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Forced stop and start of the Pyrenees mountains
Today, we continue the road towards the Pyrenees.
After about fourty miles, I take VivaLaVida on the A6 motorway north of Orange. I take its cruising speed – about 65 mph – and I don’t have done 3 miles that a thudding noise intensifies quickly. No doubt, something is wrong with the chassis. I slow down immediately and pull over to the emergency lane. We are less than one mile away from a rest area and I slowly let VLV flow until there at 25 mph. As I go out to try to identify the source of the problem, amazement: 4 of the 8 studs on the left rear wheel are broken, the nuts having obviously disappeared! I take out the 21 socket and see that the 4 remaining nuts are really loose. As I tighten them, a fifth stud breaks. We really almost lost a wheel and I dare not imagine what the consequences could have been, as much for VLV as for other motorway users with an crazy wheel of three feet in diameter and approx. 100 pounds launched at 65 mph..!
This wheel tightened again, we drag ourselves to the next motorway exit 3 miles further. We go to a truck workshop and order a set of 32 studs and 32 nuts from the United States since they are specific to VLV’s 4wd conversion. Chris will send them to us the next morning by Express mail and they will finally arrive on Friday at 4 pm. In the meantime, we reach the “Manon” campgroung in Orang, where we will spend these 5 days of waiting. The swimming pool and the nearby town will somewhat entertain the crew stopped in its trip..!
1. Dinner in the campground…
2. Small compensation. 😉
3. The famous Orange roman theater and its stands.
4. We enjoy the swimming pool.
5. Distractions…
Once VivaLaVida has been repaired, we resume the trip to the Spanish Pyrenees. We get there at the end of the day on a Saturdayand it rains heavily. We stop at the trail that we will drive the next day when it is already almost dark.
6. Colored sunrise while Emile is still sleeping.
7. The trail which oscillates at about 6000 feet above sea level is gorgeous.
8. This is the opportunity to test the Isofix adapter that I made to install Emile’s seat in the front. He is in heaven! 😀
9. View of the plain, far South.
10. VLV is happy to be back on the trail.
11. We discover pretty villages…
12. …and a varied geology.
13. Another of these Pyrenean villages.
14. We reach a high plateau, the Pedró dels Quatre Batlles, after a climb where the 4×4 transmission have been very useful!
15. It blows a very strong wind. Is this why the vegetation takes the form of barkanes ?
16. The mood is beautiful as the sun goes down.
17. Last rays before sunset. The wind will shake us a good part of the night and it will only be 38 F in the morning.
See you soon for the rest.
Italian Alps (2)
1. After the Sommeillier, we reached the Pass delle Finestre. Arrived in late afternoon in a thick fog, we decide to sleep there in the hope of better weather the next day.
2. Early next morning, the fog fell slightly.
3. It gradually dissipates, giving a glimpse of the trail driven the day before.
4. Last switchbacks before the pass.
5. North side.
6. South side.
7. Backlight…
I wanted to continue by the Pass dell Assietta track but a municipal decree forbids access to vehicles from mid-June to mid-September. Undoubtedly the result of intensive attendance in recent years by groups of 10 to 20 4×4 mainly from Germany (these organized tours have become very popular with Germans who don’t have such mountains in their country). Therefore, we descent the southern side of the pass and do to Sestriere where we do some shopping to fill the fridge. Emile chose a succulent sheep’s cheese there after tasting it in the grocery shop!
We go then discover the superb Argentera Valley, still wild on its upper part since a 4×4 is needed to access there.
8. We find a great boondocking spot next to the river.
9. VivaLaVida in the distance.
10. Upper Argentera Valley.
It is already Friday and I decide to cross toward the Pyrenees to enjoy these other mountains, knowing that I will land Emile in Corrèze for the rest of his vacation in two weeks.
11. After half a day on the road, another boondocking spot in la Drôme.
12. Calm sunset atmosphere.
To be followed in the next article. 😉
Summer trip 2021, start in France and Italy
Both Emile and I were eager to hit the road after two years without traveling in VivaLaVida. However, while we planned to leave on a Monday, trying to crank VivaLaVida the previous Thursday, no way to start it! I do the diagnostics and identify that it was the injection pressure regulator that was out of order. I ordered the part in the United States with express shipping and received it next Monday. The time to install it and check that everything was fine, we finally left on Tuesday at the beginning of the afternoon …
1. First stop at Fairies lake, in Beaufortain.
2. The next day, we go to the Iseran Pass, more than 9,000 feet elevation.
3. Emile building a kern.
4. View of the mountains where Isère takes its source.
5. Emile in front of an orientation table.
6. We find a place under the pass to boondock.
7. There is a torrent, Emile throws some stones at it!
87. All happy!
9. The sun hides behind the mountain until the next day…
10. The next day, direction Italy in the Rochemolles valley via Mont Cenis.
11. The pleasure of the first campfire of the trip.
12. Dinner!
13. The following morning, we go up to the Scarfiotti refuge and its small lakes. I give up going up to the Sommeillier Pass because you have to pay to take this dead end track and there was a lot of people.
