All That Glitters Is Cold


I took some photographs around Les Eyzies today. Sparkling Les Eyzies. Frigid Les Eyzies. Bitterly cold Les Eyzies.


This record breaking cold spell has chilled us to the bone.


The weir at the end of the river Beune, icing up as the frost intensifies. 


The water wheel at Au Vieux Moulin, positively glacial.


Ice along the Vezere river.


There were sections where it had almost frozen the whole way across.

Hopefully the end of this benumbing weather is now in sight, MeteoFrance promise a thaw from mid-week, fingers crossed.

Comments

  1. Diane12 February 2012 at 23:11

    Wow, beautiful photos, I have never seen Les Eyzies look anything like that. Hope that I don't either :) Diane

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    1. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)13 February 2012 at 19:40

      Hi Diane, I'm sure the iceman hath cometh in the Charente too.

      Delete
  2. French Girl in Seattle12 February 2012 at 23:19

    Mon Dieu! This is scary, almost. I was in Les Eyzies just last summer, and it looked nothing like this. Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)

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    1. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)13 February 2012 at 19:43

      Veronique, Les Eyzies being in a valley is surrounded by limestone cliffs and rock which 'weep' ground water which looks dramatic when frozen.

      Delete
  3. Randy Emmitt12 February 2012 at 23:37

    Rob,

    The water wheel looks so ancient with all the ice on it, very cool. Hope it warms up there soon. Winter just arrived here in North Carolina USA

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    1. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)13 February 2012 at 19:46

      Hi Randy, that water wheel froze and stopped turning. The mill is now a hotel and restaurant in one of the most idylic settings imaginable.

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  4. Patty13 February 2012 at 00:30

    I can't get over how much ice you have. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you so you get that thaw.

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    1. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)13 February 2012 at 19:47

      Thanks Patty, keep 'em crossed. Snow tonight then a slow thaw.

      Delete
  5. James Golden13 February 2012 at 03:40

    Seeing your photos reminds me our icy weather is yet to come. In a normal year, we'd be seeing ice oozing from the stone walls, ice masses on the Delaware, yet so far nothing. Hope you get that break this week.

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    1. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)13 February 2012 at 19:59

      I hope you don't get too icy a blast before spring.

      The plus side to our current cold spell has been abundant sunshine, something that was in short supply for the previous two mild months.

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  6. Hermes13 February 2012 at 10:23

    Great pictures - looks so cold.

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  7. Leon Sims13 February 2012 at 11:01

    Stunning photos - we were there (le Bugue) in spring a few years ago. Love the area.

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    1. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)13 February 2012 at 20:01

      Hello the Sims, it is a lovely area and despite the cold, everywhere looks beautiful in the late winter sunshine.

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  8. Carol14 February 2012 at 05:49

    Wow! Rob, your winter is what our winter usually looks like. Well a New England version. Gorgeous! I can nearly feel the bitter cold through your images. It is still a mild winter here. I hope you do get that promised thaw. Take care. Carol

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    1. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)15 February 2012 at 12:02

      Hi Carol

      I guess there's a lot of comparism with New England, both areas of natural beauty. The cold has let up now, hooray.

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  9. Nutty Gnome14 February 2012 at 17:32

    Brrrr...and there was I shivering in our -9! It's warmed up here a bit now to about -2. Hope it warms up soon for you - although it does make for wonderful photos and that waterwheel is amazing! Looks very different from our midsummer visit!
    Take care out there.

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    1. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)15 February 2012 at 12:06

      Hi Liz

      In the centre of Les Eyzies the thermometre recorded -18C or 0F. It's a notorious frost hollow during the winter. The water wheel ordinarily turns. It just froze, stationary.

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  10. Cindy at enclos*ure14 February 2012 at 18:05

    Beautiful pictures, but I shiver for you. Hope milder weather comes soon.

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    1. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)15 February 2012 at 12:08

      Hi Cindy and thanks.

      A slow thaw is under way so we've stopped shivering.

      Delete
  11. sweetbay15 February 2012 at 14:56

    Rob sorry I don't have any advice about the post stuck in limbo. Whenever I've had a problem the blogger help forum is a good place to post questions and find answers.

    Have you started to thaw out yet?

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    1. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)18 February 2012 at 10:25

      Hi Sweetbay

      There's something glitchy with bloggers comments. Yes, we are thawing out.

      Delete
  12. Pat's Addition15 February 2012 at 18:36

    Tres froid. I hope the tropicals in La Roque are surviving. Marc Walker was just here for dinner so I can't ask him. (Not too intimidating cooking for a chef.)

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  13. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)18 February 2012 at 10:26

    I wonder how the 'tropicals' are? They probably got through, sheltered and south facing.

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  14. Phil Voice29 February 2012 at 21:41

    Hi Rob

    Boy wasn't it cold. -21°C recorded near Villeneuve-sur-Lot and a record -19°C in Bergerac.

    We had -19°C here on the coldest day. The same day that a contractor cut through an electricity cable which supplies our house and the heating oil froze too:).

    What a contrast today though with +20°C and our guest in our guest sun bathing by the pool....bizarre!

    Saw the Cranes this evening too. This video was from 2 years ago. It's a sight to behold...have you seen them where you are?

    http://www.landscapejuice.com/2010/03/crane-migration-grue-grus-south-west-france-europe-scandinavia.html

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    1. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)2 March 2012 at 20:26

      Hi Phil

      Wellfor zone 8 we had a zone 7 winter following a truly mild December and January.

      Les Eyzies recorded -19 or so, it's a notorious frost hollow but as you say, total contrast now, in fact the mercury nudged 21 here today.

      Not seen the Cranes yet. Been busy working inside unfortunately.

      I hope folk take a look at your link for the Crane migration, good stuff.

      Delete

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