Gite Nature—First Full Day

COVID Waning

Gabriel came over this morning to visit and discuss taking a hike and having his family come over for refreshments later today. He was unconcerned about COVID, because we'd be sitting outside in our courtyard and, like us, they've all been vaccinated.

The good news is that Marie hasn't had a fever now for 24 hours and is feeling better. In fact, she soldiered on during an 8.5 mile hike up behind our Gite through overgrown paths and meadows and through a wooded path down to the trail that parallels the railway and Loire River back to our accommodations. 

It was 80 today, so all of us were sweaty and tired afterward. We cooled down under the covered courtyard and then Gabriel jumped on his bike and headed home and we took showers and had a rest.

Around 7PM Gabriel, Cathy (his wife), Alia (19), Ysee (17), and Nils (10) arrived with nibblies and cool drinks and we added our snacks for a picnic and visit. This was our first time meeting Cathy and the children and this just doesn't seem possible. We shared stories and inquired about Alia and Ysee's academic plans. I couldn't tell if Nils understood much of the conversation in English yet, but he'll be studying English more in middle school and I suspect, over the next two or so years, he'll be joining in the conversation. Two hours flew by. Tomorrow we'll continue our visit at their house over lunch outside.

Gabriel and his family, like his brother's spouses and children, are so easy going, open, and friendly it feels like only a few days since our last visit. We seem to catch up quickly and carry on where we left off in person five years ago or from a recent email.

The hike behind Gite Nature.

There is no trail, but Gabriel assures us it's this way.

Looking across the Loire River from the trail.

Philippe and his dog Romeo bushwhack their
way to a lookout.

Marie is in the weeds but she's smiling!

Romeo cools off in the tall grass in the shade. Their
job done, Philippe and Romeo head back down to
Gite Nature. 

We take moment to enjoy this shady lookout over
the Loire River.

 

Refreshed we continue up and across the meadow.

Chateau de La Droitiere, 19th century former sanatorium, now a park.

Eventually, we find our way down a wooded path that
joins the tow path that parallels the rail lines.

Tunnel under the railway to the trail that leads to  

the Atlantic if you turn right and to our place and 

beyond to the left.

The Loire River up close while walking the tow 

path. I should mention here that the tow path was

used for hundreds of years to pull flat bottom barges

filled with goods up the river to Angers and Tours.

Go right to Mauves where Gabriel lives
or left to Le Cellier where we are.

After a shower and rest, Gabriel brought his family

to our place (Gite Nature) where we had a little nosh

and visit under our covered courtyard/games area. [Alia (19),

Marie, me, Cathy, Ysee (17), and Nils (10)].

Alia, Marie, Gabriel, Cathy, Ysee, and Nils. Unbelievably,
we were meeting Gabriel's family for the first time. It 
doesn't seem possible after all these years, but the last
time we saw Gabriel was 13 years ago. He was working
in Brest and commuting part time to Nantes where is family
lived. He met us at the brothers' shared summer house at
at Quiberon. Cathy and the kids were in Nantes so we didn't
see them then, because Gabriel had to drive back to Brest.
Even now, we are grateful he gave up a weekend with his then
young family to visit us.