An altogether different kind of drama today... Woke late, with Tom reminding us that it was 0900, finally got packed up with picnic lunch etc by midday, and headed out on our bikes for an expedition.
First meltdown from Tom in the entire holiday - he came flying off his bike twice in quick succession, bleeding from the knee and from the elbow - "I hate this bike and I hate cycling!" Concerned French neighbours came to his aid with water and bandages and we persuaded him to get back on, but there was a lot of lip trembling as we wheeled down hill towards our planned hike in the woods along the Riviere Saint Maurice. Still we had a good start to the walk with the discovery of wild raspberries, and Tom even began to hop, skip and chatter as he usually does.
About three kilometres into the woods we found ourselves on a makeshift boardwalk by a very high river, then crossing a rickety wooden pontoon to reach the trail on the other side.
We took a breather for sandwiches and grapes and trail mix, and watched as the grey sky got darker, and the rain started. Just as Tom uttered the words, "guys I think we should turn back now", the skies let rip with torrential rain and rolling thunder. We had pac-a-macs which proved laughably inadequate. And in fact the only thing to do was laugh, since we were absolutely soaked, with the water rolling down off our bedraggled bodies, and the mud splashing up our legs.
Richard and Tom got a riff going along the lines, "if only it would rain! It's so hot and dusty! It's ages since I heard any decent thunder!" And on that slightly hysterical note we sloshed back to the start of our trail, got on our very wet bicycles and peddled back up the hill to the campsite. I was just thinking, "well at least the storm isn't right overhead" when I was nearly thrown off my bike by the ferocity of the simultaneous flash and roar of thunder and lightning...There are times when you suspect the gods are having a laugh at your expense.
So here we are back in Harvey's shelter. Stripped off our wet clothes, and settled down for a family movie ('Astroboy'!) with cups of tea for the adults and choc ices all round. Supper is going to be total comfort food - sausage, scrambled egg, and Heinz baked beans.
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