Oct 8th/9th - at St Leon-sur-Vezere we were camping at a municipal campsite which was a different camping experience. It was situated by the river which was lovely, but their was a through-path which made it feel less safe and also less free. Our tents were pitched close to each other and the experience was much less peaceful than the previous site. 














I needed to take time to be quiet so on both days I skipped group activities and went for short walks on my own. On the 8th I explored the village and went a little way out by the river past the small chateau, through a walnut orchard and out to the fields. Not adventurous but nice. 

On the 9th, I woke missing the quiet and comfort of home, and familiar faces. I walked to Sergeac along the other side of the river. It was good to be alone to ponder life while walking, taking in sights and sounds at my own pace. At Sergeac I sat in the churchyard and all I could hear was birdsong, and trees rustling in the breeze. Very lovely. When I walked back my lift to the next campsite had texted to say he'd be late so I was able to wander in a different direction out of St Leon on a small road. And also to take time to photograph some of the meadow flowers and watch the clouded yellow butterflies.

Oct 7th - from the campsite at Thonac we walked to St Leon-sur-Vezere, again beautiful sunshine. The air was still and fresh and the many, many spider's webs sparkling wet from the morning mist. 

After Montignac, most of the travelling group walked to Lascaux 2 to see the cave paintings. The paintings were impressive and beautiful. However, being reproductions, they were trumped for atmosphere later in the holiday by the original paintings and engravings at Font de Gaume and les Combarelles sited further down the river valley.
The visit to Lascaux was followed by a 7 or 8 mile walk through beautiful sun-soaked countryside, small villages and sweet chestnut woodland, following small roads and well marked paths through Brenac and Valojoulx to Thonac, which was close to our first campsite, just as the day was drawing to a close. 

Oct 6th - visited Montignac, the sun was shining, the little streets were quaint and the graffiti gorgeous. I particularly enjoyed the cats who were very busy defending their small territories, observing each other with obvious suspicion.

 

I've just been away in the Vezere valley, Dordogne, for a week. I want to write poetically but my words keep coming out wrong so I'm going to start at the beginning and write it like a diary a bit at a time. 
Oct 4th & 5th - after a fairly epic journey from England, the group arrived at the first campsite and set up the tents and a yurt. We were camping at the top of a grass hill surrounded by trees. Later the sky was bright with stars, static and shooting. I fell asleep listening to owls calling. And woke with doleful church bells, cocks crowing and birdsong, to a drench of autumn dew.