Steve and Viv Wayfarer Greek Odyssey

Friday 27 September

We fancied visiting a small town called Domme just down river from where we had been staying and turned off as directed but missed the sign saying height restrictions until too late to turn. We drove up a really steep hill with some tight hairpin bends, until we met the town wall and an arched entry that was too low and a bit narrow for us. Unfortunately we had to turn around and drive all the way back down again.

Arrived early at Villefranche du Perigord on a Chestnut farm (Fermier du Chataigne) and after parking the van cycled the 5 miles back into the village to explore and look around a Cep market that had just started there. Looks like all the locals had been out collecting mushrooms in the woods and were selling them in baskets of about three and half kilos a time for between 10-15 euros.

Got back to the farm where Camille and Serge the farmers showed us around and explained everything then gave us a tasting session. We tried local chestnut honey, chestnut paste, jams, cakes and bread, flour and liquors. They showed us the mill they use to grind the chestnuts to make flour that is gluten free and the various machines to collect, sort, shell, sort the chaff out and dry them. It was really interesting and with the help of another French couple who tried to interpret at times we seemed to follow it all.

The following morning Serge showed us how they are treating canker and infection on some trees and explained how he uses small wasps to fight parasite infections.

We constantly appreciate how much more of the country side we have seen and the people we have met and places we have stayed via France Passion and would recommend it to anyone wanting to get into the more rural areas of France. On the whole they have all been very welcoming and friendly and willing to spend time showing us around and explain things with a real passion for what they are doing. By visiting the farms we have been right into the minor roads and backwoods and sometimes hardly see anyone else on the roads for hours.