November sunshine.

As is to be expected at this time of year, early morning, Sunday 8th November 2015, was foggy but soon gave way to a mini-Indian Summer and the beautiful, warm sunshine was unexpected but very welcome.  The outside temperature was 17 degrees but it felt much warmer. I wore a coat ‘just in case’ on my walk to the boulangerie this morning. This afternoon I didn’t need a coat at all…nor a scarf or gloves, both of which have recently had to come out of the wardrobe to ward off the damp chill. The sky wasn’t completely clear but the light clouds were thin and wispy.

Early afternoon we set off for Verdun through the countryside on the north-west side of the city.  There is still a lot of autumn colour around and we were surprised at how quickly the fields between the forests are already greening with next year’s crops. We arrived in the city and after a short hunt found a parking spot where we could just walk across the road into Parc Japiot.  Just a few people about initially but soon after 2.00. p.m. - after the two-hour "midi" - families and groups of friends started arriving to stroll through the park and excited young children raced to the children’s play area, which is well equipped.  The park is a delight and we too enjoyed our stroll.

The pond.

Winter berries for the birds.

A tree still has plenty of golden leaves but has shed many on the ground - below.

Bandstand - or perhaps just a shelter.

View of part of the city on the other side of the River Meuse.

We thought these were great and haven't seen them elsewhere...

Single-seat benches - well you don't always want to site beside a stranger!

  

Children at play...

Another view across the river.

A path runs between the park and the river.

To the left, the old gateway into the city.

Ducks!

Towards the childrens' play area.

A small bed of blue cornflowers - a Remembrance flower.

 

Men sweep away a carpet of crunchy leaves to uncover the petanque area.

On the way back, north of the city, we took the snaking road which climbs up and over the Hautes de Meuse.  Many trees have shed their leaves but some are still very colourful and I managed a few quick shots through the car window.

It was good to be able to take advantage of the beautiful day. Hope there are more days like this before winter arrives! 

A CENTURY

Apparently this will be the 100th addition to my blog!  It is also the time that World War One is being marked on its 100th anniversary and getting near the 100th Anniversary of the start of the Battle of Verdun which commenced n 21st February, 1916 which, on a personal note, would have been my mother’s 9th birthday and we now have entered the ninth year of living in the Meuse department of Lorraine in the small town of Damvillers which is about 18 miles from the city of Verdun. A lot of coincidental links there!

Today, Friday 30th October 2015, is yet another grey, gloomy day and we headed out for a ride in the car, not deciding where - just seeing where the car took us!

We soon turned off familiar roads to unfamiliar ones and it amazes us that, after over eight years of living here and many explorations, we are still able to find new-to-us roads and places.

Across fields we spotted two helicopters apparently static in the sky but, well, just hovering really on a forest’s edge beyond open countryside to our left.  The road swung to the right but our curiosity was peaked and we took the next left and came around to the area.  One helicopter had gone and the second took off over the tree tops but, by the time we got to the end of this particular tree line, another, the first?, came round and again just hovered.  There was no apparent reason and we think it must have been a military exercise. We continued, taking yet another 'new' turning.

At various places we spotted signs for Camp Maguerre.  We had not heard of it so, of course, had to follow.  The road leads into the Spincourt Forest which itself covers a very large area, and we found ourselves in the glow of various shades of gold.

gilded floor
under a golden canopy ~
autumn forest

After about two-and-a-half miles we found the Camp, which was a German one in WW1. The forest was silent apart from a slight rustling of leaves on the treetops and that, with the remains of abandoned buildings, gave the area a somewhat spooky and surreal feeling.

Part way through the forest.

 

  A right-hand bend and the road opened into an area by a notice board...

 

 .

Half a mile further into the forest we found Camp Maguerre on our left.

More information about Camp Maguerre here.

We had to return the way we had come, left the forest behind us, but after a few miles, went back into a different part of the forest which is nearer to home, now on familiar roads again.


Spincourt Forest looks like the very many other forests in this area which are all showing their autumn colours - and it was as if we had found some sunshine after all.