Sunday trip to the Vienne

It has been rather hot and sticky these last few days and poor Mrs Noah has been feeling the heat. She doesn`t mind it in Turkey, she says, where she can lie about on a transat and get people to bring her drinks, but at home it stops her doing things and she feels guilty. The remnants of a strict Welsh upbringing, of course, what the modern generation would call appalling cruelty leading to permanent psychological damage and we refer to as normal bringing up... However it has cooled a bit today, with even a few light showers, so we decided on a joy-ride this afternoon.
  We like discovering new places, the trouble is they have all been discovered in the locality so  we have to go further afield. A perusal of the map revealed a little town called Exideuil-sur-Vienne, which looked promising. I like towns on a river or sea bank, and we have already tried most of the Charente-side ones. The Vienne would be a fresh river to explore. To add a spice of variety, the GPS or Satnav was set to get us there by the shortest route which always ensures an entertaining viewing of unknown by-ways.
  Unfortunately, as this was a spur of the moment decision, the camera was forgotten, so I can`t show you any pics of the town. Google will fill the breach if you`re interested. We were left with the impression of a thriving little town of some antiquity, on the banks of the Vienne river, which here was wide and swift-flowing but endowed with enormous, dangerous-looking rocks in mid-stream. Navigable it was not, except possibly by canoe.
  We had a brief look at the church, which was large but grim. It looked as if it was designed to serve as a fort. though it did have an attractive spire and a fair ring of bells. However inside the barrel-vaulted interior, it was the darkest church I have EVER seen, just two or three smallish windows whose light was further diminished by being fitted with orangey-brown stained glass! Some votive candles were available and I seriously considered buying one to see my way about..  After waiting until our eyes adjusted to the semi-darkness, we were able to make out some interesting things, a huge granite font and a holy-water stoop almost as large. I noticed the stone coffin of a knight, indicated by a sword carved in the granite.
  After leaving the town, we went up the river to Confolens, and home by a more familiar route. A very enjoyable afternoon, doing what we love to do.. exploring the French countryside.

    Bye for now, tea calls!