Doulcon...and back

24th April 2015 - a bright, warm afternoon.  We are able to take advantage of what may be the last sunny day this week, as rain is forecast from very early tomorrow morning until mid-afternoon on Monday, and head for the riverside at Doulcon.  We find a bench with the Ballastières behind us and the small riverside properties at Dun-sur-Meuse opposite the River Meuse.

 sojourn

in warm Spring sunshine -
a bench by the River Meuse;
at my feet grass,
scattered with buttercups,
daisies, dandelions, mustard flowers;
above, birdsong fills the air
while, nearer to the ground,
bumble-bees hum busily;
one disappears near my feet into a small,
deep hole - a nest or resting place perhaps;
ducks glide lazily on the water
as a man on the opposite bank
switches off his motor-mower
satisfied that his and his neighbours’
verges are tidy once more.

their bungalows are appealing
I say “I’d like to live there.”
“Not in winter you wouldn’t.”
came the reply.

I dream on…

The church clock chimes 4 and we head for home, stopping at Haraumont to take photos of the fontaine trough and the nearby lavoir. 

These cows must be shy - they ducked their heads as I clicked!

The church is up the hill...

...and, opposite the lavoir, white "candles" glow on a chestnut tree...

We head across farmland towards the sun-dappled forest...

...to...

The wash-house there is under the Mairie...

 
...adjacent to the war memorial...

...and opposite a glorious pink-blossomed cherry tree...

It was a lovely way to spend three hours and we return home happy, relaxed and enjoy a glass of chilled rosé.