Gnome-Trek: Episode 7. Into the Plague: Chapter 4

Europe, the Final Frontier. 

These are the voyages of the Flying-Brick ‘Gnome’. Alternatively, it's a bloody camper van...

Chapter 4: Lacave Part 1

My mission: Espresso...

We had arrived at our first overnight stop. Our first opportunity to try out our newly upgraded starship campervan. Yes; we had heating that actually warmed the van without bursting our eardrums during the small hours of the night. Yes; we had solar panels that could recharge our on-board quantum energy system (batteries). Yes; I had parked under a sodding tree so that the solar panels were pretty much useless. 

But the most important thing, above all others, was the new espresso machine. This was run from a newly installed converter. It's very clever. It converts electricity to ... electricity.

Espresso. Coffee for those non-europeans amongst you (and that, of course, now includes us Brits). It is the liquor of life. It is the energy that maintains our soul. It stimulates and arouses. Thankfully, it tastes pretty damn good too.

Talking of souls, we had parked under the watchful gaze of the Chateau de Belcastel, (not, it should be noticed, that of the same name near Rodez). 

This is an absolutely classic example of how the local populace was (and still is) controlled by the rich and the powerful. This stunning castle (now a private residence) was built suspended 55 metres above the river below, making fishing somewhat awkward and diving a one-off event. 

First, build your castle on a nearly unassailable mountain top. Then, higher still, build the real suppressor of the masses, a church. 

There must be a better way... 

Let me think...