The Drome and the Cote d'Azur

17.05

We said ‘Au Revoir et Merci beaucoup’ to Henri and Virginie,

our wonderful hosts and camp owners and drove along the country roads heading South.  The fields of wheat and newly planted corn and the first signs of red poppies looks like a Monet painting.  We travelled via St.-Etienne into the Parc Naturel Regional du Pilat, a rapid climb over the Col de Republiqe reaching an elevation of 1161 metres and beautiful alpine views. 
The Montgolfier brothers who invented the hot-air balloon in 1783 held their first public demonstration in the Park.  The  French term ‘montgolfiere’ arose from their invention. A rapid descent down into the Rhone Valley and a very pretty drive through cherry tree orchards and scattered vineyards. 

We followed an arm of the Rhone along a scenic road that was more like a wide picturesque   bike path.  A fabulous easy drive.  Into the Drome region and our chosen campsite, ‘Les Clorinthes’ in the Mediaeval Town of Crest.  A wonderful spot situated on the River Drome and within walking distance of the town.  16 Euros.    

 18.05

We biked along the banks of the River Drome and then went exploring in town.  We walked  along the main street with it’s quaint shops and eateries to the old centre and it’s medieval alleys.   We hiked up the many cobbled stairs leading up to the Mediaeval Tower of Crest  with it’s beautiful view from the top, looking over roofs of red roman tiles to the Drome Valley and surrounding mountains. 

The Crest Tower is an incredible and spectacular Monument. It was the residence to the Lords in Feudal times and served as a prison between the 15th and 19th Centuries. It has the highest Keep in France, 52 metres high.
Incredible to be walking the river stone paths that look the same today as they did back then.  Back to Camp and enjoyed a swim in the pool, bliss!

19.05

Our mad cycling camp host gave us a ‘tres belle’ bike route to follow for 32kms.  We set off via the stone village of Aouste-sur-Sye and continued to climb, passed the fields of lavender, (will look more stunning when they’re in flower in June), through the Saou Forest and over the Hautes Alps to the Col du Pas de Lauzun, altitude 504 metres.  A good leg work out, (especially if you have a ‘bionic one’), and stunning scenery, reminds us of nearby Provence.  A descent down to the fun town of Saou for coffee.  To our relief it was mainly a downhill ride back to Crest,  the Tour standing tall and dominating the landscape.   Pork remoska for dinner with a spot of Rose.   
 
 20.05

We couldn’t have asked for a better camp, the attention, kindness, knowledge and assistance given to us by our camp hosts Gerard and Sandra was amazing.  We swapped addresses and hit the road heading South. 

A beautiful drive through the Haute Alps and into the Region of Rhone Alps Cote D’Azur.  Passing striking stone villages and farmsteads, rolling countryside, cherry tree orchards, vineyards with a sprinkling of red poppies following the River Drome.  Through the Gorge and into La Beaume and  ‘Tour de France’ territory.  We’re 20kms from Sisteron and entering the Department

des Alps de Haute  Provence and following the River Durance, an affluent of the Rhone.       

As Sisteron came into view, what an incredible sight with the ‘imposing’ citadel perched high on a rock above the valley... stunning. 

It's a 3rd - 16th Century fortress standing above the town alongside the River Durance.  We headed 15kms further on to Volonne and our chosen campsite ‘Sunelia’.  14 Euros.  The wind has come up and after a quick walk into Volonne we ‘battened down the hatches’.

21.05

Gale force winds today, great for drying our washing!  A catch up, tidy up day!
Availed ourselves of the cherries in the camp orchard, Col up the tree.  Walked along the river into Volonne for an explore.

22.05 

The wind has abated somewhat and we headed into the Haute Provence.  Dramatic  scenery framed by the Alps, some snow capped.  Through the valleys and the gorges reaching 1200 metres altitude, ski lodges and an alpine landscape.

We saw paraponters jumping off the cliffs near the pretty stone village of Greolieres.  Into the Cote D’Azur and through the ‘Gorges du Loup’ to our chosen campsite in ‘Le Bar Sur Loup’, Camping ‘Les Gorges du Loup’.  A terraced campsite with a great pool.  16 Euros.

We walked up the steep hill to the little village above, ‘Le Bar Sur Loup’, for a view of the Gorge.  We chatted to ‘Anike’ at the Tourist Office, she has a brother living in Auckland, N.Z.
It is a small world!

 23.05   

Our friends Jean-Michel and Arlette came to visit.  A wonderful rendez-vous, lots of laughs and catching up.  So thrilled to see them.  They live with Enzo (the Labrodor) in Valbonne near Antibes, in a fabulous spot!  We last saw them 2 years ago when we spent a week together in the hilltop villages in Provence.    

Later we walked into the tiny village of ‘Le Pont sur Loup’ and hiked up the ‘Gorge sur Loup’.  For such a scenic walk it was interesting there was no signage indicating it’s whereabouts.

In the evening we had another wonderful catch up with Albane and Bill, friends we met 20 years ago in Turkey.  We managed to track them down again on Facebook.  They live 4kms away from our camp.  We hit their local Pizzeria for a superb evening!

 24.05    

Albane and Bill picked us up and we spent a fun filled day in Chateauneuf du Grasse.  A gorgeous home filled with character in a beautiful location – close to the sea as well as the mountains. We met the rest of their family - Hugo, Liam, Orane, Wander and Snow the Rabbits and Chianti the collared cat.  Great lunch, great walk to an old Church, a great dinner and great company.  Back to Lefty a 1.30am.

