OUR LAST DAY IN GASCONY

Do you have my size?

Just what I was looking for

Learning about Armagnac at the Ladeveze chai

With Becky's book

  Hard at work at Fources...

...and the results of our first watercolour session.

Tomorrow it's off to the Basque country.

WONDERFUL DAYS IN THE BASQUE COUNTRY

The Hotel Lastiry in the Basque Country.

This was our base in SW France.

Here we are in Spain at the start of a short stage on El Camino.

Team shot at the Chateau Abaddia on the Corniche Basque Atlantic Coast.

Waiting for La Rhune (ratchet train) for a closer look at the clouds.

Walking the walls at St Jean Pied-de-Port.

Shooting the photographer.

This is where the barman fancied Tula (but definitely not her All Blacks cap).

Lunch in Biarritz

And, the last word.

MORE OF WHAT WE GET UP TO

Lots of wine tastings

Lots of restaurants - here we are at Sarlat.

In the kitchen of the castle

A picnic lunch

Same picnic - another table

While we were picnicking, we were joined by some kids on the see-saw

With the 3 Musketeers & D'Artagnan in Condom

At the Continental Hotel in Condom

 Another shot of Le Festival Bistro at Sarlat

The view from the Chateau de Beynac - looking towards the enemy across the river 

Looking down at the lower classes from our castle 

Guess who bought a new hat?

VISIT TO CHATEAU DU TERTRE IN THE GIRONDE

 Everyone knows there's lots to learn about wine. Fortunately we found someone who was able to impart some of the secrets of oenology to visitors. We were on a day trip to a famous wine producing chateau near Bordeaux: Chateau du Tertre, which is in the famous Margaux region.

So here's where we started. In amongst the huge stainless steel receptacles where the grapes go for an early stage of the production.

Wine making is a long and complex process, and here we are in a room full of barrels where the wine's kept in oak barrels for over a year.

And this is why we're here. It's the most important part. Tasting what we've been learning all about.

This is what we tasted : Chateau du Tertre 2008, Grand Cru Classe, Margaux.

Team shot outside the Chateau.

Aperos outside the Orangerie where we had lunch.

Our private meal from the one end of the table.

And a shot from the other end.

Here's the menu:

Scallop salad

Chicken Picatta with potatoes gratin and vegetables.

Cheeses

Homemade chocolate cake and coffee

All accompanied by Chateau du Tertre wines.

Unfortunately all good lunches come to an end. Here we are leaving the chateau at about 4.00 pm.

(It's important to take meals seriously in France - and this always takes a long time.) 

Now it's home for evening aperos and dinner at the Mill.

A FRENCH FLING - 8 - 16 JUNE

The front runners are here!

A quick look round the Mill until the others arrive.

We meet the second minibus at the 

brocante at Fources. 

This photo is especially for Becky Blades.

Tula and Lynne deciding what to buy at a linen stall.

Mike and Lynn trying to decide whether that thingamajig will fit into their hand baggage.

Mary, Peggy and Kathy looking for something they just can't live without.

 Kathy and Peggy seem to be at the point of deciding...

Eating and drinking are quite important in this part of Gascony.

Here we are at our first evening meal at the Mill.

We're off to the Bordeaux winelands for a sumptuous lunch at the Orangerie at the Chateau de Tertre.

More pics soon - come back tomorrow to see how we're all faring.