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Pass of Valbelle
Still on our way back home, we pass by chance near the “Demoiselles coiffees”, some hoodoos on south shore of the Serre-Poncon lake.
1. A short hike takes us near these always impressive concretions.
2. The site is evolving fast. Its configuration has changed a lot over the last 50 years.
3. Site Overview.
4. Always favoring the back roads, we take a trail passing through Coche and Valbelle passes to reach Guillestre.
5. Summer stable.
6. VivaLaVida on the trail.
7. View towards the West, shortly before the Pass of Valbelle.
8. From the pass towards North.
9. Some showers are coming.
10. It’s gotten colder, the snow is not far away.
11. We find a boondocking spot above the Risoul 1850 station.
12. Last campfire of the trip.
13. Stop at an abandoned gas station in Maurienne.
And that’s it for our Fall holidays. Shortly after, summoned to the VivaLaVida expertise, I had to remove the licence plates while waiting for the manufacture of parts to increase the power of the parking brake because the efficiency of the current assembly was deemed insufficient by the expert. We were therefore unable to enjoy VLV this late autumn. She returned to her shelter for the winter.
As you read this, I received the ordered parts. I’ll be installing them in the coming weeks before getting the licence plates for the new season.
Thank you for your loyalty in following this little blog and see you soon for the rest of the journey aboard VivaLaVida! 😀
Haute-Ubaye
Coming down from Larche Pass (Colle della Maddalena), we go discover the Lautanier valley.
1. Fall colors are everywhere.
2. Hiking up the valley.
3. Meander.
4. A hiker on the bridge. 😉
5. Ubayette River which dug the valley.
6. Larches and birches.
7. Further up in the valley.
8. Fall atmosphere.
9. Birch trunks.
10. Ubaye Valley.
11. Our boondocking spot along the river Ubaye.
12. We made a campfire there between the raindrops.
Continuation of our way back shortly.
Waterfalls in Jura Mountains…
In mid-October, in Emile’s absence, I went for a little trip to the Hérisson waterfalls, in the neighboring French Jura.
1. Gour Bleu waterfall, horizontal version.
2. Gour Bleu waterfall, vertical version.
3. Mushrooms…
4. Bubbling undergrowth.
5. Grand Saut waterfall.
6. Alcove.
7. Hrrisson torrent.
8. Above Eventail waterfall.
9. Oops, the forest roads were quite muddy that day! I had to use the winch to get out of that mess!
The next article will take you to discover some new corners of the Italian Alps during our Fall holidays. To come soon.
Return through Lozère, the Cévennes and the Ardèche
It’s time to go home as Emile is flying to America in three days with his mother..
1. Small village not far from our camp.
2. Another one, a little further.
3. Pastures of the Lozère highlands.
4. I love these arid plains…
5. Not far from Florac, on the Causse Méjan.
6. Isolated hamlet.
7. Trail under Mont Lozère.
8. Grove.
9. In Ardèche, Baumicou waterfall, actually dry…
10. Last bivouac in Ardèche before the return.
11. Dusk…
That’s it for this too short summer vacation. The next posts will be about fall adventures… 🙂
See you soon here and thank you for your loyalty in following the discoveries of VivaLaVida !
Highlands of Lozère
Coming back from Spain, we cross France by small roads, discovering some spots identified during previous research. We arrive in Gorges du Tarn and go up to a first causse (kind of of high plateau) by a very small road. It leads us to a trailhead to discover several natural arches.
1. First spot, a cave in the limestone.
2. A few hundred yards further, a first arch.
3. A hoodoo in the middle of a clearing.
4. Emile poses for the photo.
5. At the end of the loop trail, we arrive at the spot called Arcs St-Pierre with three natural arches within a radius of barely 150 yards. The first, which seems to have served as a shelter in ancient times.
6. The same from the opposite.
7. The second.
8. …
9. The third, the most imposing.
10. Both in a row…
11. Emile in a small cave along the path.
12. View from the plateau.
13. The meadows are quite dry but some flowers remain.
14. Our camp a few miles further; the shower feels good. 😉
Continuation and end of these summer holidays in the next update soon…
Rougier de Camarès and Millau bridge
We continue our return journey with several detours…
1. Pretty village of Saint-Sernin-sur-Rance on our road to Aveyron.
2. We arrive in Camares at the end of the afternoon…
3. … and we go discover its “rougier”.
4. It is an area of erosion of clays with a high iron content, which gives its characteristic color from which it’s named.
5. We go walking there…
6. …
7. …
8. Back to VivaLaVida.
9. Nice boondocking near a private lake. Thanks to the breeder who allowed us to spend the night on his land.
10. After a short drive to the East, we approach the Millau Viaduct which I discover for the first time.
11. Quite impressive!
12. After having some lunch there, we take the road again towards the Gorges du Tarn.
We will discover several beautiful natural arches that we will show you in the next article. 🙂
Back in France…
As announced in the previous post, we are back in France, on the northern slopes of the Pyrenees. We go to discover Navarrenx, a pretty fortified little town about 25 miles West of Pau.
