A New Year's Eve hike in Mont Ventoux

A New Year's eve hike in Mont Ventoux, alone, needing to get up into the mountains...
I started the hike just outside the town of Bedoin (350m), at the southern foot of Ventoux. As you start to climb the views quickly become wide-sweeping. Below is a view from the south face, including the Luberon mountains in the background, taken from just above 1000m in altitude






The rocky limestone paths of Ventoux...

Not even 2012 and already the first flowers are blooming. Below is the "stinking hellebore" plant, highly toxic (also known as mother-in-law's plant).

At around 1000m in altitude on the south face you can visit many centuries-old shepherd's huts, calles "jas": used for shelter for both the shepherd and the flock in the mountains. 1000m marks about the snow-line in Ventoux, above which the snow will generally last for long periods in the winter.

ps: in n the photo I'm wearing a Christmas gift from one of my cycling guests this year: Berit sent me a wollen hat from Norway. Thanks, and see: it's already put to good use!!! It's the warmest hat I've ever worn, and I'm a Canadian!

A visit to Toronto...

The skyline seen from the High Park area...

Downtown Toronto at dusk, the emblematic streetcars at Spadina and College.



Niagara falls lit up at night, the waters cascading in milky neons down the Niagara River.



The falls seen from just 9m above the river, after descending a 38m elevator to a viewing platform. The falls are only 54m high but what makes them so imposing is the 675m they stretch around the horseshoe.



I suppose grape vines aren't much of a novelty for someone who lives in the south of France, but icewine is. It's December 2nd in Niagara on the Lake, and the bunches of Vidal grapes are bundled in their nets, waiting for the freezing temperatures of January for picking and pressing, the sweet golden nectar separating from the ice.

The Vidal grapes and their thick skins, able to withstand the harsh Canadian winters, perfect to use to make ice wine. These pictures were taken at the Joseph Estate, just outside Niagara on the Lake. I asked whether any varietal could be used to make icewine, and although there doesn't seem to be any rules about which grape can be used, only certain varietals are able to cope with winter conditions and remain on the vines until January.