Busted!!! - Don't Drink and Drive

Busted!!

Driving home tonight from dinner I was stopped in our tiny town by the gendarmes to blow in the breathalyzer. I can't speak French and he could not speak American, so it took a while to explain how to blow into the tube properly. 

I had one glass of wine a few hours earlier and so was a bit nervous, but I showed zero and they let me go on my way. 
Dodged that bullet.

They are much tougher on drinking and driving in Europe than in the US.

France has a lower legal limit for drink drive blood alcohol levels so simply do not drink and drive as even one drink can put you over the limit. See new rules about the legal drink driving limits here.

New Fine Amounts

Drink drive offences €4,500

Driving under the influence of drugs €4,500

Watching a screen that isn't a driver aid (Sat Nav) €1,500

Improper use of a mobile telephone €135

Not wearing a seatbelt €135

Using headphones €135

Listening to loud music so you can't hear traffic €75

Eating while driving €75

Applying make-up, even if the vehicle is stopped at traffic lights etc €75

Yet More Traffic Light and Speed Cameras

Any traffic lights in France you go through are far more likely to have a camera on them in the near future. That on top of the ever increasing number of speed detection cameras, including a substantial increase of late in the newer style "average speed" cameras, will be yet more reason to take things nice and steady as you drive through France in 2015.
 

National Speed Limit Changes

The French equivilant of our ministry of Transport are also going to lower the national speed limit on single lane minor roads from 90km/h (which it is now) to 80km/h.

drive-france.com

Chateau Amboise

Amboise, architectural jewel of the Renaissance, dips its majestic silhouette into the Loire, a UNESCO World Heritage river.

A place of residence for French kings from the 15th to the 19th centuries, its destiny is inextricably linked to the history of France. Numerous literary figures and artists were invited here, like Leonardo da Vinci whose tomb is preserved at the château.

From 2016 to 2019, 500 years after he resided in Amboise, this historic town on the banks of the Loire is dedicating an array of events to him, where aesthetics and creativity will be the two guests of honour.

An exceptional Renaissance figure, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) was invited to join King François 1er and his court in Amboise in 1516. During his time here he was able to reveal the entire breadth of his talents: artist behind the 1517 drawing of the royal château, painter of decors, mechanical engineer of machines for the royal court’s sumptuous festivities, hydraulic engineer and town planner for the town of Romorantin. In Amboise, he found financial stability and the confidence of a king who invited him to, "dream, think and work" in complete freedom. Thus, Leonardo resided in Amboise until the end of his days on 2nd May 1519 and was even buried in the heart of the royal château where his tomb is preserved today.

http://www.chateau-amboise.com/

Chatteau_de_Chenonceau

Click to view more photos:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ECYjI0OPX92uL2j03

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Chenonceau

GPS Drive

We like to turn our GPS off of highways to get more local roads. But this is ridiculous. But we forged ahead, did not get stuck, and eventually got back to pavement.

Castle Country

Chinon?

Chinon Castle, I think. They start to blur.

Château d'Azay-le-Rideau

One of our favorite little towns and Chateaus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_d%27Azay-le-Rideau

Trip to France

https://www.google.fr/maps/dir/Ramstein+Air+Base,+Ramstein-Miesenbach,+Germany/Azay-le-Rideau/47.2326589,0.9165846/Dordogne/Carcassonne/Andorra/Barcelona,+Spain/Lyon/Ramstein+Air+Base,+66877+Ramstein-Miesenbach,+Germany/@45.3026422,-0.4580417,6z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m54!4m53!1m5!1m1!1s0x479674d1b564a3b7:0x8ab9f92dc7234016!2m2!1d7.597129!2d49.4400412!1m5!1m1!1s0x47fd3a9362ec6401:0x40dc8d705389350!2m2!1d0.46574!2d47.26177!1m1!4e1!1m5!1m1!1s0x47ff7a7475a8138b:0x3066517481126e0!2m2!1d0.7572205!2d45.1469486!1m5!1m1!1s0x12ae2c390116bd8b:0xe28fdf3b77a114c7!2m2!1d2.353663!2d43.212161!1m5!1m1!1s0x12a5f52e989ef095:0x7c93ed778ea7f92!2m2!1d1.521801!2d42.506285!1m5!1m1!1s0x12a49816718e30e5:0x44b0fb3d4f47660a!2m2!1d2.1734035!2d41.3850639!1m5!1m1!1s0x47f4ea516ae88797:0x408ab2ae4bb21f0!2m2!1d4.835659!2d45.764043!1m5!1m1!1s0x479674d1b564a3b7:0x8ab9f92dc7234016!2m2!1d7.597129!2d49.4400412!2m1!2b1!3e0?hl=en

