Tranquil Fontrailles – a well named Rally.   Indeed everything was so peaceful and serene and laid back that very little was done, and therefore there is very little to report!   However there are one or two matters which are worthy of note, so here goes.

First of all the site itself was a major contributor to the success of the Rally.   Bought by Don and Maureen Paddon (ex ICA members) 19 years ago, the site covers 1.5 hectares, mostly in the remains of an ancient orchard.    The site includes a typical Gascony farm house and out buildings, which were first erected in circa. late 1700's.   These were in a very dilapidated condition when taken over by the Paddons, who have spent the last 15 years performing a remarkable job of renovation.   The old wreck of a farm house has been transformed into a lovely, modern, spacious dwelling of great charm, which now includes some handsome guest accommodation.

The camp site itself is diminutive, 10 pitches only, but all are served with electricity (9 amps).   The usual services could be found in the recently refurbished toilet block, which was small but adequate.

The second major contributor was of course the weather.   We were extraordinarily fortunate, for the sun beamed down on us for twelve days out of a total of fourteen, only breaking on the final weekend.   Glorious blue skies and hot sunshine practically all the time.  

The Rally kicked off in great style, for the site owners prepared, cooked and served a really delicious barbecue supper.   We were all seated under cover, six to a table and waited on by our hosts.

There were two principal excursions, one to the Pic du Midi, and the other to the cathedral city of Auch.   The trip into the Pyrenees was a winner.    As already reported, the sun shone and the visibility was crystal clear, just what was required for a day in the mountains.   A cable car trip soon got us to the top of the Pic, and at nearly 9.500 feet in altitude, the fresh breeze had a distinct chill to it!   Fortunately, warnings by our leaders to be properly clad did not go unheeded, and the services of the mountain rescue team were not required!   Needless to say the views from the summit were quite outstanding.

The excursion to Auch was, for most, to see the 17th century stained glass windows and the wood carvings in the choir of the ancient Cathedral.   These are truly remarkable!   The colours in the windows are as vivid as the day they were put in place and the forty or so wood carvings around and in the choir stalls are astonishing examples of medieval craftsmanship.

A few of us tried to find the Museum of the Resistance, which was duly marked on the town plans.   On arrival at the indicated building, we discovered that it had been moved to the Museum of the Jacobins at the other side of the old town.   Off we trekked, and eventually found the correct building, only to be met by blank stares from the receptionist.   Explaining in pidgin French that we had been “redirected”, the lady got on the phone to someone else somewhere in the building, resulting in the word “dacor” being repeated several times.   At the end of the conversation she announced “C’est impossible!”   This meant that nobody knew where the Museum of the Resistance really was!   A good example of typical French flummery.

Much to our delight, Sunday Lunch had been laid on for all of us at an Auberge just up the road.   The restaurant was almost open air, being in a kind of large lean to attached to the main building.   On being seated we were presented with that very pleasant French cocktail, a Kir, made from blackcurrant juice and white wine.   A lunch of good Gascony cooking followed.   Half way through, a minibus drew up, and out popped a little band of young musicians, who proceeded to play some merry tunes, then walked among the tables with a collecting box, as they were raising funds for their rugby team.   An unusual interlude!   Four hours (plus) later, we ended our “repas” with a delicious little cup of French coffee.   Not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

During the week, and no doubt inspired by our host’s complimentary barbecue on our first weekend, our leaders decided we would have a communal barbecue of our own.   This proved to be great fun, and so successful that the operation was repeated during the following week.   And what a variety of devices were produced to do the cooking!   Big ones, small ones, square ones and round ones; some heated by gas, others by the more traditional charcoal.   But all seemed to produce the most delicious appetising food!

Still on the theme of food (well, we are in France after all!) on the Tuesday of the second week, the ladies of the leaders, Mary and Heather, produced a French cheese lunch for us.   This was really nicely done, being laid out on decorated tables and at least half-a-dozen different cheeses to choose from, as well as salads and fruit, including grapes both black and white.   All this was accompanied by fresh French bread and as much wine as you could drink.   Acclaimed by all to be a very fine effort!

Les and Patti Sontag from Illinois, U S of A.   They may have had their legs pulled quite a bit e.g. one day they returned from a walk using their walking poles, when someone (who shall remain nameless) called out “Lost your skis?!”.   But they took it in good part, and gave as good as they got.

This write-up repeatedly states how laid back everything was, but our leaders weren’t going to let us get away with it entirely scot free.   A boules knock out competition was organised almost immediately, and play began early on in the first week.   Gradually, players were eliminated, until towards the end of the rally, only the semi-finalists remained – John and Mary Wilkins, and Stan and Rosemarie Pell.   And the winners were - - Stan and Rosemarie!   However, great credit is due to John, who had organised the whole tournament from start to finish.

But yet more endeavour was required, as our leaders had brought with them three quizzes, the first of which actually required the contestants to do a drawing to illustrate the name of a famous stage show given to them in secret by the organisers.   These were then stuck up on van windows, and everybody else had to guess what they were.   Great hilarity ensued, as people wandered from van to van trying to decipher the draughtsmanship of some pretty lousy artists!   One outfit, however, whose occupants simply could not draw to save their lives, had ingeniously cut out magazine illustrations which did the job just as well.

The other two quizzes were a different kettle of fish!   Comprising of some 40 clues each, one required answers relating to four legged things, and the other to items of clothing.   One clue in the latter caused great hilarity as well as some pretty bawdy answers.   How would you reply to “up and down”?   (The correct answer, by the way, was “dress”).

This lovely relaxed Rally came to an end all too quickly, and was celebrated in traditional ICA style with a farewell dinner (or the Last Supper as someone called it!) on the last Saturday evening.   It is always surprising on these occasions to see the gentlemen donning their jackets (albeit of various styles, from blazers to blousons), a clear complement to the ladies, who all looked especially lovely and glamorous!

Numerous prizes were awarded to the winners of the boules competition, and the three quizzes.   Some thought that Christmas had come early, for each prize was beautifully wrapped and presented.
A vote of thanks was given by Trevor Butler is his usual witty though sardonic style.   (He actually addressed the Americans as “our colonial cousins” – beat that for a leg pull!!).   We were all truly grateful to Mary, John, Heather and Mike for devising such a unique Rally, and toddled off to bed well satisfied.

But the weather had the last laugh!   On Sunday morning, when we were all packing up, the heavens opened, with a downpour of tropical proportions.   Unfortunately, this rather curtailed the ability of many to say goodbye to their friends.   But not to worry, friends we shall always be, in the best traditions of ICA, when we all hope to meet again “down the road”.