It all started with a walk and a picnic in the village of Châtreauneuf du Pape, the uncontested king of the Rhône Valley wines.
But we quickly headed out of the Rhône valley (it was nearly 40°C) and atop the plateaus, draped in lavender.
Day 2 was filled with ochre sands, starting with a walk around the village of Rustrel, in was is called the "Colorado Provençal".
And then to explore a small fraction of the 40km of tunnels dug into the hillsides near Gargas.
In the evening we enjoyed dinner in the village of Roussillon...
... its homes painted with the colourful sands from the nearby quarry.
On Day 3, while Charlotte led most of the group on a walk from Bonnieux to Lacoste, I strolled through the cedar forest with Geoff and Ruth. Geoff turns 89 years old next month while Ruth is 90 years-young.
We all met in the sadistic village of Lacoste for lunch...
...before visiting a candied-fruit confectioner in the valley.
On Day 4 we climbed up to the Claparèdes plateau above the village of Apt to get a hands-on lesson in lavender harvesting in the traditional method.
And of course the group picture in the lavender fields!
In the 2015 batch of distilled essential oil of pure lavender, you'll notice the ever-slight aroma of "mountain guide".
After our visit at Mr. Agnel's farm we headed east towards our next place of stay, in the town of Forcalquier. On the way we stopped at sunflower field for some pics:
A pre-dinner stroll to the chapel that sits high above the town of Forcalquier:
Geoff and Charlotte in deep conversation...
... while Ruth's conversation with Billy was slightly limited at Thierry Yerneaux's goat farm, set in the heart of the countryside near the village of Saint Michel l'Observatoire.
Here's Thierry and his award-winning goat's cheeses, which were a centerpiece in our picnic lunch.
Ruth and Geoff arriving for dinner in Forcalquier.
mother and daughter working together at the Cuisine des 2 Anges restaurant in Forcalquier.
Forcalquier by night.
Our final walk took us up to the high plateaus, where a sea of lavender fields extends into the horizon.
And just in time to take part in the harvest:
And of final evening at our hotel in Forcalquier, complete with a game of Pétanque...
EPILOGUE:
Mary, Claudia and Mark stayed on for two extra walks...
the first of which leading to Sénanque Abbey just outside the village of Gordes...
In the evening we settled into the Chalet Liotard on the upper slopes of Mont Ventoux. Claudia and Mark are both doctors, and so baby Camille was in good hands. In the picture below Mark is displaying his best this-little-piggy technique.
Mary and Olivia in highlighted by the setting sun...
... which is particularly stunning at 1400m in altitude.
In the morning we set off to conquer the summit of Mont Ventoux, the hard way: via a succession of rock-slide formations along the northern slopes.
But can you beat these views?
We passed some wild lavender along the way. After all, it is a mountain plant!
Reaching the ridge and climbing up towards the summit:
The emblem of Mont Ventoux: the Greenland Poppy.
The final stretch along to the very top...
...with a bubbly celebration:
Thanks for a great week!!!
