watches-lumber-and a boat

Yesterday we spent an active day in the Doubs River region of Franche Comte with members of the Maiche RC--we first visited a watch design and production company, which was founded by a Rotary club member. The region has a history of horlogerie--the making of time pieces. Most folks think of this as a Swiss tradition and to some degree it is, but this region of France borders Switzerland and thus the craft is seen on either side of the valley. Today however, as in most manufacturing, the actual production is done in Hong Kong under stingent control of the French designers. Product is then shipped JIT to France and then shipped to stores, jewlry shops and high end retailers from this facility. They also oversee all repairs of the products. These are high end products such as Citizen and Movado and licensed items for such designers as Hugo Boss. They also have their own lines Clyrus and Oxbow which are marketed more as fashion items than timepieces. At the conclusion of the tour the members of the Maiche RC presented each of us with a wrist watch.

We enjoyed another wonderful lunch beginning with a wild mushroom creamy soup, followed by poultry, cooked endive --chickory--with potato and other veggies, then a dessert of ice cream, sliced pears, chocolate and whipped cream and sprinkled on top with sliced almonds. All of this with bottles of champaign and wine---that will be a big adjustment upon our return-not having wine with every meal---or perhaps not?

We then toured a wood fabricator which specializes in laminating wood boards beween thick layers of insullation or cork, thus producing a product that can serve simultaneously as a roof and flooring product. We had the opportunity to witness the craftsmen glue and bend 12 boards that are then shaped into 14 meter length structural beams for houses and buildings. It was explained that these glued beams would set in 24 hours and be ready for final planing and sanding in one day. The company--Seimons--ships throughout Europe and Asia.

After the wood fabricator, to a boat ride on a river and lakes that border Switzerland and France: On one either side of the river was a different country--though both looked similar utilizing the -chalet- style of house--good for shedding snow in the winter.

We were completed about 7 PM, each back to our host families--mine a family dinner party celebrating the home visit of a brother who has been working in Mali Africa for the past three years. It was a late evening, lots of wine and champaign---got home well past 11 PM.

Today is the Team Vocation Day--