14. Waterfall behind the refuge.
Continuation of the story in a few days… 😉
First 2018 outing
After a snowy winter that lasted longer than the previous years, it was finally during the first weekend of June that VivaLaVida resumed service for a small outing in Ardèche (France) with the family. Here are some pictures of our boondocking…
1. First camp in a nice forest of Ardeche, South of France.
2. The camp fire.
3. Isabelle’s brother and his family rented a VW T6 California. It was a little tricky with two little ones of almost three years and seven months!
4. Some sunset colors…
5. In the morning, we celebrated Emile’s two years Birthday ! 😀
6. Breakfast…
7. Emile still sleeps well in VivaLaVida.
8. Our second wild camp spot in a clearing.
9. Emile having a great time!
10. Sunny breakfast.
11. Emile and his dad.
12. Last picnic before returning home. It was too short!!
That’s it for today.
The next outing is scheduled on the weekend of July 14th. Before, I ‘ve quite some work on VivaLaVida in preparation for our next trip to a destination that I’ll reveal soon. I will keep you informed of the work in progress…
Stay tuned!
Must already go back……
After five days, it’s already time to go back home.
1. We camped in the wild not far from Macinaggio, below a Genoese tower. First light of the day…
2. … gently move the village of Bettolacce out of the darkness.
3. To the East, Elba Island takes shape on the horizon.
4. Soft light of sunrise…
5. Good morning Sun!
6. Our boondocking spot.
7. Panoramic view of Macinaggio and its bay.
8. Maquis of Cape Corse.
9. Short stop to reconnect VivaLaVida’s swaybar.
10. Cristal clear water…
11. Lovely marina of Porticciolo.
12. Last sea play for Emile !
13. Loading VLV into the ferry.
14. Square in Bastia.
15. Last look at this beautiful city…
Back on the continent, we spend the night at my brother François’s place, in the Var valley, before driving the 400 miles bringing us home.
Thank you for having followed us during these short vacation! We hope to spend another weekend or two in VivaLaVida before I store her for the winter. We will share them here… 😀
Stay connected!
Cape Corse
We continue the ascent of Cape Corse, the wildest part of the “Island of Beauty”.
1. Botticella village.
2. The small Giraglia Island which gave its name to one of the most important sailing race in the Mediterranean Sea.
3. Old mill.
4. My darling 😉
5. Tollare Marina, at North end of the cape.
6. Swell…
7. Barcaggio marina.
8. Paradise beach.
9. Emile plays…
10. … with his Mom’s hat.
Last sunrise before return ferry crossing in the next update…
North West shore
Our stay in Corsiaca continues…
1. Familly walk on the coast.
2. Emile still loves the baby carrier !
3. And Isabelle appreciates these landscapes
4. But the rain catches up…
5. Fortunately, it will only last an afternoon and a night.
6. Breakfast.
7. Outdoor lunch.
8. St-Florent again…
9. La fantasmagorique plage noire de Nonza, en remontant la côte ouest du Cap Corse.
10. Sea clouds…
11. Pino, small village in Cap Corse
12. Boondocking in a pretty cove.
13. Horizon…
14. Afterglow…
Next of our Cape Corse discovery to come soon…
Program change.
After a few days in the Alps with temperatures well below usual in this season, Isabelle dreamed of warmer places. We decided to cross to Corsica for our second vacation week, hoping to find more sun…
1. Wake up in Menton, before embarking in Nice.
2. Waiting for boarding.
3. Emile discovers the upper deck.
4. Over Mediterranean Sea…
5. Arrived in the night, the next day allows us to enjoy the sun on the beach.
6. Emile loves outdoor picnics !
7. St-Florent, down the Cap Corse.
8. Trail through the maquis to reach a wild beach.
9. Emile’s snack. We met a German guy who announces that the portal located 2 miles from the beach is closed… We decide to turn around and go to another beach of which we know that access is open.
10. Crossing the Agriates Desert on the trail towards Saleccia.
11. Saleccia Beach, accessible only by boat or by a rather rough trail.
12. Inlet behind the beach.
13. We cannot say that it’s crowded… 😉
To be continued soon…
Tende…
1. Tende is a particular village, hanging on the slope of a deep valley.
2. Small streets are narrow…
3. … and most of the houses have views over the valley.
4. Porch…
5. A real little labyrinth.
6. Ancient door…
7. Another, with its guardian. 😉
8. The colors of the church clash..
9. Roof entanglement.
10. Up the street to the church…
11. … and its painted pediment.
12. The interior is also quite spectacular.
13. Still other doors…
14. Balcony on the valley…
15. Going down to VivaLaVida.
16. A chapel bell tower…
17. Swing for Emile…
18. Last look at the village.
To be followed in some days…
High routes in the Alps…
The next day, VLV took us to the highest paved road in Europe (this is at least what the French say 🙂 , the Pass of la Bonette.
1. Departure from our camp…
2. Ascent to La Bonette.
3. Small break in the ascent.
4. On a little pass below the head of la Bonette…
5. The panorama is gorgeous despite the light of midday.
6. VivaLaVida in her element.
7. VLV’s rack and solar pannels.
8. A valley on the other side of the pass.
9. Alpine tundra…
10. Seasonal migration…
11. Rocky edge…
12. Old military buildings in the descent on St-Etienne-de-Tinée.
Other passes to come shortly in the continuation of the narrative…
D5 Creation