The Queen and Her Castle - Chateau de Reginac

Beth's Castle Chateau de Reginac

24 Rue Louis de Barberin 

37310 Reignac-sur-Indre

The ceilings a bit high in our bedroom.

The bathroom in the turret.

More photos at:
 https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZPxT98ycs9UG1Rtw2

"Our Chateau" in Castle Country, France

Chapel attached to the Chateau

The rear of "Our Chateau".  Our room is on the second floor, with the bathroom in the turret on the right.

Church and municipal building outside the gate of the Chateau

Click for more photos:  https://photos.app.goo.gl/AAjiBcvQeL8Xgx5h2

West facade of Château de Reignac

History of Château de Reignac

Château de Reignac was built over the ruins of a former fortress that protected a crossing over the Indre river. The château today bears witness to three separate architectural periods.

The Château of the Du Fau Lords

In the 15th century, the du Fau family, who had just acquired the fiefdom, built a fortified castle.

Only the two round towers which frame the façade onto the gardens and the guards room remain from the castle of Jehan du Fau, who was Louis XI''s Grand Master of the King''s Residence in Loches.

Reignac subsequently became the property of Pierre Forget, who was Secretary of State under Henri III and Henri IV, and responsible for drawing up the Edict of Nantes.

The castle then became the property of Aymard de Chouppes, Chevalier of the King''s Order, King''s Counsellor, Lieutenant General in his Armies, and childhood friend of Louis XIII.

The Château of Louis de Barberin

In March 1710, King Louis XIV raised the Baron du Fau to the rank of Marquis de Reignac sur Indre, in order to reward "Our dearly beloved friend Louis de Barberin, Knight, Count of Reignac”. Louis de Barberin commenced major alteration work to adapt the château to current tastes: the moat was filled in, a vast formal park and garden were laid out, outhouses were built to the south-west and an east wing perpendicular to the house was added. A chapel, dedicated to Saint Louis, was built as an extension to the main body of the house.

The chapel''s foundation stone was blessed on 30th July 1717, and two years later the chapel''s founder was buried there. Marie Marguerite de Rarécourt de la Vallée-Pimodan, Louis de Barberin''s wife, commissioned Claude Dubois, a sculptor from Dijon, to carve the sumptuous marble mausoleum in his memory. 

The General Marquis de Lafayette inherited Reignac when his mother, Marie Julie de la Rivière, Louis de Barberin''s great-granddaughter came into her inheritance. The marquis and his wife, née Adrienne de Noailles, stayed frequently in Reignac until 1792 when the Lafayette family relinquished the château.

General Marquis de Lafayette

General Marquis de Lafayette owned the Chateau we stayed at in France 

The General Marquis de Lafayette inherited Reignac when his mother, Marie Julie de la Rivière, Louis de Barberin''s great-granddaughter came into her inheritance. The marquis and his wife, née Adrienne de Noailles, stayed frequently in Reignac until 1792 (French Revolution) when the Lafayette family relinquished the château.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_du_Motier,_Marquis_de_Lafayette

Chateau-de-villiers

FROM THE 12TH TO THE 14TH CENTURY

THE EARLIEST KNOWN CONSTRUCTION ON THIS SITE IS A ROMAN VILLA OR HAMLET, WHICH GAVE ITS NAME (VILLARE IN LOW LATIN MEANS “FROM/NEAR THE HAMLET”) TO VILLIERS.

