Lynne Davis and Family

I had the great pleasure of accompanying Lynne Davis and her family - 3 generations - along the trails of Provence. Here are some of the pics:

Bonnieux

 I'm still on my Roadbook-updating mission, yesterday in and around the village of Bonnieux in the Luberon. The skies were blue, the sunshine warm despite a crisp winter's breeze. Bliss for walking.

Self-guided Luberon walk

Lavender fields in the winter

Bonnieux, lit by the afternoon sun:

boar hunting along the trails...

stone architecture in Bonnieux:

Hiking between Malaucène and Vaison la Romaine

Why don't more travellers come hike in Provence in the winter? There are some distinct advantages:

1) perfect weather for walking, albeit a bit crisp -- but in my books 15°C beats 30°C.
2) extraordinary light for picture taking, and hardly ever any rain
3) no one on the trails but you - a guaranteed authentic experience

All of this was true for me yesterday, updating our Roadbook from the village of Malaucène to Vaison la Romaine.  It's the last leg of our self-guided tour that circumnavigates the Dentelles de Montmirail, a chain of jagged limestone teeth set above the Rhône valley.

My long hike (about 20km) actually began with a bike ride, as most of my updating missions do, placing a car at one end and a bike at the other. Extra exercise. And so by the time I began my walk in Malaucène I had already worked up a sweat...




Climbing into the hills, and looking towards the Rhône Valley.

Climbing on the southern slopes, bathed in the light, carpeted by a brush of aromatic herbs such as thyme and winter savoury, their perfumes intensified by the ever-present Provençal sun.

My lunch break, looking eastward towards the peak of Mont Ventoux, the summit under cloud cover:

Arriving in Vaison la Romaine at the end of the walk:

the ruins of the feudal castle set atop the medieval village of Vaison:

Come and see for yourselves!
Self-guided walking -- under the Silhouette of Mont Ventoux

Beaumes de Venise to Le Barroux

On a mission to update our Roadbook for our self-guided walking tour:
Under the Silhouette of Mont Ventoux

The morning was a cold one, as it has been for the past week, with frost on the ground. By the end of the day I'd wind up in a t-shirt though, which is why I love walking in Provence at this time of year.

A short but steep climb took me atop the Plateau de Courens, a hill above the village of Beaumes de Venise, with wide-sweeping views of the plains.

The first inhabitants of the village lived atop this hill. And below is its primitive 6th century St. Hilaire church, now being restored by a group of volunteers. I spoke at length with the president of the restoration committee, pictured below. He and his wife, well into their 70s, were busy taking out weeds and enjoying a very pleasant day in the sun. He spoke to me with great passion about the peace and quiet of the place, and why his work is a labour of love -- which of course reminded me of the privilege I have to spend many a day walking along the quiet trails.  As a paid job.

Here is the church seen from farther along the plateau:

Heading eastward, the famed silhouette of Mont Ventoux in view:

Along the quiet paths:

Reaching my destination, with the afternoon sun highlighting the perched village of Le Barroux and its renaissance castle (one of the few intact in Provence).

Reconnaissance in the Dentelles de Montmirail

A playground of limestone pinnacles above the Rhône Valley, the Dentelles de Montmirail offer spectacular hiking and superb vistas. Yesterday I updated route notes (Roadbook) for our self-guided tour, this the first of 5 walks:
Under the Silhouette of Mont Ventoux

The walk begins in the medieval village of Séguret, through the cobbled streets, here bathed in a morning light. Séguret is listed among the most beautiful villages in France. It was about 12°C yesterday and sunny: perfect walking conditions.  And I had the trails all to myself.

Updating route notes: yes, being paid to walk...  

...and cycle: since the walks are linear -- from A to B -- I needed to park the car at B and cycle to A. Then walk to B, and retrieve bike at A...
Does that make sense?
Sometimes it doesn't to me.

The vines above the village of Gigondas -- half-way through the walk -- terraced so that every usable square foot is carpeted with the coveted vines.

A short detour up to the jagged limestone pinnacles for magical views of the Rhône Valley.

The setting sun highlighting the perched village of Séguret from the Domaine de Cabasse hotel.

And just because my camera tends to over-contrast pictures, I decided to take one in black and white.