Indian summer?

Our current guests are enjoying our Indian summer, temperatures of 29 degrees and everything looking great!

Here is how  the chateau in Le Grand Pressigny looked yesterday...

click to enlarge

and the view from the balcony at  Les Balcons

Australians in Barrou

Our last guests for the season at 'Le Bourg', Penny and Ivan from Perth, Australia thought that the end of September was a good time to visit the Loire Valley even though they might miss the best of the sunshine -  well how lucky were they, temperatures of 29 degrees and everything looking bright and sunny! They had actually originally wanted the 'Old Walnut Mill' but due to the roadworks we offered them 'Le Bourg' along the road as an alternative as that part of the street was completed during the first phase of the works.

As you can see from the above pic.they would have found getting in and out of the house slightly difficult!

They had arrived in the Loire Valley on Saturday (24th Sept.) evening after a days travelling where they had been on five different trains to get from Switzerland to us here in Barrou. They took advantage of the great car hire deal from the supermarket 'Super U' which you can read about here. Because of their arrival time on Saturday they had to wait until the Monday to pick it up.We took them into Descartes market on the Sunday morning plus had a little walk around the town's pretty gardens, often missed by visitors. 

Then we took them to a brocante in the village of Ligueil where they were treated to some traditional dancing. So a good introduction to Southern Touraine. 

 

Canadians in Barrou

Getting right up to date we have just said farewell to last weeks guests in 'Le Bourg' who were also from Canada! Joan & Murray are from  Newmarket, Ontario. Here is what they said of their stay from our guestbook:

"We have loved this spacious, 'homey' comfortable place. Also the area is so lovely - enjoyed Chinon, Chenonceau and Azay le Rideau plus visiting many local towns and markets. Thank you so much to you Jim & Pauline, for being here on our late arrival, for the food and drinks here, for your suggestions and wonderful hospitality. Hopefully we will return."

 

Chinon                   Chenonceau              Azay le Rideau 

Blasts from the past 1

As I was was writing the post on the 'Old Walnut Mill's end of renting it got me thinking about some of the great guests we have had there and thought I'd share some of their comments from our guest book with you ( will feature them as 'Blasts from the past' ) as it also gives some insight into the many facets of this wonderful part of the world.

Our very first guests back in April 2007 were the Krumms from Quesnel, British Columbia,Canada, who, like many of our guests after them, were far too generous with their comments and also coined the phrase 'ghost- hosts' as this was when we were doing it remotely!. Anyway it went like this...


"We've come a long way from the west coast of Canada to visit the Loire Valley and sample it's secrets- every step of the journey has been worth it. It's been a whirlwind of touring, an overload to all our senses, but this beautiful little "pièd à terre" has helped to keep us sane, with feet still on the ground for the most part. The Old Walnut Mill will always be a tremendously fond memory.
 Jim and Pauline, we appreciate how much of yourselves you've put into this place and how much effort you've expended making it the ideal jumping off spot for the Loire's garden of delights. You are the perfect ghost-hosts.
 It has been a delightful week and it has been so nice to be in a home environment rather than a hotel! What it does do is now the temptation to maybe, just maybe, someday, do something like this on our own! Thanks again and may your future with the Old Walnut Mill be full of success."  

Their description of the area as a 'garden of delight' is rather apt and it is what brought the French nobility and their entourages here - and all of us! You don't have to go far to see what we all mean - the above photograph was taken (yesterday) just as you leave Barrou in the direction of Le grand Pressigny.  

End of a chapter.

Our first post here is timely as we are soon to receive our final guests at 'The Old Walnut Mill' before we start to renovate our barn at the property. We have decided that the 'Old Walnut Mill' should be our 'summer' home going forward with a gite attached (the existing barn). This will mean an end to our nomadic existence ( see 'About us' ) we have, for the last two years been living in the one house of the three we offer for rent, that is not booked - this has meant living out of suitcases and the back of the car - not the most ideal way to live. The experience has taught us the value of 'roots' and of friendships - we have had many offers of accommodation and assistance when our planning was not up to scratch and they were/are appreciated - you know who you are! So next year we are taking the gamble of loosing the income from 'The Old Walnut Mill' and hope the other two have a good occupancy rate. We will of course be offering the same level of customer service and care.

Pauline and I would like to thank all our guests over the years at the Old Walnut Mill,who have come from far and wide, for choosing us for their Loire Valley Experience and for all the great memories you have given us - we hope you have your own.