THE CASTLE STAYED IN THE CHAMPAGNE FAMILY UNTIL 13 NOVEMBER 1160, WHEN KING LOUIS VII MARRIED ALIX DE CHAMPAGNE AND THE PROPERTY PASSED INTO THE ROYAL DOMAIN.

ALIX DE CHAMPAGNE WAS KING LOUIS VII’S THIRD WIFE AND THE MOTHER OF KING PHILIPPE AUGUST, WHO BUILT THE FIRST LOUVRE IN PARIS.

IN 1220, WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF SENS, AMICIE DE BRETEUIL, THE WIDOW OF JEAN BRIARD LORD OF BRETEUIL, FOUNDED AN ABBEY ON A PARCEL OF VILLIERS PREVIOUSLY GRANTED BY THE KING.

THE CHÂTEAU OF VILLIERS AT THAT TIME WAS A MEDIEVAL CASTLE SURROUNDED BY A DRY MOAT WITH A DRAW-BRIDGE ACROSS IT, THE REMNANTS OF WHICH ONE CAN STILL SPOT.

OTHER REMAINS CAN STILL BE SEEN:

• AN ANCIENT GUARD ROOM AND A CHAPEL
• BUTTRESSES
• DEFENCE TOWERS BASEMENTS
• UNDERGROUND ROOMS

DURING ITS HISTORY THE CASTLE HAS BEEN EQUIPPED WITH A NUMBER OF UNDERGROUND PASSAGES LEADING TO THE CHURCH OF LA FERTÉ-ALAIS, VILLIERS ABBEY (DECONSECRATED IN 1793), MONTMIRAULT CASTLE. TRACES OF THESE STRUCTURES CAN STILL BE FOUND NOWADAYS.

WE HAVE EVIDENCE OF A STAY OF ISABEAU DE BAVIÈRE IN THE CHÂTEAU FROM 28 OCTOBER TO 1 NOVEMBER 1390. WHO OWNED THE CASTLE THEN ? WE ONLY KNOW THAT SHE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THIS VISIT TO OFFER THE NEARBY ABBEY A “RACAMAS” CLOTH OF GOLD.

FROM THE 15TH TO THE 20TH CENTURY

VILLIERS IS MENTIONED AGAIN IN 1450. AT THAT TIME KING LOUIS XI GRANTED IT TO BE HELD IN FEE BY OLIVIER LE DAIM, HIS CONFIDENT AND HENCHMAN IN CHARGE OF DOING THE DIRTY WORK.

NOT ONLY WAS HE KING LOUIS XI’S MOST FAITHFUL SERVANT, BUT ALSO HIS ACCOMPLICE. HIS REAL NAME WAS OLIVIER NECKER. LE DAIM WAS A NICKNAME DUE TO THE FACT THAT HE USUALLY WORE A BUCKSKIN JERKIN. OFFICIALLY HE WAS THE KING’S BARBER, BUT ON OCCASIONS HE COULD ALSO BE HIS HATCHET MAN AND EXECUTIONER: AND WITHOUT ANY SCRUPLES HE FULFILLED THE VARIOUS MISSIONS HIS MASTER WOULD ENTRUST HIM WITH. ON THE VERGE OF DEATH LOUIS XI COMMENDED HIM TO HIS SON THE FUTURE KING. BUT CHARLES VII HAD HIM ARRESTED AND EXECUTED, AS HE CONSIDERED HIM TO BE HIS FATHER’S DAMNED SOUL.

HIS CASTLE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DISMANTLED, ESPECIALLY THE DUNGEON AS A SYMBOL OF ITS MASTER’S POWER. LEGEND HAS IT THAT OLIVIER LE DAIM, FORESEEING HIS COMING DISGRACE, BURIED A FABULOUS TREASURE SOMEWHERE ON THE LAND OF VILLIERS.

