After leaving the campsite in Sarlat we stopped off in town to go to the market and bumped into Ted and Lorraine – who we met a few weeks ago in Saumur – so stopped for a coffee and a catch up exchanging details of where each of us has been and where we were going – it is a small world!

Despite not really supporting the process of Foie gras we decided that we should stop off at a farm and learn more.  We headed to Le Gros Chene which was in a tiny hamlet called Saint Antoine D’Auberoche where they ‘fed’ the geese for 15 days before culling and turning into pretty much every product you could possibly think of – pate, rillettes, foie gras, smoked, cassoulet… the list goes on.  They also produce 12 pigs a year and a lot of duck (foie gras, pate, etc).  They currently had 120 ducklings in a barn basking in 30 degrees getting fatter.  Despite being impressed with the set up we didn’t buy any foie gras, but we did purchase some ‘canard seche’ – which is duck breast which tastes like a very rich intense serrano ham – absolutely delicious!

After a peaceful night with minimal disturbance from the neighbours we set off to Perigueux to have a look round before we headed over to meet an old university friend of Keiths’.  Perigueux is another beautiful old town which is mostly pedestrianised in the old part and it has an enormous mosque like cathederal which looks down over the river.

Before leaving the UK Keith had made contact with Rich Saunders who he used to play hockey with and he said if we were passing we should pop by …. little was he to know the size of the motorhome.  Rich, Laurent and Amaya live in what can only be described as ‘rural’ – it is a beautiful setting with rolling hills and incredibly tranquil .. just lots of windy roads 🙂

After several attempts with apparently one wheel off the ground (I am glad I was driving and not watching from outside) we made it up the driveway and left Mika looking at the beautiful sunset whilst we enjoyed a glass of wine round an open fire on the terrace!  Who would have thought having not seen each over for 15 or so years that the rendez vous would be in such a lovely place – Thank you!  ….. and coming off the drive was much easier than getting on – gravity gave a lending hand.