Paper and stone

 We took a walk to the old paper factory that used to provide work for the population of the valley until 1965. It was a drizzly day to begin with but cleared as we walked. There was a sculptor's yard outside the factory, but it was closed to passers-by. Shame as there were some cool pieces. 

The paper factory ran from the late 19th C to 1965 when it was no longer able to compete. It would appear that all the metal was stripped out but there are some ruins that survived.

The 'Danish rollers'. These had blades fitted to shred rags to a very fine mush.

The factory began as a water mill, then in 1920 the owner built his own hydro-electric dam further downstream. It also had diesel generators when needed.

Wood pulp was ground to a fine mulch on these mill stones.

Baths were used to wash the rags before shredding

Fountain said to cure whooping cough and other diseases. Not Covid though.

We got back to this which was... disappointing. However, I think that all the jostling of the top joint loosened the bottom ones so I have tightened them up and we'll keep an eye on them.

We got some religion again when we visited the Vallee des Saints (though they are on a hilltop so why that name?). It's a great setting for them looking out over a valley to a distant ridge, although it reminded me a little of the Dr Who baddies, the weeping angels.

Sculptors at work. The dude in front has a buddha-like pose don't you think?

Ouch.We think St Peter Martyr of Verona

Does this look like moko?

St Claire (and mum). St Claire is carrying her own eyeballs.

We meandered our way to a place called Penze. Tomtom takes us some interesting routes. Because it calculates open speed zones in country roads as always being driven at 80 km it takes us down them as the quickest way from A to B. However, it has also made some pretty dire choices recently - a footbridge, a farm track or two, and a few closed roads. Certainly the roads less travelled.

Our stop is by a river estuary and we arrived at full muddy low tide. As usual we are not alone, so we can be thankful it's not a busy time.