Although we planned an early start none of us get moving very quickly this morning. Ali and Grete pop across to Leclerc for a few things then we drive there to refuel at €1.18. There is another surprise when we get cash from an ATM @ €1.23 [Trump has just pulled out of 2015 Paris climate agreement] so fuel down, euro up, nice work Donald!
We have a 30 mile ride to another place we visited last year, Chantier Guedelon, where a medieval castle is being built from scratch.
Work has obviously progressed in the past 8 months; a tower has been completed with crenellations and the treadmill serving it is being dismantled. We are also pleased to find different workshops are active. Today we see the dyers [teintures] boiling fabric in blue woad dye, the clay tile men [tuilieres] hand making clay floor tiles and the woodmen using an adze to cut straight, square logs and the carpenters chiselling joints. The vegetable garden is growing and we see chickens and sheep in pens. There are so many aspects of this amazing project, no single visit will do it justice.
After a visit of the courtyard Ali and NickW tour some of the castle rooms and galleries.
One bit we completely missed last year was the water mill, accessed by a beautiful cool 500m walk through protected woodland. The mill is due to run in 10 minutes so we wait with the growing crowd until one of the resident craftsmen calls for attention to demonstrate. From his French discourse we gather that the mill is seldom run for long periods to conserve water. At the current level of use it will grind only enough flour for one baguette per day!
Thrilled that our second visit has included so much new, we drive the 8 miles to the free aire at St Fargeau.
Grete cooks fat-boy breakfast for supper and while we're enjoying it the sky darkens and turns to thunder and torrential rain. A double rainbow forms over the car park then it brightens again.
A good day.