Tuesday, 2 June – To Pau

Awakened to yet another perfect day, we both went for a bike ride before a breakfast of boiled egg, fresh bread and croissants. We packed up and left by 10.30 aiming to get to the ancient town of Pau in the Pyrenees Atlantique where there has been a strong British influence since after the Peninsular war when many of Wellington’s soldiers settled there rather than repatriate to a more austere life in less beautiful surroundings once hostilities were over. There may have been the odd romantic influence too of course! From 1820 onwards the British population rose to about 15% of that of Pau which explains the strong traditions of fox hunting, racing and golf which persist to this day.

The journey was longish but it allowed us to call in to Cahors to buy some of the distinctive Malbec based wine before driving down through the flattish plains of Tarn & Garonne, the fruit growing area of France. We were excited when the mountains hove into view but we seemed to parallel them for a long time before the surprisingly flat approach to Pau itself. After driving around in circles, we found the most delightful France Passion site at La Chapelle du Rousse, Jurancon where the patron and his wife welcomed us warmly and with the help or hindrance of variable Franglais we sampled his wines produced only from the mensang grape (of which we had never heard) while looking out over his stunning property with the mountains in the distance. It seemed to be significantly warmer here in the south and we were able to sit out sampling the patron’s wines, accompanied by some pate de foie gras, salade vert, fresh bread followed by some good cheese and private thoughts. A most enjoyable end to a positioning day. Tomorrow we have arranged to play golf at Pau Golf Club, the oldest European Club having been founded in 1856. G H Brown is, I believe, the course record holder from his visit here with the late John Graham. Andy Cross represented RLGC at their 150^th celebrations in 2006.