

We have passed a couple of burnt fields on our travels. Fire engines were dealing with one on the way back from Limoges airport on Tuesday and a farmer was ploughing in a whole field of blackened stumps near Chatellerault on Wednesday.
We shall certainly be glad to see the back of this heat wave.
Stay cool!

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