We arrived in Issoudun at 1:35pm with sunny, warm skies, and stopped at the church in the center of the farming village. While taking a picture of the church I met a woman who had been sitting on a porch across the street, her last name being Menard and maiden name Bergeron. 

        Well my grandmother's mother was Elizabeth Bergeron who married Berthelemi Ferland in a neighboring village, so at that point I knew we were related. She was well acquainted with the Ferlands and the Bouffards, my relatives. She indicated her brother-in-law Paul Ferland lived just a couple houses down the street, and that he was more familiar with the family, so down the sidewalk we walked and knocked on the front door. Paul answered the door and after describing who I was he warmly welcomed us into the house and introduced us to his wife. We started talking about our relatives saying his mother was a Bouffard and cousin to my grandmother.

        He had pictures of my grandparents and other members of the family and also said that my father and my uncle Albert Bouffard both had stopped there while on their honeymoons. 

        The steam operated sawmill on the back of the property looked familiar to me from some old pictures my parents had. It was a good start to my Canada vacation and my knowledge of French proved an asset in this part of the world, although it's very easy to understand it was much harder to find the right words when speaking it. We said our goodbyes and were very comforted by our 2 hours together. I was amazed that by returning to the village where my mother was born, I found close family.  

        As we left I felt our trip had already proved worthwhile. Leaving Issoudun we saw some farms with barns and farm animals. We were now on our way to Quebec City.

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