Laschamps to Aydat day 4 and 5

We left Archipel Volcans around 10am on the fourth day.  This place could have been amazing, I mean it's perfectly situated, and the building and grounds are spacious, modern and there's lots to keep children amused in the gardens (trampoline, football, bowling.....)
But it turned out to be our least favourite place we stayed in.  Firstly the staff changed all the time, the person who greeted us, who was lovely, by the way, we never saw again. Same thing for the person on the front desk, never the same face, at breakfast too, and when we left, another new face. It just felt a bit unfriendly and lacked atmosphere.  The food too, was disappointing, looked good, but fade, and they never used any wonderful local produce available in this region, for example, cheese, the only opportunity to taste some, was at breakfast!

Off we went, on to Aydat, it was hot again, walked quickly and covered the 13 or so kilometers fast.  On the way down to Aydat, we passed Chocolat's field for the night and decided rather than force him to walk to the hotel with our bags and then walk up again, we'd unload our stuff then and there and left him to graze.

Our hotel was 20 meters from the lake and our room was clean and had a tv which pleased the children.  We slept upon arriving, only to go down for dinner that evening.  The food was good, the terrace quiet at first then later noisy, not a problem, but the amount of smokers were.
The next day, we hiked up high on the other side of the lake, then dropped down to have a picnic on a small strip of beach which we had all to ourselves.

After, the children played and we read.

And we shared a lake chilled beer, can't get much better than that.

Auvergne with two children and a donkey (Pessade to Orcival)

Meet Chocolat, our donkey for a week, the one that carried our 17kilos of luggage 83 kms over a six day period.  We picked him up in Pessade (Rando Ane) a a round 11am on our second day (first night camping next to Lac Aydat).

 After going over how to car for a donkey and where to find the fields to put him in of a night, we were off.  Above is a view after Pessade towards where we were heading.

After about ten kilometers this is where we stayed for the night, Orcival.  We really loved this village and looking back, this is where we ate out best meal.  A delicous Saint Nectaire Tart, followed by a so tender beef casserole (paleron), then a cheese platter and a creme brulée.  If you are even in Orcival, go and check out the Hotel de la Cassade, it's a bit stuck in a time warp but the owners are lovely and the food, well, fantastic.

One of the many things are love about this region of France, a part from the food and the people, is the architecture, especially the roofs shapes and slate used.

Alexis and Marie Kate preferred what was housed under that roof, a chocolate artisan.

We only stayed here for one night and the night day we made our way to Laschamps (more to follow)

The church in the background is called Notre Dame. On the outside walls you can see prisoner's balls and chains hanging.  This church is devoted to freed prisoners.