Weekend picnics welcome springtime

Whether or not Punxsutawney Phil’s shadow casts across continents, some of spring’s more joyful qualities are peeking into Saumur in a welcome gesture of bidding winter farewell.

While six more wintry weeks are unfortunately possible, tomorrow (March 20) will officially ring in the next season. Complete with a happy mix of forecasted flowers and showers, I celebrated the first days of birds chirping, trees in full bloom and warm sunshine bathing my thirsty skin by picnicking.

As I’ve mentioned before, I think Saumur is the most-perfect town in France. A joyous landscape of rolling hills, big trees, rivers and a castle, nothing could be more appropriate than a bread-and-cheese picnic on a warm day.

Capitalizing on several sunny Saturdays, I’m cherishing the warm sun on my face and bright spirits. With plenty of picture-perfect spots along the Loire and around town, I’ve packed up for an afternoon picnic several times with friends. Complete with castle views, swing sets and chirping birds, it’s an experience I highly recommend.

Picnics are a cheap alternative to a café for lunch or even cooking for myself, as cooking for one is often (but not always) an expensive venture. A baguette, sausage and cheese to share is hearty, delicious and easy to split between friends. I’ve even ventured into trying different pâté flavors.

Enhanced one picnic even further, I brought boiled water in my Hydro Flask, and my friend Jenny and I steeped her French christmas tea when the sun hid behind a cloud.

However, the picnic isn’t just about the food and weather, but also the scene, the views, the company.

A couple of girl friends and I hopped in the car and drove right outside of town to plop down under a willow tree and enjoy a picnic on the river bank. After eating, talking and laughing, we took turns on the park swing while enjoying nature’s music and bird tunes.

While there’s plenty of rain in the forecast and several temperature drops before summer officially arrives, I’m loving every sign of spring, even the stinky tree blooms.