Owner:
squiz
Member

Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 3688
|
26th September 2014
Mt. Biking: Gorges de Nesque Wind Direction: Wind Stength: Surf / Sea State: Air Temperature: Sea Temperature: Weather: sunny Max Speed: Distance Covered:
Friday 26th September – bike ***** Gorges de Nesque – relax in sun
Another glorious blue, sunny sky:) Our gas bottle ran out while we were boiling the kettle for our first cuppa of the day (lasted 55
days:)). As the bikes had to be taken off to get into the boot to change the bottle it only seemed right to stay here and cycle the
gorge road. After doing our exercises in the sun and having a late breakfast I biked round to the toilet block several times to fill
our containers to fill the water tank – again as the boot was open it had to be done! Therefore, we didn’t set off until about 12.30!
We biked up away from the lake and onto the D942 which was an up-hill push all the way but nothing exerting, all quite manageable:) We
reached the exit of our hike up from the Chapel yesterday quite quickly and after having a quick look over the wall, carried on to the
official viewing point at the Roche de Cire – a huge rock on the opposite side of the gorge. We met a Belgian(?) couple who had come
up on electric bikes and I took their photo together on their camera. Then we got chatting to an English guy from Sussex. He had
biked around here many times and said this was his favourite road. He had done Mt Ventoux a few times, including twice on the same
day!! And had done Alpe d’Huez last week and was wearing the t-shirt! We carried on past the viewing point, all downhill and through
about 4 road tunnels through the rock and were treated to the most amazing views – more than you would ever see in a vehicle. We
stopped at the other viewing point, looking back at the Roche de Cire, turned round and headed back up the road which again wasn’t a
struggle at all although all up-hill. You could see even more this side of the road and the only thing between you and the sheer drop
into the gorge was a small wall about a foot high! Passed the view point then it was downhill all the way back to the lake. We got a
great view of the van through the hills from the road above the lake. Had late lunch about 3 – we had been away from the van about 2 ¼
hours and covered about 13 miles. Spent the rest of the afternoon sitting in the sun in our lovely spot near the lake, reading,
snoozing and playing Phase 10. Also watching big camper vans jousting for position where we were parked the other day in the rain!
Arriving, parking on another camper’s bumper and the original camper moving off in a huff to another position. Some of them stay the
course and just put up with them being a few metres away! Ridiculous when there is loads of room round the other side of the lake.
Went for a wander round the lake later, just before it got dark. Another great day and our third night here!
Saturday 27th September – Sightseeing travel, hike ***** Sunny
Really cold again this morning – it has been 6 degrees outside for the last couple of mornings! Soon warms up once the sun comes up
about 8 and we are toastie in the van. So we did our exercises out in the sun beside the lake with the dragonflies clattering their
wings around us! Had breakfast as the local people were setting up a car boot sale over by the buvette. We packed up and were sad to
say goodbye as we have had a good 3 nights and excellent activities here. Went back to Sault to the Intermarche to fill up with
provisions and diesel so goodbye to another 100 euros! Then headed back to Monieux and drove through the Gorges de Nesque which were
as wonderful as ever but the journey was spoilt by lots of motorbikes round every corner and mostly on the wrong side of the road or
trying to overtake you!! Annoying:( So glad we did it on the bikes yesterday because you see so much more and we didn’t have any
problem with motor bikes or vehicles of any description to be honest. When we came out of the Gorges at Villes sur Auzon we turned
onto the road to Methamis which takes you over to the other side of the Gorge, you cant see it so much but the scenery is beautiful
with lots of vines, cherry trees and some lavender but not as much as we have seen on previous days. We are definitely tempted to come
back and cycle here again and maybe on a grander scale because there is so much good cycling to be had. We carried on down through the
Plateau of Vauclause and the small village of Murs then shortly after that saw some cliffs rising up in the distance. We headed there
for our lunch and ended up staying all afternoon and made it our overnight stop too. The cliffs are called the Falaise de Madeleine
above the village of Lioux and we are parked near the Moulin de Lioux. After lunch we relaxed with our books until it cooled down a
bit (its really hot today, possibly our warmest day so far). Then about 4.30 we climbed up the short path to the cliffs and were able
to walk right along the edge! Spectacular views on either side. We walked a long way hoping to find a way down to walk back through
the village but the cliffs carry on for miles and are too high and sheer for any way down. Walked back the way we came and also went
to have a look at the Moulin which we thought from a distance was a ruin but when we got close it has been refurbished and is
somebody’s home so we didn’t get to have a good look! We are parked in a really nice position overlooking the cliffs and the village
so were able to enjoy a warm evening and a sunset while we had tea.
|
Toys Used:
Statsbar:

About MY Statsbar
|