The weather is starting to turn favourably: you could almost consider shorts and thongs, but I won’t. 

The day’s full excursion into the Normandie Region was to be a big one. Leaving in a south-westerly direction towards a couple of locales between Connelles and the Normandy coast. We had deduced that the Seine River causes a somewhat logistical barrier for our travels. You have to get across it. this means a somewhat northerly or southerly skirt along the river banks, preferably staying on the Rue that offer the opportunity to do so, until you reach a bridge. The river channel can be huge: but our crossing is at a little village some 8 kilometres away, Andé . A small bridge allows us to cross the river: we were to often cross this bridge to be greeted with large heavily laden barges motoring along the aquatic highway. 

Across the bridge and into another small and quaint village, Saint-Pierre-du-Vauvray. The village has a rather unique street where the drainage channel in the road, “snakes” its way down the small incline. Fred doesn’t like me following this winding channel, especially given that the width of the road and the associated parked cars, don’t give you much room to play.

Still, I didn’t find it a bother, just do what the French do, occupy the road, turn on the flashing blinkers and then do your own thing !! As long as you know what you’re doing then French traffic rules seem to suggest that it’s alright. I guess would be stuck with this little by-play on this by-pass, by-the-way !!

While on things “driving”, I find the road signage here in France very good, when they point in the correct direction. I am starting to get used to these now; essentially, they do not point accurately. many may look to point to the (say) left. all this sign tells you is that you are currently heading in the correct direction and stay on the current road: that is, no need to turn (say), left. “Oh, la, la”.

My other motoring gripe, is the frequency of speed limit signage. With very little exaggeration (I know you were not even considering this), you can move along a short distance and have 4 or 5 speed limit changes. I think I will recommend to my eldest grandson, Rylee, that when he leaves school to migrate to France and start up a speed sign business. Should he need an apprentice, he can sign up his grandmother.

Travelling through the countryside, we noticed the short distances between towns / villages. While in the countryside, you still have a significant residential component with the commensurate speed limit changes. I found driving today very tiring: constant monitoring of speeds and changing gears. Our Renault is easy to drive, but so many things to contend with. Still, my strong driving and perception skills keep me in good stead. Well, that’s my view. 

Onto the day’s activities. Our navigational skills were somewhat put off when we came across “route barre” sign. Need to deviate: Fred picked up on this very quickly. “You have have any trouble doing this: deviation is your specialty”. Not sure whether this was a rap or not. 

But true to her word, we were able to overcome this slight hiccup. Onto the village of Harcourt some 35 kilometres further on. From a farming perspective, the area seems to be into extensive farming with wheat and canola the major activities. Little if any other activity; I was able to glean that Normandie is regarded as France’s “bread basket”. Strong need for wheat, as it is the first task that the French attend to each day. Very typical to see people walking around with a baguette: custom and practise without a doubt.

Harcourt seems to be typical of the French Normandie scene. Centred around a large Chateau with the nearby villages supplying the labour: not so much now, but in the earlier years of the French struggles to gain their current identity.

Chateau Harcourt was built somewhere in the vicinity of 1593. Typically the Maison is surrounded by the feudal moat and fences with draw bridges to gain access to the actual “dwelling”. This was a a rather impressive building. It is now owned by the French Government and currently being restored: this latter concept French suggested I should investigate. I reminded that I had retired: her response was “exactly”.  

I think I am missing something here !!

Surrounding the Chateau was an extensive arboretum with tress that have been dated back to the early 1500s. Some of the Seqouia trees were massive structures. You could get lost just walking around them !!

From here we moved to Le-Bec-Hellouin: centred around a Benedictine Monastery, dating back to the early 1500s. Like many other older buildings, these have had to be restored from damage during the World Wars and / or the French Revolution. A particularly impressive place: surrounded by a very small village. One of those which we have all seen when sitting watching the La Tour de France. Indeed, Bec-Hellouin was one of those for the 2018 Tour. This we found out whilst visiting here. I must admit however, that driving to the village, I did get those images and feelings that this would be good “tour’ territory. Not only from the topography etc, but because we came across so many people cycling. dressed up in the professional gear nonetheless. 

Fred was craving for a crepe: so a short stop at the local Salon de the Crepie, L’Archange. Here a little more linguistic skill required to order “deux Americano et Crepe Contfiture goiselles”. I assured Fred that she was getting “kiwi fruit” in her crepe. Obviously, the crepe maker got confused and finally brought out a strawberry one !! France must suffer the same labour issue as in Australie. Can’t get good labour: I think Fred thought that  it must have been me.

A good country road trip back to Connelles: managing to get off the road as the bigger vehicles arrive. Driving so far hasn’t been too much of a problem.

Our residence has a “happy hour” and the other Aussies seem to make an effort to congregate at the bar: so we tend to tag along. By now we have formed some quite strong bonds we a few couples and swap travel stories. Giving and receiving travel tips.

Dinner in our room 112: using some of the local produce purchased in the past few days. Yes or course, Fred insists on the process of cork extraction from the few bottles that made it into our shopping baskets.

The last competition didn’t seem to be embraced greatly by the multitude. By the time of writing, only one entrant, daughter Jonelle. She needs to be severely chastised as there only appeared to be a response for the first question: no real attempt at answering the trios questions set. Now this has caused some personnel distress, as I now recall reading the odd school report of Jonelle and noting that there was the occasional comment of “tending to rush her work”, “needs to concentrate more on her work and stop looking it of the classroom window and watching the boys with football practice” etc. Both Fred and I thought that we had addressed this some many summers ago. “Perhaps you didn’t stress to her just how important her schoolwork is / was ?”, remarked Fred. 

A mortal comment, that struck me in the breast like a poisoned arrow, piercing one’s heart with excruciating pain causing the left and right ventricles to malfunction (did I pinch that from Shakespeare ?). Perhaps for mere mortals, a deadly blow: while for others, not much more than a superficial wound.

Need for remediation; perhaps not just now, though. After all, she is a married woman with 3 children. Perhaps Fred could just remind her ? Yes, some maternal input is what that is required at this point. Need to put a reminder in her Outlook calendar: or even start up a Facebook “PM” (I think that means private message ?).

So given that her response seemed to be on track, the judges have awarded her the prize. The opportunity to wash up the plates that were used. Not a bad “give” when you think about it, coming all this way to France to wash up. She won’t have to “dry up”, as Fred often tells me to do this, even when there are no dishes on the sink !! We could even be out driving when this is said: perplexing: perhaps she was projecting ?