2005, Day Eleven, Limeuil.

Day eleven 4th July

There was one really annoying thing about this site, as it was getting towards the main holiday season and the site was filling up, they started to put tents (lots of tents) on the grassed area between the marked out pitches and the river.  There even seemed to be people who were just sleeping in their cars, this to me spoiled a good site, anyway instead of getting bothered about it we decided we would move on tomorrow, and note never to come back in peak season (not that we were likely to anyway).

Back on the scooter again today for a visit to Le Bugue, we parked up next to a Intermarché by the river and had a walk around town.  Dot saw posters for an aquarium (Aquarium du Périgord Noir) so we set of to find it, it wasn't very big but it was quite enjoyable, there was also a county centre (The Village of Bournat) next door but I didn't fancy it.  There is also a campsite behind these attractions, we didn't get a good look at it but it is central for visiting Le Bugue.

 

Got some provisions from the supermarket before setting off back to the site.  On the way back from Le Bugue we rode up into the hills above Limeuil to checkout another campsite we had seen advertised, looked like a very nice site but it was a bit far out.  We also had a car try to kill us on the way back but anyone with a motorbike/scooter will know this is not a very unusual or infrequent occurrence.

Thought we would pop over to the village for a drink on the night but the bar we sat outside looked like it was closing so we finished our drinks and wandered to the next place and got a good seat.  When the waitress came over, she informed us that they only serve food and had no drinks licence (what), there are one or two other places higher up the hill but that was too far for me, so we just went back to the site and had a drink there by the van watching for bats.

 

2005, Day Nine, Limeuil.

Day nine 2nd July

I don't remember much about this day, except for setting up the satellite dish and sitting outside watching the Live Eight concerts until late into the night.  I think we spent most of the rest of day reading and just generally relaxing by the river.

 

One thing we discovered was that this site is big on recycling and to empty your bin you have to walk over to a place near the site entrance where the only bins are.

2005, Day Eight, Limeuil.

Day eight 1st July

Friday morning decided to venture out on the scooter, we headed to the market at Le Buisson-de-Cadouin (don't remember if we intended to go to the market or if it was just on when we got there) it was only about 3.5 miles (5.5k) but we had only intended to do very short trips with it.  We had a very good look round but I couldn't help worrying about where the scooter was parked as it was on a pavement but I needn't have been bothered as it seems you can park a bike just about anywhere in France.  There is a train station in Le Buisson-de-Cadouin and we did consider a day out on the train but we never did get around to it. 

On the way back we remembered reading about a famous church and a micro brewery just outside Limeuil, on the road to Le Bugue, so we continued on past the village for a look.  The church is the Chapelle Saint-Martin, built in 1194 by Henry II, in atonement of the murder of the archbishop of Canterbury, Saint Thomas Becket.  Built back in the days when Aquitaine was still English (there is not much to see and I am not big on churches, especially small churches).  On the other hand, the micro brewery (Brasserie La Lutine, run by a Dutchman, Han Van Strien, http://www.lalutine.com/), was a different mater and we will be back later with the van, to collect some beer to bring home.  The same beer was for sale in the campsite shop but it was slightly more expensive.

The pool was not being used when we got back to the site so we had a nice cool down after our ride before our evening meal and later a drink at the bar.

 

2005, Day Seven, Limeuil.

Day seven 30^th June

Walked over the two bridges to the village, then just keep walking until we ended up at the top of the village, at the Château and gardens (Jardin Musée de Limeuil).

As we where there, we paid up the entrance fee and had a wander round the garden.  Glorious views over the rivers and valley from the gardens, although it did cloud over for a time in the afternoon, it was still very warm.

  

Now a word of warning, there was a giant redwood tree, so I thought it would be a good idea to stand against it for a photo, to show its size.  Well its not a good idea, the bark comes off and attaches itself very well to your clothes and takes ages to get off.

That night back over the bar for a couple of drinks but this time the it's Dutch couple from the caravan next to us that we get talking to and this time, end up having a few more outside our van with them.  We find out from them that they are not using the showers in the amenity's block, or the one in their caravan but have setup a makeshift shower outside (with canvas round) and are using that.  They do not seem bothered that there are no drains and I think that their other dirty water was just draining onto the ground as well (don't know what they were doing abut the toilet, it doesn't bear thinking about).