AFTER HIS DEATH, THE LORDSHIPS OF VILLIERS LE CHÂTEL AS WELL AS THOSE OF HUISON WERE ALLOWED TO BE HELD IN FEE BY LORD JEAN DE FOIX, VISCOUNT OF NARBONNE AND COUNT OF ETAMPES, THEN CAME BACK TO THE CROWN. DURING THE RENAISSANCE KING FRANCIS 1 OFFERED THE CASTLE TO THE HOUSE OF SELVE IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SERVICES RENDERED TO THE CROWN.

THE DE SELVE FAMILY OWNED THE CASTLE FOR MORE THAN 400 YEARS. THEIR COAT OF ARMS IS BLAZONED “AZURE CHARGED WITH TWO BARS WAVY ARGENT”: IT CAN STILL BE SEEN ON THE CASTLE.

AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY AS MANY AS 20 PEOPLE WERE STILL EMPLOYED BY THE CHÂTEAU AT THE PEAK OF THE SEASON, INCLUDING 7 GARDENERS.

ON AUGUST 22, 1944, THE CASTLE NEARLY WITNESSED A TRAGEDY: THE EXECUTION OF 197 HOSTAGES BY THE PANZERTRUPPEN. THEY WERE SAVED AT THE LAST MOMENT, THANKS TO THE ALERTNESS OF A POSTWOMAN IN LA FERTÉ-ALAIS WHO SENT A WARNING TO THE NEARBY AMERICAN TROOPS. THE GERMANS HAD MEANT TO GATHER 200 PEOPLE FOR ELIMINATION, BUT 3 KEPT MISSING, THUS PREVENTING THE OPERATION FROM STARTING. A NUMBER OF GRAVES HAD ALREADY BEEN DUG IN THE PARK BY THE HOSTAGES. THE HOLES ARE STILL THERE TO BE SEEN.

IN 1958 THE CASTLE WAS BOUGHT BY PHILIPPE CLAY, A SINGER AND FILM ACTOR. IT THEN BECAME A PLACE OF CELEBRATION.

Alsace, France Sep 25, 2017

Click for more photos:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ptrv5QQKeP5Jh81u1

Colmar, France 24 Sep 2017

Flew into Ramstein Air Force Base and drove to Colmar, Alsace, in northeastern France. More photos at:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/FX5ngmDxmnazp9K33

and at:  ruhu12.com

Flying to Germany

Caught a KC-135 tanker last night from Macdill Air Force Base, Florida, to Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany.  Our plane refueled a C-17 cargo plane over the Atlantic.

Our KC-135 was built in 1959.  The Air Force plans on flying them many more years.  Nice plane, very reliable, can be very hot or cold. We carry ultralight sleeping bags and air mattresses.

Preparing For Hurricane Irma

We are ready, with our motorcycle helmets and air mattresses.

Hurricane! - September 10, 2017

Bummer!  Hurricane Irma is now projected to hit Sarasota. It is a very major hurricane. We have done everything we can to get ready and now we must ride it out. No fun.

I was in a Typhoon in 1970 in Vietnam. Actually it was downgraded but we were on Hill 327, about 1,000 feet above sea level, and it ripped our base apart.

My hootch above after the big winds. From a letter I wrote home:

"A typhoon ripped apart our Hill in October 1970. Most of the buildings and much of our equipment was destroyed. We hid out in bunkers and metal vans during the typhoon. Most of the valley below was flooded. The NVA who had been able to hide in below ground tunnels had to come out to high ground and they were attacked by Korean Marines on the high ground."

We hid out in a radio van during the storm.  Of course we were young and invulnerable, so we kept the door partially open looking at out as the storm increased.  Then WHAM!!. the roof of the building blew off and away into the win. Pretty neat.

The winds destroyed every building. Of course they were simple sea huts, made out of plywood and 2 by 4s. Not for high winds.

We gave up on the Hill after that, and moved our unit down to flat ground below.  But we kept security and our air control radios on the Hill. It was a long commute up the Hill every day so I just moved into a ruined hootch and lived there.  Half of it was gone and it was laying on a steep angle, but it had a great view.

I will let you know how we do in the upcoming fun Hurricane.

They just don't build hootches the way they used to: