France, Part 5

Our last day here before we set off to Paris. We can't seem to wake up early and go on the run together we keep saying we will do. Oh well. Jason and the kids run down to the bike hut to rent bikes for the day. We let them putter around a bit while we get ready for the day. As predicted Griffen wipes out and cuts up his knees and arms. Another little girl the kids were playing with came over to see that he was ok and to show him she wiped out the other day and cut up her chin. In fact I see a lot of kids with bandages on their knees.

Today's adventure involves a longer drive, but we promise the kids it will be worth it. We are going to an area referred to as La Venise Verte, The Green Venice. This area of France was a wet marshland that was drained by 12th century monks and 17th century Dutch engineers. It is now a 35,000 hectare labyrinth of tiny rigoles-canals that filled with mossy duckweed and surrounded by poplars and willows that create soft green tunnels of filtered sunlight. Interspersed among the trees are pastures for the grazing cattle.


Our guide book references about a dozen villages along the canals to visit, but states that Coulon is by far the most beautiful-so that is our destination. Much of this village is closed as well-but we manage to find the car park and follow the people walking toward what we hope is the water. Looking around, we see that there are very few GB license plates-so we are among mostly French people. We decided that rather than waste our time trying to figure out how to maneuver the boat, we should hire a boat with a guide. The company we chose had no English speaking people, but we managed to work out that we wanted an hour and 15 minute ride and but a boat is not available for another hour. Off for a snack then.

The only cafes that were open were along the water, so we plopped down at a table and proceeded to order. I started ordered 4 crepes, 2 coffees and 2 ice creams-we only got 3 crepes, our coffees and ice cream. The waiter wasn't friendly at all and once we asked for the bill he proceeded to acknowledge me but smoked a cigarette, had a drink and took another order before he brought it, then he assumed we paid exact and wouldn't come over to give us change.

The boat ride was nice and tranquil, the kids even enjoyed it. Jason had great fun giving Noelle a hard time as the guide put her right in front of him and we even saw a waterside boat-bar.


We ate dinner back at camp-all the left over food in the fridge and it isn't camping unless you have popcorn. We shipped over a case of popcorn when we moved-they barley have the microwave stuff here. The kids invited a couple others over and they sat around the table talking and eating before bed.