Summer holidays (I)

Piet, Mary and Beau drove over to our house in Bassey to join Dorien. It was the last day of her end-of-school holiday with her friends Idil, Mary and Roos. We dropped them off in Grenoble for their long bus ride home. 

In the mean time Beau suffered from stress, probably related to the journey, and showed early signs of colic. We acted quickly, gave him some medicine, and also got the vet over to have a look. After a day he seemed to have settled somewhat and the holidays could begin.

The first week the weather was unstable, and we didn't do much. Dorien had to start working as a waitress, and as it was extremely busy already, she was thrown in in the deep end. The first days were extremely tiring, and she spend many hours sleeping, even between the lunch and evening shifts. Piet and Mary spend most of their time doing short rides, on the bike and horseback.

Piet had to go back to The Hague to go back to the office, and he will be return around the same time as Paula, for some more holiday activities.

Dorien taking orders in restaurant La Romanche

 Mary ready to take Beau out for a ride

Riding in the woods near our house

Returning home 

France

Piet picked Dorien up after her Prom, and after a few hours sleep we drove to France for a relaxing week to recover from a hectic exam period. We had two other 'projects': making the garden and stable ready for Beau's summer stay, and a visit to Paula, who was doing geological fieldwork a few hours south of the house.

After a day of rain we dove south towards Montelimar, and turned east towards Gap. We stopped in St. Pantaleon les Vignes, for a long walk among the vineyards, and the first hills of the pre-Alps. After a stop to stock up on red wine for the summer we continued to La Motte Chalancon, where Paula and her team (Carmen and Kirsten) were camping. Paula has borrowed the car of Mary's dad, and could bring a large bungalow tent, which had been turned in a student house. When we arrived the team had already spend 10 days trying to understand the geology, and enjoyed life in the field. We took them out for dinner, and the next day we joined them in the field. With our background we managed to help them a little bit (at least we think). In the afternoon we left them to it, and walked and drove back to Bassey.
What followed where 3 beautiful summer days, which were spend in the garden (moving and trimming), on the bike (Piet) and even working (Dorien). We left, and are planning to come back quickly: Dorien after a few days with some of her friends, and Piet and Mary after 2 weeks with Beau.

Rousset les Vignes

Hiking near St Pantaleon les Vignes

Walking in the vineyards

View on Rousset les Vignes

Paula making notes in the field

Piet is trying to explain some geology

Lunch in the field: Piet, Dorien, Carmen and Kirsten

Mary is preparing our garden for Beau's arrival