Speleothems

We thought our loyal readers would like today’s challenges. The first being ‘Name that poop’. Sorry, were you expecting something about speleotherms? We have avoided stepping in a lot of this along our routes. Any ideas? We could ask Google but thought someone would be up to the challenge.

Today’s walk was a 15km circuit from Loubressac via Gauffre du Padirac and the Caves of Presque. The walk gave us the opportunity to attempt various plant identifications, can you name them?

We’ve visited caves in the past and, as a result, no one was that keen to see anymore, especially after three days of hiking up and down endless hills. However, as the most impressive caves are accessible only by boat, Kim had booked tickets before we left home and we reluctantly gave it a go – they were fantastic.

Discovered in 1826 during construction of the D673 road, which links Saint-Cere to Rocamadour, the immense underground caverns are accessed via many steps into various illuminated caves some with roofs nearly a 100m high. Each one displays various stalactites (speleothems!) and other calcite deposits in different shapes and colours. We reached a point where the path ended, boarded a small punt type boat which took us on to even more impressive caves. The river runs, underground, for 20km before joining the Dordogne. Words and photos can’t really describe the spectacle that greeted us.

Time was getting on when we resurfaced so we cut our walk short, retracing our route back to Loubressac, catching a glimpse of wild Boar in the oak woodland. We made too much noise for them to hang around for a photo opportunity, wildlife photographers we are not. We did, however, stop to admire the Croix Helene Bombezy. She was killed on the site by a village boy in 1844, we can’t find out why she’s referred to as a martyr. We did discover what a cazelle is. Not a deer like creature, badly spelled, but a stone hut for sheltering sheep or shepherds

It’s been a leisurely day with easy walking. Our afternoon finished with a wander around Loubressac’s fortified town. A bientot.