New day, new challenges

Having slept well, it was lovely to wake up gently with no need to jump up in answer to a long 'to do' list. In fact lying there for a while and slowly hearing more and more voices join the general sound was interesting.

Breakfast was spread out on the large table that we'd only vacated a few hours before and what a feast, just the thing to get you started especially when a climb was in store.

Yes, we were heading off walking and our first destination was the top of Mont Saint Cyr, visible behind the house in the courtyard and the highest point in the area.

Just before the off, gathered on the steps outside Les Cesiers

 Out the gate and up the road to the left and then left again on the junction soon taking off on a path on the left soft and grassy beneath our feet. We were all hot already and taking off top layers to let the air and sunshine at our skin.

Not surprisingly we were climbing but fairly gently so still able t hold a conversation and to stop and look back admiring the views in all directions. Our first proper stop was in a flattened clearing not that far from the top and close to the car park for those not wanting to walk. What a wonderful day.

A notice board gave information about the commmune with a map and a number of things you might do. Our goal though was to get to the top.

Gemma, Marina and Geraldine are the first to get to the very top

Marina, Kathy and Gemma

The view down to Montmelard

 With fabulous views and sunshine, this was a great place for a break and although this group are nearly impossible to keep quiet we managed 2.5 minutes of complete and utter silence! It was so blissful.

The wonderful EEG prove they made it to the top.

As is often the case the going down was harder. We were on a different path, narrower and uneven so concentration required but as it was steeper it was fairly rapid and brought us out onto a road leading into Montmelard which we'd viewed from above.

The area around Montmelard is sometimes called “The Mâconnais’ Little Switzerland” because of the small, green mountains that stand there, such as the Mont Saint-Cyr (771m) which we'd just been to the top of. The region lies at the crossroads of the Mâconnais, the Beaujolais and the Burgundy Wines Road.

 This is the church in Montmelard, worth a look inside, cool and calm.

Back in the UK, this would have been coffee time but this is rural France so it was with great disappointment that we walked the entire length of the village and there was nowhere to have refreshment. So we had no option than to walk on and continue our circle.

The first hint of autumn, squashes and pumpkins

The next part of the walk kept us on roads for a while as you can see, although not very busy ones. The fruit trees along the way were laden with apples and pears and there were a number of people out and around their houses and farms and there were also a number of dogs.

As you can see from the photo, there's one about middle left and this dog decided to accompany us the rest of the way round and back to Janice's. We tried to get him to go home on a number of occasions but no luck and it took over 24 hours before he was reunited with his owners.

We did overshoot a little on this walk, though I'm not 100% where so we came back out near t the foot of the hill to Montmelard, not as planned but at least not too far away from home. It was uphill though and by this time we were about an hour later than planned, most of us had run out of water, there was nowhere to fill up and poor Geraldine had taken a tumble although it was mainly superficial cuts which healed quickly.

Lunch was a welcome sight. cheese, meats and fresh bread and then a n afternoon of relaxation. Some people were having massages, some of us were learning archery and the rest were enjoying the sunshine.

Aim and fire Chris.

Mark shows Lindsey what to do regarding holding the bow.

I also tried archery and what a great opportunity to step out of my comfort zone. I have to admit to being very nervous but Mark soon put me at ease, he's a very patient and thorough instructor clearly very safety conscious. Although I nearly scored a bullseye with my first attempt - have a look at the photo, Mark supported me through the meltdown that followed. I was really shaky after my first go and it took a while to start doing things right again so that by the end of the session I was finding the target fairly regularly.

Lindsey had to go one better of course!! Yes, that's a bulls eye. She was consistently good as was Gemma who tried it after her massage.

The Bulls Eye Queen

I'm sure she's done this before.

Paula dozes in the dappled shade

Chris tries out the pool.

 People were coming away from the massages all stating that this was the best massage they'd ever had so I started to wish that I'd not been so generous and gone for one too but c'est la vie. I think it's true to say they were all floating.

Tea and cakes in the orchard around 4.00 and dinner with wine in the evening and much. much more laughter. A complete day at Les Ceresiers was a wonderful success.