DCV with Association Orchis

St Vaast, Normandy,  21 May - 23 May

Eighteen feet scarcely touched the ground lost weekend in the beoutiful little town of St Vaast. Now in its 11th  year, the DCV link with Association Orchis just gets better and better. From the moment we were welcomed by our hosts, to the moment we waved au revoir, we were treated with warm and generous hospitality by all our French friends. 

The weekend began with a convivial drink together, before separating for dinner with our hosts. Saturday morning, a brief trip to the market for some, then to the worksite for 9.30. Our task was to clear shrubs to create a new footpath, part of the "Greenways of la Manche". Besides uncovering a footpath, part of an old railway was discovered, and the remains of a car long since put to rest there. Lunch was a picnic in the sunshine prior to the mysterious bottle throwing. This turned out to be an extremely interesting exercise in measuring the sea's currents. Local school children scientifically weight the bottles so that they will sit at the right depth in the sea, add a message asking for details of retrieval and seal the top before launching them. A large map in the classroom plotted the course of many bottles. 

Saturday evening was spent celebrating Orchis' 10th birthday. Prior to a wonderful dinner, DCV presented Orchis with some beautiful wooden goblets, which Alan had kindly made for the occasion, and following the meal, the talented man even played music for us. Despite being late enough by then, we moved on elsewhere for more music and a lesson in Normandy dancing. Our expertise may have been questionable, but a very good time was had by all and one can only applaud DCV members present for throwing themselves into it wholeheartedly. While some danced, out in the yard a splinter group played the Normandy game of "pallet" involving hurling metal disks at a "jack" on which small change rests, the object being to knock over the jack and score points. 

Sunday morning found us staking a variety of trees which Orchis, together with schoolchildren, had planted 7 years ago on a rubbish dump. The trees were growing very well but were being buffeted by coastal winds. The task also involved beachcombing as we needed more rubber ties and those used by the oyster industry, and which can be found washed up on the beaches, were perfect. With the beautiful coastline and lovely views, this was not a hardship. 

Following another lunchtime picnic, it was off to a coastal nature reserve just south of Utah Beach. Here we watched a colony of seals in the distance, basking and swimming. There may not have been many birds, but from the hides we watched several coypu, some with young. Then, suddenly, and sadly, it was time to leave 

Orchis President, Thierry, thanked DCV for their friendship, knowledge and expertise and we in turn responded that DCV have learnt much and continue to learn from Orchis. Once again we came away full of admiration for their organisational and social skills. 

Thank you to everyone who went on this weekend for a wonderful time and for taking part so wholeheartedly - each played their part. Hats off to Mary and Kim who had never met us before but took the risk and enjoyed themselves immensely.