Always the first Saturday in August. The French meet the Spanish at the Port de Salau. I should say the Ocitan meet the Catalan. People bring a picnic and musical instruments. There is some fairly random music, very random dancing, some speeches and some cheese and wine to share.
The weather was great and there were over 200 people at the Col. We don’t go every year but as the French contingent pass the door it’s quite nice to go and see.
The fishing association of Salau put out a request for anyone willing to help clear the river banks in the village. The aim was to give the fishermen better access to the river and hence the fish. In return they offered a meal in the evening. We had the time and never turn away food so said yes.
It did require a 7am start at the old school in the village. 16 folk turned up so we were sorted into two teams, which was very convenient as the river had two banks. Each team had a chainsaw person and 7 luggers. The luggers were there to clear the debris created by the chainsaw person. In our case, as we were on the side of the road, we had to lug the debris over the flood defenses to a waiting chipper. The chipper then turned the debris into chips and fired them (or most of them) back over the flood defenses onto the luggers.
This is the first time this has happened and the impact was terrific. The buddleia was like a thicket and up to 5m high and had brambles growing throughout.
Starting at 7 was a great option as the day soon heated up. Working alongside some of the locals we didn’t know too well was also good for us. And attending an exclusive meal for 16 in the Maison de la Chase was great fun too. All in all it was a good do and will happen again next year so we have already signed up.
The meal was a huge selection of charcuterie followed by paella, desert was a slice of patisserie, all washed down with ample quantities of red and rose wine.
