Lest we forget

The village centre at nearby Stubbington was crowded for the Armistice Day ceremony on Sunday to remember all those who served and fought, and those who still do, in defence of our freedom.

Several local Scout and Guide troops marched to square, including the younger members Cubs, Brownies and Beavers.

It was heartening to see some many people joined together in remembrance of all of those to whom we owe our thanks. The sign on the shop in the top picture says it all.

Panorama views

I'm quite taken by the capability of our new Fuji XP camera to use some clever software to take panoramic shots like these.

Hamble

Keyhaven

Langstone

click to view larger images

Stopping for rest

This catamaran sailor looks relaxed taking a rest on the Bramble Bank  in the middle of the Solent at low water springs.

More than a few boats have stopped there unintentionally.

Scoot over to the Isle of Wight

Scoot is a new ferry service between Lymington and Yarmouth at the western end of the Solent. Seen here disembarking passengers at the town quay in Lymington from one of the purpose built craft based on an offshore wind industry work boat hull.

 

What's really exciting is that Scoot will shortly introduce a service from Hamble to Cowes which will make getting over to the Isle of Wight much easier and to make it even better bicycles go free, so perfect for a day touring the island.

The Hamble is due to start before next spring, pretty mush as soon as the new boat is ready. Looking forward to it.

El Camino - Chemin de Saint Jacques de Compostelle

One of the ancient pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela in Northern Spain runs past Aubazine, so we set out to explore the path where it leads to a nearby peak at Puy de Pauliac.

It was very humbling to walk along a path that pilgrims used 1000 years ago and which probably hasn't changed much across all those years, leading through woods which are almost totally chestnut trees, we walked through fallen leaves,  chestnuts crunching beneath our feet.

Occasionally stone cairns marked the route as it rose to higher ground.
 

We were trying to figure out why the pilgrims had bothered to climb to the top of the Puy when they might more easily have followed the contour line and saved the ascent, but when we arrived at the summit it became clear the view was awe inspiring, with views across the surrounding hills of the Limosin, Dordogne, Auvergne and Lot regions.

Erica has been talking about walking the El Camino for some time, we've been trying to figure out how to she can do it around all the other commitments we have.

Outside our comfort zone

Last year Joseph had a go at a tree top adventure course, and finding one about a 20 minute drive from Aubazine we took him along. He wasn't satisfied with mum and dad watching from the ground this year and insisted that we go as a family

Fortunately the limit for a 6 year old was 3 meters, but frankly that was more than enough for Erica and I, especially traversing the tightrope wire which admittedly had a shoulder height wire to hold on to. Joseph on the other had was mostly un-phased although he needed a little encouragement from one of the guides on one especially tricky section, he soon regained his confidence as shown below.

There's a 200 meter zip wire across the late, the tiny white dot at the centre of the picture is Erica arriving at the other side.

Below she launches from what was a very high platform. Having watched her go there was no backing out, so it was up the tree (horrible) clip on, check all was safe and then go, it was great.

The location is called Les Tetes en L'air, we can't speak highly enough about the guys who run it, they were so helpful, friendly and professional - check out our report on TripAdvisor. 

Mushrooms on the mind

You know when you see something and then you notice them everywhere, well so it is, just recently with mushrooms.

There was a welcome pack in the house we're staying in which included a jar of preserved Seps and this amazing specimen, no idea what it is. The nut aperitif  was pretty good as well, but I digress.

The following day walking through the woods we came across lots of these, no idea if they are edible or highly toxic but they look amazing growing on what looks like silver birch.

And these in the wood where we took Joseph for a tree top and zip wire adventure, on the basis that the guys running the place had left them untouched I guessed these are probably not top of the gastronomic list.

Of course it's the time of year for mushrooms which are eaten widely with great variety in France, given the region's forest covered hills there's no shortage in the shops, supermarkets and restaurants, which is the safest and easiest way for us to try some of the more unusual varieties.