Floods of tears

The Osme breaks its banks

I really don`t know what has ailed the weather here. In February it was dry and mild, so that summer shrubs started to bloom. Then we had a cold snap that killed off some of the unwary plants. Now we have had a most unaccustomed period of rain after a very dry winter. Now rain is not that rare here but it tends to have a heavy downpour  then forget about it for the day. But these last two weeks it has scarcely stopped, and the rivers and streams are getting unable to cope.
   On Sunday, we went for a drive to see how the rivers were faring. Our first stop was to see the River Couture at Couture d`Argenson. Now this river, which crosses under the road just short of the village is really a large stream , but only in winter. In the late spring or even before it stops flowing, and its bed fills with grass. You dont see it running again until the winter rains have fallen for some time. This year after the dry winter, it had already dried up and we were surprised to see it had recommenced and was running strongly.

The Charante at Rejallant.

   We continued on towards Ruffec to the village of Longré, where the river Osme or Aume crosses the road. And, by George it was nearly doing so, because it had burst its banks and was invading the surrounding fields. If it wasn`t for some flood-relief culverts it would have been crossing the tarmac. See picture above.

Another three inches and you will have to paddle

  Wondering we continued to the leisure area at Rejallant.  In summer this is a shallow area with little footbridges crossing the area below the weir and linking several little islets. These bridges which normally are 5 feet over the stream are now almost level with the water and the restaurant, which is being renovated, would be in trouble if it wasn`t for the weir.
  Normally you can cross to the other bank of the Charent here, but it would be too dangerous and there is another reason, which I`ll tell you about in my next blog.
  I realy hope we`ll have a respite from the rain now, but the medium Météo is not hopeful. I am seriously considering swapping my virtual Ark for a real one!

   Bye for now, going to find my new wellies!