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We just bought three electrical bikes: two normal touring bikes and one tricycle with a big basket to do the shoppings. The touring bikes are meant to be used by our clients, the tricycle is to be used by the guesthouse. But, if we do not need it and you need a third bike... Our region is ideal for cycling: there are so many small roads where there is almost no traffic. They turn and turn, go up and down ( the electrical bikes are very handy for the 'up'), and most of all, one has small surprises after each turn: a small valley, a superb view, a hamlet, a field with local cows, ... Such a pleasure to move around without the use of a car, without polluting anything, ...
About the energy : You can chose between 100% support, 50% or 0%, according to the efforts you want to make yourself. At any time, one has to cycle, otherwise the support does not work; it's only meant to assist you, not to take over. All our bicycles have batteries that last 40 - 60 km (depending on your efforts). You can take a second batterie with you so that you can go further away... Recharging of the batterie takes less than 0,5 kW. We are busy preparing a support receiving solar panels for the recharge of the batteries. Before that time (and in periods with no sun) we will use the electricity of the public grid.
Children: We do not have electrical bikes for children. You can use seats for small children that can easily be attached on the bike (we have one seat for the front for the smallest ones and one for the back).
Prices: you can rent the electrical bike for 15 euro the day or 10 euro half day. The use of children seats and a second batterie is for free.
How to book ? You just tell us which (half) day(s) you would like to use them during your stay with us. We will book them for you. If we see that there is a large demand, we will put a booking calendar on our website.
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We have bought the bikes at ISD, in Charente. We bought two 'speedy aluminium' and one 'vélo tricycle'. We suggest you to go to their website (in french), which is very complete and gives a lot of information about electrical bikes. |
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Teatime with an introduction to spinning
| If there is a demand, we can organise you 'teatime with introduction to spinning of sheep wool'. This will be done on the Wednesday afternoons, between 14h00 and 17h00. We'll use the wool of our own sheep. On the programme: discussion about wool, carding by hand, spinning by hand with a spindle. We will drink tea, eat cake, discuss and, afterwards, you can continue to spin. If you want, we can lend you a spindle during the rest of your time at our place, and you can use our wool without any costs. Price: 15 euro per person. This includes the introduction to the spinning, teatime (tea, coffee or homemade fruit dring, a piece of cake), the use of the spindle and the wool. Minimum of 2 persons is necessary. How to book?: just let us know how many persons are interested for which date (all the explanation can be done in English). |
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Compost toilets
Flushing the toilet is the second biggest water consumer in the household, just after the showers and the bathing: 30 to 40 liters per person, of drinking water. A compost toilet does not use any water. The principle is easy: you have your toilet seat and a "bucket" under it, that receives everything that you normally leave in a toilet. After each use, instead of pulling the chain, you pour sawdust in the bucket. This sawdust absorbs the liquids and blocks the smell. When the bucket is full, you empty it on a compost heap.
We have two portable compost toilets. Up till now, one was on exposition in our lounge. This year, we would like to go a bit further. We can put a compost toilet in the bathroom of your room. So, if you want to try or because you're always using it, you can book a compost toilet. We take care to deliver you the sawdust and to empty the bucket. Without any extra costs. And if you hesitate (that's normal in the beginning), you can either just have a discussion with us, or you can try and if you do not like it, we will take it away. In your bathroom there still is the flush toilet.
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We bought our two compost toilets at Philippe Redois: who also did the studies for us about rainharvesting and waste water treatment by plants. |
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