The Charente.

Spending a couple of days in the Charente, about an hour north-east of Bordeaux, gave ample opportunity to extract camera from pouch.

Despite the long-unseen fluffy stuff covering the skies, there were opportunities in abundance.

We were there visiting an old college mate Of mine called Dave. Having spent several years at university with him, sometimes in the same house, it is clear to me now where I picked up some of my somewhat dry sense of humour. Dave’s is so dry that he can, to the unwary, come across as a miserable old sod…

That’s him in full laughter mode…

Being something of an ancient mariner, he took us for a trip on his boat on the river Charente

on the banks of which his French property dwells

French departments get their names mostly from the rivers that pass through them. The Charente is large by British standards and, like the rest, flows sleepily and smoothly though the countryside. I bit like the French population really. (That’s not a slur, it’s a compliment.)

We spent a day touring the local sights. Bassac was close by,

with its imposing Abbey.

Enter here all ye sinners…

Having unnecessarily sought redemption, we moved on to Jarnac

the home of Courvoisier Cognac.

Now cleaned up, this beautiful town was once covered in black mould, the ‘Angels Share’ referring to the evaporation of stored cognac that the mould fed on. Signs of it still remain.

This impressive building was where Courvoisier was produced, but manufacturing has moved out of town to even larger premises.

Then back for a bbq in the rain by the Charente once more.

Thanks Dave & Karen for a relaxing couple of days.