The maximum temperature here today 15⁰C, minimum 9⁰C. Dry though 95% rain is forecast!! 12 mm measured this morning. We have now had well over 400mm this year to date. 20km/h South Westerly winds with gusts up to 48 km/h. Rain forecast for the next 7 days!
Our "escape" was a trip to Angouleme and I took a few photos along the way. Most were not very good as we had an ever-changing sky from too dark to white clouds, or, I kept getting a reflection from the windscreen. Whatever, I just thought they would make a change from the garden. We had an appointment at 18h15, so we also had to carry signed certificates because of curfew hours, it would be impossible to get home before 19h00.
There was quite a lot of traffic and trucks en route but I managed mostly to catch empty parts of the road.
Trying to get the road sign to Champnier but not very successful!
We hit a traffic jam nearing the centre of Angouleme. This was taken in St Cybard, Angouleme centre is at the top of the hill.
St Cybard.
The catholic church at St Cybard.
Looking up I suddenly saw this mural painted behind and on the ceiling of one of the balconies.
Still in the traffic, Angouleme ahead on the hill and a pharmacy green sign on the right.
Going up the hill eventually - street lights.
A sharp right dog's leg turn to go higher around a monument.
Angouleme Cathedral undergoing restoration, this has been going on for some years now but all the back part I think is finished, they are now working on the front.
This monument (1897) is in memory of Marie François Sadi Carnot, 5th President of the French Republic.
While I was waiting in the car, looking up I thought this architecture was interesting..
Heading back home in the back streets.
There are several churches in Angouleme and I am not sure which this one is.
More great architecture and flying the flag. Apologies for the blob on the windscreen! I managed to miss it on most photos!
Leaving Angouleme centre, this tunnel is very narrow but there is also a roundabout above which can be used for larger traffic.
Just before the storm which we drove through before arriving home'
Please Note if you follow me by email the old feeder is closing down. I have tried to change servers but for some reason, it is not working! Update: it appears to be working now let me know if there is a problem with adding your address!!
Take care everybody, keep well and stay safe.
Fabulous series of shots capturing your trip Diane, did you get to your appointment on time? I was surprised to see so much traffic on the roads. By the way, I never get tired of your macro shots in your garden, they are a joy to see 🌹 Had my first Covid shot last week, the Astrazeneca, it made me pretty sick, hope the second one doesn't have the same effect 😱 Take care 🎉
ReplyDeleteHi Grace, we always give ourselves about 3/4 of an hour spare when we go to Angouleme. Not because of traffic jams, but because of road closures that have caught us out so often, no diversion instructions and the TomTom keeps saying turn around when possible!!!! This time we in fact sat in the car on arrival reading our kindles for almost 1/2 an hour. Rather be far to early then too late!!
DeleteNigel had his first shot with AZ no problems, but it seems France is stopping it so now we do not know about Nigel's second shot which should be next week!!
Thanks for the comment, have a great weekend, Diane
What lovely place you always visit!! love them ! and I love your pictures.
ReplyDeleteAnd these skies are beautiful!! hugs
Thanks Gloria, skies and especially clouds, always make for good photos.
DeleteI hope that all is well in your part of the world. keep safe Diane
A nice place to visit for a change. You seem to have a wet spring. It has been dry and cold here, until this week. Today the temperature suddenly raised to 20 degrees, so we ran out to have a barbeque :)
ReplyDeleteWe keep saying time for a barbeque but the weather is not on our side. it just keeps raining, the first day it looks good is around the 26th! Thanks for the visit and enjoy your warmer weather. Keep safe, Diane
DeleteHow wonderful to get out and about for a bit. The sky in that last photo is quite dramatic. Love it.
ReplyDeleteIt was nice to get out, but not in that weather and not for an appointment after curfew hours!! Yes I quite like that last shot as well. Hope you are both well, Diane
DeleteDramatic and stormy sky. You managed to get good snapshots to share with us on your drive to Angouleme. Beautiful buildings and monument. Over here, we too need to get permission to cross district borders.
ReplyDeleteI think our distance restriction has been lifted (things keep changing and we tend to just go nowhere) but we have the curfew hours from 7pm to 6am. Also all un-necessary shops are still closed which includes restaurants. Photos with the changing light were very difficult. Stay safe, Diane
DeleteIt was a gloomy day for a visit out of town, Diane. Bright sunshine would have been more in keeping with your mood at being permitted the freedom to travel beyond your own town. I hope that all went well and that you accomplished what that you needed to do there. Perhaps when you next return you will also be able to tarry a little longer and enjoy lunch there. Oh to enjoy those simple pleasures again! Stay well. Best wishes to Nigel. David
ReplyDeleteIt was a gloomy day. Yes the visit went well and no problems, but Angouleme is not a place we ever visit unless we have visitors or appointments. It is a horrible place to drive in. Narrow roads, some so narrow that we have to close the side mirrors in!! Also many one-way roads and TomTom does not always get it right!!!