25.05

A pretty but twisty drive 10 kms down to the Coast and Valbonne, another beautiful spot in the South of France and our friends Jean-Michel, Arlette and Enzo.  Again we were spoilt rotten!!  We had a wonderful dinner with the two Virginie’s and met their beautiful  smiley little girl, Elora. 

26.05

Enjoying the sun overlooking the pool and catching up.  In the evening we had ‘apero’s’ with Jean-Michel and Arlette’s friends, Norman and Suzie who also live in Valbonne overlooking the mountains. Enzo kept bringing in very chewed up cricket balls that Norman assumed were being found in the garden, turns out Enzo had found a bag inside the house!!!

27.05

Sad ‘goodbyes’ to Jean-Michel and Arlette (and Enzo).  We’re hoping we may be able to join them in Brittany in September.  We drove 12kms to our next camp, Le Rossignol, 16 Euros.
A nice pool and about 4km from Antibes and 18km from Nice. 
We spent the afternoon around the pool.

28.05  

A day revisiting Antibes.  Not a cloud in the Sky. Walked around the old Town and beach, treated ourselves lunch and checked out all the flash boats.

29.05

A perfect day revisiting Nice.  We walked the beach promenade sampling the cheeses and sausage at the Italian  Food and Wine Expo.  It’s early season, a ‘nice time to visit Nice’, not too hot and not too crowded.  Still set up time for the sun loungers on the beach  and a paint spruce up. 

After a picnic we explored the beautiful old Town.  We found Richard and Carol’s lovely apartment where we spent a fabulous day three years ago, it was now minus Carol’s little piece of clothing.  A hike up to the Chateau for a stunning view and a stroll around the park.    

The Loire - Saumur Continued

09.05

Walked along the Loire from our campsite, across the bridge to the left bank and the pretty town of Saumur with its maze of narrow, cobblestone streets.  Made our way up the hill to the 13^th Century Chateau that dominates the town and has spectacular views of the Loire below. 

 Found a Decathlon store and purchased new towels and managed to lose my hat first day out!

10.05

Quiet day today with a small walk around our camp island and an afternoon around the newly opened pool with it’s Chateau view.

 

 

11.05

 

“On ya bikes” was the call for today and our first real attempt at a distance ride with Pam's bionic knee and my limited fitness levels. Rode along the Loire, passed the Troglodyte caves and vineyards to Chateau Montsoreau, made famous by Alexandre Dumas and his novel “La Dame de Montsoreau, 30k return trip and a welcome swim in the pool.  Roast pork for dinner and feeling the effects somewhat, an early night.


12.05

 

Bodies still a little stiff and sore and not much sleep so another rest day.  Walked into town for supplies and an afternoon of reading in our comfy chairs and enjoying the warmth of the sun.  Pamo also found a friend relaxing under his umbrella!

13.05

 

Another beautiful day and we hit the road following the Loire River via an old haunt Langeais then Tours.  The first signs of the red Poppies are appearing in the fields alongside the wheat, we’re here slightly earlier than in 2013, June is a great time to see the Loire flowers.  A grocery shop at Super U, always takes longer than we plan as they never cease to amaze us with the great selection of not only food and drink but goods that are normally found in camp shops, motoring shops, fashion outlets, parfumeries and so the list goes on, not to mention the well catered and cost effective restaurants.  We’re heading South East following the Vienne and the Cher Rivers through beautiful old villages, spotting the Chateaux, lush scenery dotted with vineyards and farmsteads. 

We stopped on the outskirts of a small village before Chateauroux for a picnic lunch by a pretty pond.  Onward to Culan with it’s splendid Chateau and our chosen ‘Aires Camp’ which we decided was too noisy and more like a truck stop so continued to our second option in Le Chatelet.  A great spot on the outskirts of the village near a park.  Joined later by another French camper which made us feel more secure for the night.  Serenaded to sleep by the frogs.

 

14.05

 

Good we stocked up yesterday as it’s another public holiday today!  We thought we’d take advantage of a little petrol station we found still open around midday and Col decided to also check the tyres.  The Madam kindly gave us the required pump and unbeknown to us locked up and left.  Unfortunately one of the tyres proved to be a problem, our quick stop turned into an hour before we were back on the road.  We headed via Montlucon and Roanne and rolling countryside and cattle farmsteads,  gaining in elevation.  

A narrow windy rural road took us down to our ACSI Campsite set on the shores of a reservoir. 
The Campsite is in St. Paul-de-Vezelin and called D’Arpheuilles. 
It has canoes for rent, hills to explore and a swimming pool.  A great spot!  14 Euros. 

It borders on the Massif Central but surprisingly is still part of the Loire. 
 

Had a quick walk around part of the lake and saw an enormous cat fish caught.  Pleased to see him released after photos taken.

Back to Lefty and tucked ourselves in, it’s late and the rain is coming!

 

15.05
 

Rain during the night but clear by morning so we decided to hike into ‘Le Bois de Cievre’ forest before the next bout.  We hiked up to the viewpoint of the camp and reservoir.  A dam was created in the Loire in the late 70’s to form the reservoir and provide electricity.  Back home just in time as the rain returned and set in for the night.  If you look closely at the right hand photo you can see Lefty on his site.

16.05

 

A great day for biking!  We set off up the 2km hill, phew, to the top and a wonderful landscape of rolling hills, cattle farmsteads dotted with small villages.  Along the narrow, quiet, blissful country roads to the tiny village of Danse (a great name!) where we ate our banana filled baguette under the trees.  Back towards the camp and a look at St. Paul-de-Vezelin.  A very pretty rural ride which got the legs going.  Got the lazy chairs out and blobbed in the sun overlooking the reservoir.