On a sunny day at the end of May, I feel like going take a walk in nature with my family. My children are 5 and 8 years old. We therefore choose a short distance of 5 km. The Lême circuit in Baux-de-Breteuil, seems ideal to me for this outing. A seasoned hiker would complete the circuit in 1 hour. With the children, we will complete it in 1h45.
At 10 am, the wind is cool, but the sun is already warming up. The children keep their sweater. On the first part of the route, we are in the open since the path crosses a wheat field. At this time of year the ears are already formed, but the wheat is still green.
We are on the site of the former priory of the Desert created by Saint Melaine, bishop of Rennes, in VIe century. Saint Suzanne was honored at the priory because of some of her relics that were designed there. This is why the chapel next to which we are walking bears the name of the saint.
Walking along the building, we discover with astonishment a group of sheep lying in the shade of a tree, cool. What makes children happy.
At the end of the field, we continue on a quiet road before entering a dead end where homes have pretty surprises in store for us. A huge cherry tree swollen with red fruits, ducks sunbathing on the edge of a pond, a beautifully flowered garden, an original statuette or even a porch surmounted by a wooden plane.
Before arriving at the edge of a wood, we walk along a flax field. I really like this plant. When it is in bloom, the wind caressing its blue flowers gives the sensation of the movement of the waves in the open sea. Today, linen is still green, but the fineness of the strand offers the illusion of a certain softness.
We enter the forest. After 45 minutes of walking in full sun, the freshness of the place is appreciable. The little music of the cricket of the plain gives way to the song of the birds. Among this great cacophony, we recognize in the distance the melody of the cuckoo. In a little while, we will cross the Chêne Regnier, a pleasant forest valley classified Natural Area of Ecological Faunistic and Floristic Interest.
The sound of the wind blowing through the foliage makes my son believe that a waterfall is not far away. It's an auditory mirage! The Leme, which we will cross later, is dry at the moment. This small stream is in fact an underground river that only appears during winters with high rainfall..
In places, the path has somewhat tall grass. As good amateur hikers that we are, we have planned the pants and closed shoes.
The circuit ends again across fields. In single file, we walk the last few meters to our starting point.
It is quarter to noon. The children did well. The uncrowded roads and the long stretches through fields and forests allowed us to leave them to walk in complete safety. Now is the time to go home to regain strength over a well-deserved meal.