The beautiful inn was owned by Mike Rideout and Fritz Kisby and their brochure said, "Between the mountains and the sea we have made our home in this historic residence called 'Domaine de la Carrére' dating from the 17th century. It has been lived in by nobles, merchants, and traders and was built during the reign of Louis XIV le Grand or le Roi-Soleil--the Sun King. We will make you welcome, but at the same time will respect your privacy. We have just five en-suite bedrooms for guests in the whole of this property." Our hosts were so gracious and charming. Please let me move into this luxurious hotel.
Dinner did not disappoint. To our right was a lovely French couple and to our left was a German man--quite fit at 80. We started with a beautiful salad of shrimp in a crystal goblet. Our main course was a most excellent chicken cacciatore and dessert was a classic French chocolate mousse. And as always, an abundance of good wine and good bread.
My views today were green and mountainy. I made one wrong turn which costs me several miles (Boo!) before I found my "way". Just what I didn't want to do--add miles to an already long day. Just as I began with the arrow prayers, I heard a weed-whacker. This nice man pointed me back to the way I had come and said "2 kilometers." which of course added 4 kilometers to the total distance. As the day progressed, I crossed three mountains for a total of 21.3 miles. Mega-hard day.
There is some serious training to made a bush grow like this.
One of the many grand houses that I passed today.
There always seems to be a river.
The variety of markers and sometimes the cleverness of the same markers never fails to amuse me.
Another B & B. Look at the cute fake windows on the side of it.
Such unusual irises. There are just so many beautiful flowers here.
Always glad to see a church along the route.
Although the church had some beautiful stained glass windows what really spoke to me was when I turned around and saw this balcony. The highly polished wood was exquisite.
Miracle of miracles. At about the 12-mile mark, a bar---that was open--and had Coca-Cola Zero.
It misted all day. Not enough to really get soaked but enough to make you wear rain-gear. The dreaded rain gear. It is either wet on the outside or wet on the inside. Rain gear is like wearing one of those plastic fat suits of the 1960s where if you exercised, you would lose weight. And then the minute you drank water it all came back. And at the top of the mountains, it was cold and windy.
Love the mules!
Another beautiful stone house sitting high up in the mountains.
with flowers galore.
You can see for yourself how overcast and dreary the day turned out to be.
This is not a hydrangea but some type of bush with individual blossoms gathered together into a ball.
I got into town and couldn't find the hotel. I can tell you that we do a much better job of marking the streets. It is kind of the country adage that why do we need to tell you that it is Main Street or Oak Street. Everybody knows what it is. I finally found our hotel and was able to rest my barking dogs!
So, I hope your day was easier and just as filled with beauty as mine. Kisses!
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