Return to Vacherauville.

For mid-October a bonus day - beautiful, warm and sunny, in the high 20Cs.

We returned to the canal side at Vacherauville and walked towards Charny-sur-Meuse…

We were unable to go all the way although that may have been possible had there been any benches along the way on which to take a break.  Never mind, using our walking sticks (and paracetomol in my case!) we were able to go further than we have for some time. We were encouraged by the weather and the pretty surroundings.  After about 20 minutes we turned back and headed for the picnic table by the small car park for our sandwiches-and-fruit lunch.

We hadn't intended to go that way anyway!

We returned via the Meuse Heights which is looking lovely in its Autumn colours...

These few shots don't really do it justice but, hopefully, gives a flavour of the sights...just multiply many, many times!

More signs of Autumn.

Each day now, the autumn colours in the countryside become more apparent and the sky, so blue yesterday, returns to grey cloud today - although the midday sun did make an effort to peep through…

The shopping done, we spot a couple of colourful city trees before heading for the main road that snakes up and over the Meuse Heights.

Part way up, we turn right onto the narrow road that leads to Beaumont - a destroyed village I have previously mentioned on this blog.

Back to the main road to find the forestry workers busy - more so at this time of the year although this is not an unusual sight in any season.

We then take a left turn and stop to capture glimpses of Colonel Driant’s WW1 bunker in le Bois des Caures, part of the Verdunois Forest…

Just a few quick shots today as I have previously covered this too.  Lovely to see what light there was filtering through the tress.

 …and on to wide open land and sky beyond.

It’s all looking and feeling very autumnal.

Signs of Autumn.

In the countryside there is little yet of autumn colour - just a few leaves starting to turn.  So, this afternoon, I went for a short walk, with my camera, down a couple of local footpaths in search of signs of autumn - and I found them…

The first of several log piles.

A bright colour in the distance caught my eye...

...and here it is in close-up.

These look like hops to me.

A few applies left on the tree...

...but most are on the ground.

Bug Hotel.

Sadly a not-unusual sight as fruit is left to fall and rot.  Still, I suppose it provides winter nourishment for the birds and insects.

Anyone for mistletoe?

A log pile and a half.