Pleasant weekend outings.

The damp. grey skies have gone to be replaced by warmer autumn weather although accompanied by an east wind.  At least that is pushing back any rain from the west.

On Saturday, 10th October 2015 we take a drive through Réville-aux-Bois and up through the forests - Bois d’Ecury and Bois de la Grande Montagne - which are now showing their autumn colours. Then down to Sivry-sur-Meuse.  We drive past the church then take a turning on the left we haven’t explored before and are very pleasantly surprised by a widening of the River Meuse here and a picnic area.  We take a short stroll but I am concerned that the wind, which is quite brisk here today, may wake up my currently dormant condition of TN - trigeminal neuralgia - so do not stay.  But we earmark the spot to return another time.

Some of the picnic tables need repair but the area is edged with hedges and trees.

To the left of the picnic area a boat is moored at the top of this widening part of the river.

To the right, outlying village houses.

Downstream, the river narrows on the right.

To the left meadows towards the village...

...and cows in the meadows.

The next day, Sunday, we drive in a different direction and from the road to Jametz take a turning on the left for Lissey.  This is a road new to us as previously we have gone through Lissey via another route. After Lissey we continue to Bréheville and take a narrow road through the high forest of Bois de  Bréheville below and to the north of Haraumont.  The wind is far less today and I open the passenger window fully.  The sunshine dapples the trees, leaves and forest floor.  The road comes out opposite Haraumont church and we turn right, down the hill, across the main road to Vilosnes and its pretty spots where the River Meuse flows parallel to the Canal d’Est.

To the left of the canal...

...a small chapel...

...with glass and wrought-iron doors.

Inside the chapel a permanent Nativity scene.

The chapel stands on the edge of the Place du Monument where the village honours its military and civilians lost in both World Wars.

To the left of the monument a stream which has been diverted by a large weir up-river...

...to a smaller weir behind the sadly-now-closed auberge and bar where we had enjoyed a meal on our first visit to the area ten years ago.  Across the road, the old schools building...

 

 

 

As we leave the village, we spot another picnic area, which is almost hidden by trees, by the river - another pretty spot to return to.

On the way home, across the Meuse Heights, we stop to capture some of the autumn colours.

A small hunters' lodge at the edge of a forest.

We didn't stay - the chasse was out and, on Sunday afternoon, after lunch (le midi) some of the hunters can get a bit trigger-happy!

Autumn afternoon.

A few puffs of white cloud, bright blue sky and  warm sunshine - a perfect Autumn day in late September - Tuesday the 29th.

We drive to Reville-aux-Bois and climb the roads which twist and turn through the surrounding forests.  The view at the top, on the Meuse Heights, is wonderful.

Then down to Sivry-en-Meuse where we find a pretty spot by the water.

Out come the picnic chairs and our books which we read between drinking in the pretty surroundings.

My heel is less painful this afternoon and walking easier so I walk, without a stick, a short way to investigate a flurry of ducks.  Of course by the time I arrive most have disappeared but I get a photo of one…

  …the reeds…

...some cows in a meadow...

…and some of the flowers, bark and berries…

…and a distant shot of Ron, reading his book.

An hour or so later, the clouds join to partly hide the sun and the blustery east wind starts to become a nuisance so we leave, passing Sivry church en route.

We take a slight detour to Vilosnes where the Canal de l'Est and the river Meuse merge for a while.

Then up to Haraumont where I take distance shots of the communication towers (as promised in a previous blog post)…

…and again through forests and farmland to Ecurey-en-Verdunois and back home to Damvillers.

We were only out for two hours but it was a welcome change.