More of the same

Reptiles, Wine, Cool beer, Bikes, Good company and great weather...

A small piece of video of the local roads... -->> Click here to watch <<--

Today has returned to what we would like to think is going to be the Norm...
A little work and a little relaxation.

Funny old week as it goes

We have not been quiet as we have had people come and go the 4 Daves dropped in for 2 nights seperated by a night away at the Millau bridge proof that bikers never die they just ride stranger bikes and go a little slower...

Coops and Al made their second appearance in two years they noticed the difference immediately well you would when there was litterately nothing here except us, they slept on lillo's and ate off a plastic table last June, this time around they were amaized at the work we had managed to do is a short time. We are expecting them back again tonight ;)

We had a lone biker from Exeter "Colin" drop in on us one wet day looking for a place to park and dry out.

We have had a reptillian few days now the sune is out and it is nesting/breeding time...

Wendy spotted a snake basking in the sun out by the barn I was amaized to discover it was an ASP Viper very clearly marked and nesting in the garden - well you don't really want a couple or three of those laying around as their bite is fairly poisionous and very painfull. Plus we have Ryan out in a couple of weeks and Mellisa who is pregnant so I just had to get rid, glad I did as it had two eggs it was preparing to lay...

Even after I had exterminated it it continued to bite anything in its proximity for at least 5 mins after I had removed the head from the body...

I have now set about removing any likely places anymore would be tempted to make their nests so any mound with rubble is being excavated and leveled...

Of course there are the more friendly reptiles around the house to be seen scurrying arouns the place.

Ron, Sammy & Leon enjoy a few days relaxation with us...

They arrived on the 2nd slightly damp I met them at the services to ride the rest of the way with them

a bit a a social gathering in the kitchen


and the pool gets some use - even if it is freezin ;)

The lawnmower threw a drive belt so needed replacing 66 euros later
I was compeled to slow down and raise the cutting height

Ditch clearing to prevent the road getting wet and slipery

a beer after a bit of commune work road clearing

Ron discovers an ant hill bigger than him

Wendy over zellious with the washing liquid

we have discovered that a blue tit has nested in one of the breeze blocks we have used for
steps in the garden... this will explain the cats promanading around the house.

They left for the ferry today at 7am

What a blinding long weekend

Well the sun came out for a couple of days but then quickly shrank away and soaked us through again.

Once Simon and family had departed we sorted the house out to receive guests once more. We were expecting 2 couples for 2 nights and possibly one more couple for 1 night.

As it happens the 2 couples arrived in good time a Swedish couple on an FJR complete with a parakeet they had rescued and a Father and Daughter from Barnsley also named Lang and who may well be related.

We were also joined by Pete and Bruce who came for 1 night stayed for 3 nights and departed this morning in the rain for the start of a 3 year journey around the world on two XT trail bikes... Whilst they were here relaxing we became good friends - funny how you gell with some people almost immediately. We convinced them to set up a blog to document their trip and to keep everyone up to date on their travels. it is http://www.pbrtw.blogspot.com/

Last night we were invaded by 8 absolutely soaking Southern Irish bikers on route the the MotoGP in Spain. Really pleasant bunch who were obviously knackered but still bright and cheerful even though they were drenched, Must have been Wendy's fine cooking and some good wine and cold beers.

Tonight we are expecting Leon & Sammy on their Bandit 600 and Ron on our FJ1200 Wendy is well excited...

We are really enjoying the new life we have embarked on even though it is quite hard work and tiering the social aspect is a buzz meeting new people all the time though I wonder how long my liver is going to cope with the constant battering - it must think we are on an extended drinking holiday...

Sods Law

Well after a very wet few days the sun came out today sadly though Simon, Jackie, and Ellen left for the UK oh also Alex went too. I think they had a great time we Know Alex did for sure, after excavating an old house which reputedly was destroyed in an air raid of the area during WWII to quash mounting ressistance against the germans after the DDay landings - he turned up a couple of dozen carbine rounds and some 45 rounds from the cellar area, I am sure if we had left him he would have dug up some weapons too. Maybe worth a look later when there isn't too much to do...

Simon and family did get some good weather whilst here and not being people to missout we all managed a walk round Treignac - Wendy is missing from the photo's only because she was the one with the camera ;)

Alex was the first and only person in the pool (mind you the temp was a mere 60 degrees freezing)

and first in front of the TV!

And once back from our walk not wanting to miss an opportunity I got the tracktor out and cut the back area also giving simon a go on the retirement tracktor ;)

PS poor spelling is a feature of this blog!

We have been pretty busy since the last sign in, delays in posting are largely due to a very dramatic thunder and lightening storm which fried the modem in the desktop PC, so we had to wait for Simon R to come visiting with a replacement.

Since the large group (SEM) departed we have had 3 more visitors to who phoned up on spec one from the UK Pete (Speedy Pete) and one from Belgium Peter (Cochese) joined by Sarah (Simple) so Wendy has been kept busy cooking and cleaning whilst I have had the pleasure of leading a couple of rides to show off the excellent biking roads in the local area. So as we now have visitors coming to us direct from web searches I would say we are becoming a presence and the name Riders Rest is out there.

http://www.whereistonynow.co.uk/france08.htm

I have updated the official B&B website to include visitor feedback which you will see is excellent largely due to Wendy’s cooking and of course the quality of the bunkroom all wrapped together with our easy hospitality and welcome, or it could simply be the wine and beer on tap…

http://ridersrest.eu/guests.aspx

But I think we are getting used to the whole idea, our next guests are due on the 30th May, a couple from Sweden and a Farther and child from the UK both staying 2 nights when they leave we are invaded once more by a group of 8 from Southern Ireland on their way south to watch the MotoGP in Spain, Plus Sammy & Leon, Ron and his Pal turn up for the week, so I think my consumption of wine will carry on at a reasonable pace.

Right now though we have friends staying for a few days, Simon, Jackie, Ellen & Alex –Robinson, who might have thought they had come on a holiday, but we soon had them out working Simon digging out a flat spot with me to erect a pool (Wendy is mega pleased as she wanted one) and Jackie has been doing a spot of planting and pool erecting – Ellen and Alex both able to occupy themselves, Alex the explorer and Ellen the book reader. Today we have let them out for some sight seeing and they have headed south for better weather and to take in Rocamadour and all its splendour.

The weather has been pretty good well it was right up to Simon and family arriving so we are keeping our fingers crossed that the weather changes tomorrow onwards the rain can be a little depressing when you have traveled so far, still the weather in the UK is no better and at least there is a little bit more to do and see plus there is the peace and tranquility of Riders Rest...