2013 Tour - Jour 11

Some observations

Here went the conversation at dinner:

H: You don't seem to hear crickets these days like you used to, do you?

S: What do you mean

H: You know, like when we had really hot summers before, and if you went camping or something where there was lots of long grass you would hear all the crickets really loud in the evening.

S: But they are really loud now, can't you hear them?

H: (incredulous) What do you mean, like now as we sit here?

S: (patiently) Yes now, they are really, really loud

H: (realisation dawning that he has lost his higher frequency hearing capability) S*** . . . .

So there you have it, a portion of my youth never to return, listening to the sound of crickets on a warm Summer's evening . . .

Despite not being able to hear the crickets, apparently we must be beneath the european airspace equivalent of spaghetti junction. There is a continuous background hum of high altitude jet engine noise (clearly at a lower frequency) and the picture of vapour trails (no, they aren't clouds) below shows just how much effect it must have on the upper atmospheric layer.

 

Cultural excursions

Today we went to visit an archaeological site. Not resting our laurels as far as matters cultural are concerned we rose rather late and made for Rochechouart, where there is a significant Chateau. Here, we stopped for lunch after only 8 miles and were informed by a fellow diner that the Chateau did not admit visitors except the the modern art exhibition currently ongoing - so we gave that a miss. Having dallied over lunch for over two hours we manage to stir ourselves and set off for the remains of the Roman thermal baths at Cassinomagus, which are 'one of the most significant such sites in Europe'.

 

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