VivaLaVida!

A journey to meet the planet and its inhabitants...

Last outing of the year in the Doubs

  While I was hoping to do another 2-3 weekends in VivaLaVida before storing her for the winter, a family celebration and an episode of gastroenteritis for Emile only let us make one last bivouac of the year on the last November weekend.   We went discovering two natural archesRead More…

Last day before heading Home…

  In the early morning, we go discover an altitude marsh spotted during our walk the day before..     1. A source there creates a stream that meanders on a flat.       2. At its end, a small pond formed.       3. We don’t hangRead More…

Back to Clarée Valley

  Still unable to walk much because of my sprained ankle, we decide to go back up to the beautiful Clarée Valley that we had discovered last year in the same season and discover the Fontcouverte waterfall, taking advantage of the golden larches to take some pictures.     1.Read More…

Jafferau fortress, then Vallée étroite (Narrow valley)…

While setting up camp, I badly sprained my ankle. Despite the ointment applied quickly and a bandage to try to succeed in putting the foot on the ground, I will have to revise the plans. Damn! Here I am forced to give up a hike planned in two days. So,Read More…

Discovery and re-discovery…

  Still going down in the valley that leads to the Col du Sommeiller, we stop to discover a vast alcove created by the collapse of a friable cliff.     1. The cavity visible on the other side of the torrent, at the top of a steep slope.  Read More…

Fall holidays

  Our short week of vacation with Emile begins with a rainy day. We make the road to the region of Bardonecchia where I hope to drive the Sommeiller trail that we had not been able to discover the past summer.     1. Rainy boondocking above Rochemolle.    Read More…

Getaway in France

  As fall holidays are approaching, we camped south of the Ain to discover a beautiful natural arch that had been on my bucket list for quite some time.     1. Through the fog…       2. Spooky silhouette…       3. After finding our boondocking place,Read More…

Way back to home…

  It’s time to head home, our three weeks coming to an end soon.     1. From Colle della Maddalena, we go down the Ubaye valley and we stop for a picnic on the banks of this beautiful river.       2. Window from the Girabeau Pass underRead More…

Lakes in Ubaye

  We leave this beautiful place to discover others…     1. Going down from Colle Fauniera.       2. We find a boondocking place on the edge of a pretty river, very close to the French border from where we will hike tomorrow.       3. …Read More…

Maira Stura

    1. Wake up on these beautiful mountains that serve as summer pastures.       2. Emile explores the surroundings.       3. …       4. A golden eagle flies over, watched by a kestrel.       5. Panoramic from our camp.    Read More…