Wednesday 1st November

Orleans

No after effects of Halloween after plenty of kids,decked out in great costumes, roamed the square outside our door.

On a Public Holiday in Orleans it was not a very pleasant welcome with cold rainy weather and more predicted to come. Sat around waiting for our taxi to the golf course and it didn’t arrive at 10. A frantic call to B and B owner ,who supposedly organised it the night before, and he reorganized one which arrived about 1030- with us having an 11 o’clock hitoff.

Taxis know how to charge here with a 15€ booking fee and an 8 km trip adding another 30€

Golf course at Limerie looked as though it was previously part of a huge hotel complex, but it’s now a private course, open to the public.

Rain had not abated so we decided to add a cart to the clubs, balls, gloves and tees . Use of the cart was under strict instructions to stay on path or in the rough.

After the course had been scarified recently, including some reseeding plus not being mown, there was difficulty trying to determine fairways from the rough. Depending on how you saw it we were never off the fairway- then again scores might belie that belief. The greens had also been cored.

That said it was a lovely layout, with 5 different tee markers and all holes lined by trees, with the back section in a forest and one hole having more water than grass. The course was originally constructed by US. soldiers after WW2- with some claim that Arnold Palmer was involved.

The rain was only light for most of the day but it was slippery under foot.- no more evident than when Jane did an acrobatic exit from one tee and became covered in mud and water, plus giving the ankle and knee a tweak.

There was also an island green on the last hole. As is fate with golf I hit my best drive then dunked a simple chip into the drink . Jane hit a couple of short shots then her trusty 7 iron onto the green.

Rain pelted down on the last and we scuttled off for a drink and in search of a calculator to check the scores. Think we both doffed our hats for the 100 well short of the last hole.

That said on one Par 3 we both nearly chipped in for birdies.

It wasn’t sparkling golf but it was enjoyable.

Decided to catch the tram home, which included a 20 minute walk to the station. We ended up passing the practice range where all balls were aimed into the lake. Not sure how they were collected.

Found our way home, dried out, washed the clothes, then taped Jane up for a walk to the City to try and find a restaurant open on a PH.

It was a bit easier than expected and meal was good, as were the Aperol, beer and Irish Coffee.

Walked home over the bridge and were accompanied by a very drunk scooter rider travelling on the wrong side of road and on the tram tracks. Within 100 metres he fell off twice, once in front of a car.

Somehow he survived and went down a side street near us and disappeared.

A bit of a crazy end to our second last night in Europe. Tomorrow it’s off to Paris and then Friday on the plane to Vietnam.