Not as “deep” or “romantic” as it sounds.

This afternoon, on our forty-second wedding anniversary, I headed off for a walk on my own to find the camping ground that is on the outskirts of Fenouillet. Mick and I had been there two years ago and I was confident I could find it on my own. Mick’s knees have been playing up so he decided to pass on the walking today.

And I found it quite easily.

It has unusual accommodation options ranging from pre-fabricated cabins, to converted quaint old train carriages and gypsy caravans…

… to ….

massive tee-pees.

Of course, it’s off-season at the moment, so no one is there.

I knew there was a dam (or lake) close by with a picnic ground, so I continued past the camping ground to find that. I encountered a young woman walking her massive dog, off its lead. And unfortunately, the dog decided to run towards me and bark. Luckily, the young woman spotted me and called her dog off. She called out “doucement, doucement”, which means gently or quietly or both! Luckily for the me, the dog was obedient.

I found the dam and it looked very peaceful.

There were also picnic tables and fire pits and small bridges over the water. But, there was no sign of any activity today.

I knew that Mick and I had reached this dam last time by walking past the ruins of Sabarda,  (the Cathar ruins just up from Fenouillet) so I confidently followed the road until after about ten minutes I realised I was heading in the wrong direction, in the direction away from Sabada, so I decided I had better turn around.

I had an idea that would help me get back safely.

Roughly translated, this sign means that there is honey (miel) and gingerbread (pain d’épices) for sale from a person Mick and I call “The Honey Man”.

I have not mentioned before that very close to where we are staying is a beekeeper or apiarist. He has loads and loads of signs plastered along every walk around here with arrows pointing in the direction to his home. So my idea was to simply follow his signs.

 

And they worked. (Spot the snow on the hilltop in the top right image.)

This is The Honey Man’s home. Only 200 or so metres from our housesitting spot. Phew.

Check out the map of my walk – you can see the large loop on the right in the shaded wooded area that shows I went along a road before turning back and arriving near the dam again before heading off in the right direction towards Sabarda.

And guess what?

Mick was not the slightest bit worried about me.

And only earlier that day, he had shown me a video clip of a French hunter being mauled by a wild boar. Those images were in the back of mind the whole way!