An etang is a pond or a lake. And Etang des Planches is located quite close to Saint Gervais. We took the dogs there for a walk the other day – for a change of scenery.

Maybe not the most exciting post ever, but it will show some aspect of recreational areas in France. Mick and I have been very surprised at some of the recreational sites we have driven past over the last few months. In all honesty, they look pretty ‘lame’ to us. No criticism intended, but often they consist of a parking lot with a dirt walking track weaving through a wetland or around a pond. And what surprises us even more is that the French seem to love them. Sometimes there are added features like a boulodrome (for playing boules), a playground area for the children and picnic tables.

Each area we have visited comes with lots of rules and regulations and helpful signs to ensure you are walking on the right areas.

Planches translates to planks, but I think it must also has something to do more generally with wood, although there were one or two decks made from planks over the pond for the fishermen.

Mick was happy to see a lone fisherman there with his three legal lines in the pond, but sadly there was no action during out time there. The clothes peg dangling from the line was a mystery to me. Perhaps it works like the little bells Mick uses at home.

What we had come to see though were the sculptures – big wooden carvings. Each year the local community hosts a wood carving festival in July and the results of the events are there for everyone to see.

And they are massive!

Last year’s sculpture looks less weather-worn than the others.

Although it is April, the last few days have been freezing, with below zero temperatures over night and daytime temperatures getting up to only 7C or 8C. The warmth from the sun was pretty ‘thin’ on the day we were there. Besides the lone fisherman, there was one other couple there when we were, but things could change soon as school holidays have just commenced here. The students and teachers have two weeks off, and will return to school at the end of the month.

This one was not a carving – but it certainly was made of planks of wood.

It actually made Mick a little homesick!!