To Market We Will Go and The Chabeuill Blues: Sunday, October 6th!

It’s good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it’s good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure that you haven’t lost the things that money can’t buy. -George H. Lorimer, editor (6 Oct 1867-1937) 

Not up until 8:30 am as it was well after midnight, [2:30 am, in fact!], before we climbed into bed! Upstairs to find both Rosemary and Andre up and breakfast laid out. Andre had already had his java so I made a large plunger full for Rosemary and myself. Yogurt with granola and three slices of bread slathered with Andre's homemade marmalade so a wonderful way to start the day. Around 10:30 am Rosemary, Lady Dar and I strolled into town to take a look at the local Fête la Caillette. Only about a fifteen minute walk and we were in front of the the Hôtel de Ville, [the town hall]:

For over 20 years, Chabeuil has been celebrating this local charcuterie that has been prepared for centuries using pork and various vegetables/herbs, (cabbage, spinach, potatoe, parsley, etc.) and shaped like a large "meatball", [It has its own brotherhood/guild, the Taste-Caillette, which meets on the the eve of the fair.], is eaten hot with a gratin of potatoes, or cold with a salad. The fair is held in the pedestrian street of the old centre of Chabeuil and along the river bank in front of the Hôtel de Ville. Quite a lively gathering with a number of small amusement rides for young children, [The profits of the Fête, organized by an association of volunteers, are traditionally donated to societies involved with humanitarian work for children.], along with numerous stands offering regional products, whether bread, beer, cheese or sausage and the like. After tasting along the way we bought six caillettes, [three spinach and three potatoe], as well as a truffle noir sausage, delicioso!

Then we walked into the old centre where were treated to music by Los Cailletos, a small marching band of about fifteen musicians, leading a parade of the associated guilds, dressed in cloaks and garb appropriate to their particular association, everyone sporting large medallions, each with a member carrying the guild pennant/flag. One I liked the best was the Confrérie d'Ail Piolenc, roughly translated as The Brotherhood of Piolenc Garlic, from the village of the same name, near Vaucluse, in Provence. Their pennant showed a large bulb of garlic and one of the women was carrying a netted bag, nestled along her left arm, with about a dozen heads inside. Almost like the Penticton Peach Festival and the Gilroy Garlic Festival rolled into one! Added to this the band was playing a very spirited rendition of La Bamba! After the parade passed Rosemary ran into her lawyer, and his wife who were selling wine from his father's estate, Domaine des Garances, in Ventoux, a wine-growing AOC in the southeastern region of the Rhône wine region where the wines are produced in 51 communes of the Vaucluse département along the lower slopes of the Ventoux mountain and at the foot of the Vaucluse Mountains.

After we were introduced we had a taste of both the white, (I think it was a blend containing Roussanne), 14.5%, and the red, (65% Granache and 35% Syrah), 15%, we bought a bottle of each, for dinner that evening, as we all quite liked them. 

Waving goodbye we walked back home enjoying the sunshine. Wind had been coolish earlier but air had warmed considerably since we left. When we were back Andre went into his garden to pick tomatoes to make a sauce for the cailletes and once that was ready we sat on their upstairs deck for a wonderful lunch. Together with the tasty "meatballs" we enjoyed another delicous mixed salad and three bottles of wine later The Sisterhood was ready for a nap! Andre and I stayed outside to knock back two or three snorts of Pastis and then I was ready for a snooze myself. Thanking him for the wonderful meal I crawled under the comforter and feel asleep, beside Lady Dar, until 7:30 pm. Hard posting in Chabeuill, Dear Reader!

Quick shower and change and then back upstairs for a pre-dinner white, the white from Ventoux and unfortunately it didn't last all that long. [It would be wonderful to visit the winery as I'd love to cycle the lower slopes of Mount Ventoux, one of the most difficult climbs in the Tour!] Moving to the table we were treated to another of Andre's more than delicious meals, this time the truffle noir sausage baked with lentils and a few mild red peppers from his vegetable patch. 
 

Another mixed salad, again with his very tasty dressing and a couple of reds and we were in heaven. A lovely custard, (store bought but nonetheless rich and creamy), which I paired with a glass of Port! Before we knew it, it was 10:30 pm and time for bed even though we'd had such long power naps! Having made plans for a day trip to go wine-tasting in Tain-l'Hermitage, [northern Cotes du Rhône wine region where simply wonderful Syrah/Shiraz are produced], on the morrow, we bid goodnight to our generous hosts and toddled off to bed.

I wanted to share a story with you from Winnipeg Sun: 'WE NEED A CURE': Runners raise more than $450K for cancer research. She’s taken in more than $50,000 in prized money since being diagnosed with breast cancer last May, and Marlo Jurkowski is thankful for every last cent.
<https://winnipegsun.com/news/local-news/we-need-a-cure-runners-raise-more-than-450k-for-cancer-research> Great article! Ayn!

Hi all, On Thursday, October 10^th, Larry Shannon has offered to lead a hike to Taylor Lake.  Read on… I am happy  to lead a hike to Taylor Lake.  The hike will begin just west of the summit on the Fairview – Cawston Rd.

It is an out and back hike, approx. 3.3 miles each way.  The vertical is around 1,600 feet so there is considerable climbing involved.   I estimate 2 hours to hike in and maybe 1 3/4 hours to hike out.  The hike follows a poor road that is actually more like a wide trail and is mainly pleasant walking.  No bushwhacking and no side-hill traverses.    However there are a few short steep rocky sections. Hiking poles will be useful for ascending and descending these sections.  

It includes hiking through some forested areas and also some open areas with good views to the lower Similkameen in the south-west.   Taylor Lake is attractive (as most mountain lakes are).   I expect to spend at least ½ hour at the lake and some fishers may want to pack in a rod and try their luck.

Depending on numbers and available vehicles it is possible the hikers will group in my truck box and possibly other vehicles to cover a short distance at the beginning and least interesting section of the side road / trail leading to the lake.  The lower portion has some water drainage trenches, so high clearance vehicles only for this option.

I suggest coffee at Medici’s in Oliver after the hike. Cheers, Larry

So, here’s the plan.  You will: -meet at 0800 at the Cherry Lane north parking lot (0740 at IGA in Summerland).  Bill Therriault will be there to meet you.

-carpool and drive to the Fairview kiosk site.  It is near the corner of Willowbrook Road and Fairview Road to the west of Oliver.  Arrival time should be between 0845 and 0900. -drive from there to the top of the Fairview Pass Road and begin the hike. -stop afterward for refreshment and debriefing at Medici’s in Oliver. -return home. Are you interested?  If so, let Larry know and have a great day!Cheers, Jim