They finally finished re-building the main road to the village from Sauxillanges last autumn, so no longer is it necessary to follow the diversion outlined below. Mind you, it’s a nice route, try it once anyway!!
But not for long! The relevant authority have finally scraped together enough euros to sort out the crumbly road but they have closed it in the process! It was supposed to re-open on 19th July but it looks like they are over-running. Whilst the road is closed, you have to take a detour, leaving Sauxillanges via the cemetery road, and loop around the back of Egliseneuve and come in through the village. It’s well sign posted. Click here for an amended map.
The weather during our stay in early July was great -didn’t’ want to go home but had fee-paying clients arriving so we went to Reims! The pool appears cool to the toe but on a hot day it’s just right.
There’s a couple of places on the road leading down towards Sauxillanges where the road is crumbling near the edge. It’s all well signposted but please note where the problem areas are and remember NOT to try to squeeze over on the verge to let people pass at those points – there IS no verge and the first step is a big one.
Looks like being a good summer this year. We still have spaces in June and a few in July for those not tied to the school holidays.
Please note that from 1st July 2008 it will be compulsory for drivers to carry in their cars both warning triangles (I thought these already were) and yellow “hi-vis” jackets, the latter to be worn by anyone getting out of the car at a break-down or accident. On the spot fines of €90 can be imposed simply for not having the appropriate equipment in your car. Suitable jackets along with triangles, beam deflectors, first aid kits, etc., and advice on what is compulsory in which country will be available at shops at ports, and also in your local Halfords.
Summer nearly full – Early season lots of spaces.
We have now taken bookings for MOST of the High season (July / August) but as of 17th Feb both gites are still free for the week commencing August 23rd.
Unlike last year, this year we don’t seem to have had much interest in the early season. If you are not tied to the school holiday period, then you should try the Auvergne in late spring and early summer. Before the really hot days, but still daytime temps are warm and nights are not too cool. And the air is very clear, the views of the mountains are best at this time of year. Usually great weather for walking or cycling.
We’re already taking bookings for ’08 folks so if you were hoping to leave thinking about it until February…
Someone likes us – These folks have ranked us in the TOP 400 GITES.
There are early signs that RyanAir may resume thrice weekly flights from London to Clermont-Ferrand from April of 2008. Aulnhat airport at C-F is our nearest airport, so this will make visiting La Verrerie via air much more convenient – especially since RyanAir this year moved their “Lyon” traffic from St Eteinne to Lyon’s main airport, which is 80 miles further away from us!
Well it took several weeks longer than it should but the pool is finally complete and full of water, pumps running, water getting warm, and it has been swum in – chilly, but it’ll be warmer by the time any of our summer visitors arrive!
The pictures show the paving not finished – but that’ll be done by the end of the first week in July. The earth to the side of the pool will be reseeded with grass in the autumn – sadly now the warm weather has finally arrived this year, it’s too late for grass seed, which would just wither.
The weather station has been installed on the roof of the stable block. There is, so far, only measurement of wind speed, direction, and temperature, we plan to add pressure, humidity and possibly rainfall later in the year. You can look at our data on this website and see how warm it’s been this summer! (Click the icon)
(note – the wind direction data is not showing on this graph – the reason – the wind direction vane fell off the anemometer and can’t go back on until I visit with a new nut in September.)
(Note 2 – we’ve now added a humidity sensor to the station but that’s currently inside the building so not 100% accurate. We also added a barometer – but sadly the barometer module added is not compatible with the software. Another stab at that, and locating the hygrometer outside somewhere, in September.)
