The lake at Nozay is a big watersports centre with a gantry and wire for teleskiing, where skiers are towed along on the overhead wires. In the lake there are ramps and jumps and pontoons. The whole area is noisy this morning as bits of equipment are moved around by boat, and park maintenence men operate all sorts of machinery in preparation for the Easter weekend.
Yesterday at the service point we had trouble with our hose connection so when we leave we take a short diversion to Bricomarche to get replacements. Bargain, buy two get one, free so we have all three sizes for less than €5.00
The motorway is quite busy around Nantes as usual, but soon we cross the Loire are heading south through the vineyards of the region. At ths time of year most of the vines are short and bare but a few have started to sprout.
After a lunch stop near Vallet we divert into Montfaucon-Montigne for fuel. It’s a beautiful little village with a small river and roundabouts decorated with wooden clogs.
From here the land changes to the rolling plains of the Charente, no vines, but young, bright green cereal crops, cream coloured cattle and lots of sheep.
Towns and houses are now pale cream with orange tiling.
It’s bright sunshine most of the way and when we leave the motorway at Bressiure the gauge briefly hits double figures.
A few miles on an arrow straight road to Parthenay then we slip off into countryside and the little village of La Peyratte. Half a mile of single track brings us to La Balade des Autruches.
As we turn into the farmyard we see the ostriches striding around the field or dipping their heads to the ground.
Ali checks in to our first France Passion of this trip and is told the English speaking host will return at 17:30
We spend the late afternoon enjoying the bright sunshine watching the behaviour of these huge birds. At times four or five of them walk around line astern in perfect step. Others gallop, heads bobbing to and fro but mostly they peck the ground raising their heads every 7 or 8 pecks to swallow.
Ali returns to the shop and buys a couple of jars of pate at 17:30. The owner arrives 10 minutes later and comes to the van. She invites us to come and see the birds properly in the morning when the males are more likely to show their pomp, and she tells us some of the birds are named after Star Wars characters, with the biggest black male being Darth Vadar.
The sun shines brightly through the evening until sunset.
After the cold and snow can we finally dream that spring may be here?