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squiz Member Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 3071 |
24th April 2013 Hiking - Walking: Gorges de Chassezac – Wind Direction: Wind Stength: Surf / Sea State: Air Temperature: Sea Temperature: Weather: sunny Max Speed: Distance Covered: Wednesday 24th April – walk ***** Gorges de Chassezac – sunny Although felt a bit self conscious with the other camper vans and people in robes in the distance thought that yoga style exercises wouldn’t be too out of place so we did exercises in the sun:) Had our breakfast sitting outside – it is a glorious day but there was frost on the ground when we woke up and only 3 degrees. Set out about 10.30 and drove only 11 miles to the Belvedere de Chassezac overlooking the Gorges of the same name which are really spectacular. Mag had a wander and found the viewing point which has a guard rail around it and gives a fantastic view of the whole gorge. We had a drink and read our books then took the very unusual square loaf we bought in a village on the way through and some cheese and sauscison in the ruck sack and set off on the path down to the bottom of the gorge. It was really steep and the path was very rocky. Some of it was verging on rock climbing! We are definitely back in the swing of hiking now and our feet are having to toughen up!! We took a bit of a wrong turn and thought that we had come to a dead end but then found the last little bit of path (sheer drop – much scrambling!) and were amazed to find a class of about 20 school children climbing and abseiling down the sheer rock face at the bottom! We said bonjour and carried on until we were on a flat rock right next to the raging river at the bottom of the gorge. It took us about one hour 10 minutes to get down there. Had our lunch and read our books before starting the big climb back which we thought would take us a lot longer but was actually only 45 minutes. Exhausted we reached the top and collapsed on the blanket for coffee, bread, jam and a chapter :) After a rest we set out to walk to La Garde-Guerin which is a village at the top of the hill via the viewing point so I could see it too. The village is virtually deserted but it was a nice walk with some lovely tame sheep to talk to on the way in and a massive tower which stands at the end of a ruin. I went up the tower but Mag couldn’t face it. The steps were really booby trapped, some double the height of others and you had to pass through a sort of trap door and I had to take my ruck sack off! Really exhausted now so wandered back down the cobble and grass walkway to the ancient washing area and back to the van. Lovely evening and probably our hottest day even had a t-shirt on! Thursday 25th April – relaxing + a little walk – sunny and warm :) We had a very lazy day, other than exercises in the sun with lovely view over the gorge this morning. Unfortunately our peace and quiet was interrupted by road works on the road running behind the car park. They didn’t take long to pass and I quite liked it – comparing to working for Carillion – lots of men in yellow :) We read and enjoyed the sunshine until about mid-day then we drove to Le Lac de Villefort which is about 25 miles away. We drove round looking for a nice place for lunch and found the Chateau de Castanet at the very end of the lake. Had a little wander along the banks and up to the chateau which was closed of course :) Drove into Villefort and visited the 8 till late shop but no big supermarkets or cheap diesel here. Found a nice place to park (they don’t really want you in any of the car parks or parking spaces but we found this one without a sign so decided to take a chance). We had a cuppa and read and dozed then played phase 10. Went for a walk around the lake until we could see the Chateau we visited earlier in the distance. Saw a huge cream coloured buzzard which we think might be some kind of eagle but once again unsure so say buzzard! Back to van for a late tea. |
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