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squiz
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Member#: 79 Location: Registered: 28-11-2002 Diary Entries: 166
Mood: i thought the winter/spring wa
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29th April 2013
Hiking - Walking: Cascade de Runes again, walk to standing stones in Wind Direction: Wind Stength: Surf / Sea State: Air Temperature: Sea Temperature: Weather: low cloud and rain all day again :( Max Speed: Distance Covered:
Monday 29th April – walk *** Cascade de Runes again, walk to standing
stones in rain near Runes and the a circular walk around Florac :) – low
cloud and rain all day again :(
Weather much the same sadly:( here at the carpark for the Casade de Runes
We did our exercises outside before it started raining again and did go
down to the waterfall to see if we could see anymore but it was just the
same. Set off up into the hills and the drifts of cloud at various heights
with the hills poking through did look spookily attractive! In a clear
patch we spied some of my favourite standing stones (menhirs) so we shot
off down a cart track and parked in a gateway and I went off across the
hill in the rain to take photos. When we started to go back up the track
we thought we were really in trouble! It was a lot muddier and steeper
than it seemed on the way down and the van started to slide about all over
the place and we couldn’t get up the slope at all! We had several bashes
at it and eventually with the engine revving like mad and using the ABS
button we did slither to the top. At one point we thought we had a
puncture but luckily we didn’t! Back on the road for a few minutes we
saw a sign to the Etang de Peche de Barranden and decided to head there for
lunch. The road was fine to the very pretty village but after that went to
yet another muddy and rucked track! It wasn’t quite as bad as the last
one and we made it to the very chilly lake and parked up to eat and read
for a while. Still raining and very very miserable. We had the diesel
heater on for a bit to warm up. Decided to head for Florac because it is
such a waste of time being in the beautiful mountains and not being able to
see anything! On the way through we past the big mound at Les Bondons
which we have seen on a post card but there wasn’t any signposts or walk
signs signalling that it was anything special so we weren’t sure whether
it was it or not! We are pretty sure now though as we didn’t pass any
more big mounds! We stopped in the main street in Florac and Mag nipped
into the Tourist information to get lots of leaflets and maps then parked
up in the free Camper Aire. A cuppa and cake (feeling very chubby, too
much to eat and not enough exercise with this bloomin weather!) then we set
out on the walk round the town featured in one of the leaflets. There were
12 points of interest including bridges, castles, fish farms, a park and
the source of the river Vibron called the Pesquie Spring which gushes out
of moss covered rocks at the top of the park and flows through the whole
town with many waterfalls. It is a really lovely town. Back to the van
for a carbonara tea.
Tuesday 30th April – relax in the van – walk into Florac twice !!!
Rain, rain & more rain !!!
Oh Dear – it rained all night again and although we laid in reading until
10 it was still torrential. We spent the morning reading, playing cards
and eating! I even cleaned the van in the rain! We eventually couldn’t
stand it any longer and with numb bums set out for a wander round the town
in our cagoules. We took the laptop hoping that we would get Wi-Fi at the
tourist information but they don’t do it so I had to carry the damn thing
round for nothing. We are glad we made the effort because due to all the
rain all the waterfalls through the town were a lot more ferocious! The
water level had gone up at least a couple of feet and when we got to the
source it was amazing. All the moss covered rocks from yesterday were gone
and the whole hillside was a mass of crazy water! We enjoyed watching the
sand martins swooping over the water and nearly flying into us! A pair of
dippers actually going into the water and a very busy grey wagtail (which
is more yellow than a yellow wagtail!). We met a German couple up near the
source and had a nice chat with them. They said that the weather forecast
for better tomorrow has now changed and there is nothing good in the
forecast for the rest of the week! They are considering going home. We
bought some postcards and walked to the post office for the stamps and made
a quick visit to the Carrefour on the way back to the van. We have
certainly got to know our way around Florac. Texted Maggie Coles to see
if she could give us some idea of the next few days weather both here and
in La Franqui and she rang with the results. It is supposed to rain here
for the next few days and be cold and it will be windy and warm down there
so we will head that way tomorrow and hopefully come back to the Cevenne on
our way back up north. We went out again at 7.30 to stretch our legs and
see the waterfalls again – the water level had gone up yet again and you
can’t believe that the town centre bridge can hold the water back! Our
English neighbours don’t appear to have left their van since we got here
yesterday! You are only supposed to stay here for 24 hours but at least 4
of us have been here longer now. Had chilli for tea.
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