Maximum temperature today 8C, minimum -4C. Dry, but total rain since 1 Jan is now 279 mm; 13 km/h North Easterly winds with up to 29 km/h gusts.
Winter trees but the ivy remains green!
as above.
Driving through Pont d'Agris.
Logging.
Arrival at the mill.
The river Argence runs both sides of the mill, this is near the entrance...
and on the other side...
with the sluice gates.
The water wheel...
as above. The wheel is 4.55 metres (14'11") in diameter and 0.77 (2'6")metres in width. It also generates electricity.
Inside walnuts being manually cracked to remove the kernels...
The mill wheel inside...
the stone wheel that crushes the walnut kernels...
The wheel in action crushing the kernels,,,
the crushed kernels are then heated here, there is a fire burning underneath...
and here they are extracting the oil into the bucket. We were allowed to taste the warm oil and it was delicious.
We did not see this machine in action but we wonder if this is what cracks the shells mechanically rather than manual labour with a hammer!
Here are some very short videos of the machinery in action. With our slow connection it took some time to down load them so I hope they help to give you some idea of the what is going on...
The stone crushing the kernels as they are tipped in. The lady was telling the child to get back as he was getting too close!!!
As above.
For those that have been following our trip to Nevis the 4 and final part of our holiday is HERE.
