4°C and raining in Trondheim, over 30°C and sunny in Provence.
We were based all week in the town of Isle sur la Sorgue, with our trusty driver Denis taking us to and from the walking paths.
Above Bedoin, in the Maraval valley, among grottos carved into the limestone cliffs.
Climbing above the valley, some 750m above Bedoin, Inge leading the way...
One of the many hiking signs along the way:
In the town of Bedoin, collecting our picnic fare before our hike (a great Monday market if you ever get the chance to go...):
Ann-Siri collecting a bouquet from the cedar forest...
...and admiring the views:
Gunnar uncorking the picnic festivities in the cedar forest:
On Wednesday in St. Rémy de Provence, collecting our picnics amid the colourful market stalls:
And above St. Rémy on the crest of the Alpilles mountains, where we enjoy our picnic and the views:
Inge and Tordi leaving the medieval village of Les Baux de Provence by its old entrance gates:
Karen admiring a sea of vines atop the village of Séguret in the Rhône valley...
...while Klara admires Karen along a dry river bed:
The vines of Séguret:
...and their fruit! (we ate our share...)
Climbing through the vines towards Gigondas...
...where we enjoyed some wine tasting at Chateau Redortier.
Our last day of walking on Friday, with our bus driver Denis leading the way on the upper slopes of Mont Ventoux:
On the north face of Ventoux, its rockslide dropping over 1000m in altitude down to the Toulourenc Valley:
Karen and Klara braving the rockslide on the lunar landscapes of Ventoux:
From the Mont Serein ski resort at 1400m in altitude, admiring the chain of the Alps:
Here we are -- and my right arm -- at Mont Serein:
I guided a cycling adventure with Norwegians last year, and once again they've proven to be extraordinarily warm, cheerful, always concerned about making me feel part of the group. Always ready for adventure, not afraid of a sweat, and perpetually good-natured...
The "group" always comes first, a heartwarming sense of togetherness, humility, and kindness that should serve as a lesson to us all...
I hope to come see you guys soon...