1. One of the entrances of the city.
2. Patrol path…
3. A beautiful courtyard.
We had promised ourselves for a long time to share a campfire with friends from the Pau area, Fred and Martine. A few years ago, they bought a small camper that allows Fred, an accomplished landscape and wildlife photographer, to travel for his passion.
Passing through the region, I texted him and the stars aligned so that we could share a nice altitude bivouac. Fred sent me GPS coordinates of a spot easily accessible by a good trail where we could meet up.
4. In the middle of the afternoon, we are the first on site.
5. A few Pyrenean peaks surround us.
When Fred and Martine arrive, the last section was a little too rough for their little camper and we go back down a mile to meet them and find ourselves a spot easier to access.
6. After the aperitif and lighting the campfire, it’s time to prepare the dinner.
Photo FredW
7. On the menu: melon and ham starter, then lamb chops with ratatouille cooked over the wood fire. Yum!
Photo FredW
8. Cooking…
Photo FredW
9. What a great evening with friends! Martine and Fred, thank you for your kindness and for this great time.
Photo FredW
10. Time to go to sleep…
Photo FredW
11. The next day, I get up before sunrise to enjoy the morning atmosphere….
12. First rays on our camp.
13. The plain North of the Pyrenees. The city of Pau is hidden by the mist.
14. On the other side, the first peaks of the Pyrenees.
15. I go back down to our camp.
16. It’s time to pack up camp and say goodbye. We promised to do it again another time!
Photo FredW
More soon with the discovery of a rougier and an impressive bridge…
Thank you all for your loyalty to this little blog.. 😉
A somewhat thwarted start to the summer holidays…
After taking VivaLaVida out of its winter quarters by carrying out a major service, replacing the steering ball joints and some other maintenance work, Emile and I set off again on board for a three-week holiday heading to Galicia, which we hadn’t discovered last year. But after barely a few hundred miles, a big BAM stop us dead in our way!
1. One of the rear tires decided to suddenly give out on us.
2. It takes me an hour under a blazing sun to change the wheel before getting back on the road.
3. We find a cool spot to sleep, on the edge of a beautiful forest.
No question of continuing the journey without a spare wheel. I decide to change the 4 tires that have more than 70,000 miles and are soon worn out. Going toward Saint-Etienne, the nearest town, to find 4 new socks to VivaLaVida. But it’s not an easy task: we go to three tire specialists who cannot order the required size not common in Europe. Finally, one gives us the contact details of an American vehicle seller, Presticar Automobiles in Grand-Croix, which imports Dodge pick-ups we find him late Monday morning.
After two hours of searching and multiple phone calls, he finally finds 4 tires in the right size and I confirm the order. But the delivery won’t take place until Thursday at best. So we decide to pass the time by discovering the surroundings, starting with the Pilat, a local summit which overlooks the Loire to the Northwest, the Ardèche to the South and the Lyonnais to the Northeast.
4. View of the Lyonnais from the Pilat summit.
5. We find a nice boondocking spot at almost 4,300 feet elevation where we spend 3 nights.
6. There is a stream that runs right next to our camp and Emile likes to play in it.
7. We buid a dam.
8. We also visit the surrounding area, in particular this “giant fir tree” which reaches 150 ft in height!
So it’s only on Thursday mid-afternoon that VivaLaVida, wearing her new shoes, resumed her route towards the West. Three hours later, we find a nice boondocking place on the banks of Lake Naussac while a storm threatened.
9. After the first thunderstorm. Three more will follow during the night which will still be restful.
10. The next day we cross the gorgeous Aubrac plateau. Our spot for lunch!
After a night in a camping between Montauban and Auch , we will reach the Spanish Basque Country the next day. To be continued soon.
Way home and laste gateaway of 2023
1. We find a place to sleep in a beautiful forest.
2. In the rain, this forest is beautiful.
3. Dinner.
4. On the way back, we stop at the Cascade des Tuffes.
5. Then we go discover the Herisson Waterfalls.
6. Upper waterfall.
7. Beautiful river.
8. A few weeks later, the first snows covered the Jura Mountains. It’s the opportunity for a hike..
9. Picnic.
10. Foirausaz mountain pasture.
11. End of day…
12. Dusk.
After this rather cold night, I protected VivaLaVida in its winter quarters where it spent 6 months in peace. I took it out a month ago to do a full service and prepare it for new discoveries this summer.
As you read these lines, Emile and I are somewhere with her discovering new lands. I will tell you all about it soon..
Have a great summer everyone and see you soon here ! 😀
Getaway to the Loire Valley
Having received a stay in a Lodge at the zoo of La Flèche as my 60th Birthday present, we went there during the fall holidays. On the way back, I took the opportunity to show Emile some of the Loire Valley castles.
1. Boondocking along the Cher…
2. … a stone’s throw from Chenonceaux castle!
3. Still so beautiful !
4. At this end of afternoon, it’s not too crowded…
5. Gardens…
6. Docking.
7. Fountain…
8. Last look…
9. Wake up on the banks of the Loire.
10. First rays…
11. Majestic Chambord castle!
12. Its famous double nested staircase.
13. Inner courtyard.
14. Chapel.
15. It’s time to go find a place to boondock.
to be followed soon. 🙂
D5 Creation