DeleteWe are really looking forward to a meal out or even a take-away! Simple pleasures may return one day!!
Keep safe and best wishes to you both. Diane
I'm sorry that your min-escape didn't coincide with good weather, Diane, but any escape is good in the current situation, even if it does mean squeezing down narrow streets! I have been to Angoulême, but remember pretty-much nothing about it, other than it being a stop on a special train I hired to run to Bordeaux on one of my Panoramique - Gastronomique railtours. I think we may have had a group lunch there!? Aah - those were the days!
ReplyDeleteMy very best wishes to you both - - - Richard
Hi Richard, I agree any escape is good at present. We were lucky that the rain only came down while we we were in the car and not when we left it to walk elsewhere. There are some good restaurants in Angouleme (when they are open!) but we stay out of the town unless we have a good reason to go there. I love just walking the streets in Angouleme but I need visitors to keep me company as N cannot walk far anymore. Angouleme is the self-proclaimed “Capital of the Comic Strip.” and there are cartoons and murals all over. They change quite often so I am sure there must be many that I have now missed.
DeleteKeep safe and best wishes to you and the family, Diane
I hope the simple pleasures with no curfews come quickly to your region. It will be nice when you can stop along the way to have a meal or buy something in a shop when you are out doing your necessary errands and visits.
ReplyDeleteKaren I feel as if the rest of this year will be a right off. I thought last year that next year would be better but it seems I was wrong then, hopefully now nest year (2022) will be better. We never used to have takeaways (nowhere that close) it would be either out to a meal or nothing, but now I would just be happy to just have a take away! Keep safe Diane
DeleteIt's always good to get away now and then, even if the weather doesn't cooperate. I love the architecture, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being part of 'My Corner of the World' this week!
The weather here now has been foul for what seems like weeks. I suspect fruit this year is going to be expensive as first too much frost and now too much rain!
DeleteKeep well and have a good week Diane
Road trips are the best--even on cloudy days.
ReplyDeleteIt was for us just nice to get away from the house! Keep well Diane
DeleteThank you for showing these pics, I love seeing where you live. Nice.
ReplyDeleteNot often we go anywhere now other than for an appointment, flippin COVID.!! Hope all is well with you Diane
DeleteHi Diane, excellent photography report. Wonderful selection of photos, I especially loved the photos of the Mural and the street lights.
ReplyDeleteTake care and all the best
I was lucky to see that mural as it was only visible by looking up and not that obvious from the car.
DeleteHope you are keeping well, Diane
How very interesting. I enjoyed the photos on your journey. All the best to you and keep in good health :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Denise, it would have been better if we could just enjoy the town without having to worry about lockdown and curfews! Keep safe Diane
DeleteI enjoyed all your photos and travelling vicariously with you. I'm surprised you are getting so much rain but then again it seems to be raining everywhere. We were supposed to get rain all week but it didn't happen. As usual though I think we will get rain this weekend which is a long weekend. It never fails that we get rain though I think last year it didn't rain. Have a good weekend.
ReplyDeletePenny the rain is just ridiculous, the fruit on the trees got hammered by late frosts and now, what was left, is splitting and getting marked by the continual rain. Keep safe Diane
DeleteHi Diane - yes ... thank you a different view of life ... I love the nature and avian, insect photos you give us - but this was interesting to see. That mural is so interesting ... people who can create art like that are so clever. Rain is still around ... I 'm hoping for a dry day tomorrow - when I'm being taken to see Standen, the Arts and Craft House. It's slowed growth down ... giving us a long Spring - but the extra light has brought so much on, despite the cold. Cheers to you both - Hilary
ReplyDeletePS - I'm going to try the email ... and then I need to know how you did it - or what site I need to use ... thank you! I'll check back in ...
It was good to have a trip out but it was all rushed with the late appointment and then having to get home with certificates because we after curfew hours. It was only 7pm then, it has since been lifted to 9pm. I hope the email works as I updated it today so I hope I have not lost you!! I could not get the emails already on feedburner, after getting frustrated I gave up! I used https://follow.it/blog/ now it is on the bird blog as well.
DeleteHope all is well and that you enjoyed Staden. Summer must arrive soon!!! Diane
Gosh. I would love a mini escape. We've been stuck in the city for months.
ReplyDelete