Tuesday, 28 May 2013
Dune Du Pilat the largest Sand Dune in Europe
From Lacanau we head our way south down the coast to Arcachon and the town of Pyla Sur Mer.
We head to our campsite at the south end of the dune Du Pilat and are amazed to see that we are about 50 meters from the base of Europe's largest sand dune as it rises some 100m above us. We start the ascent one foot forward three feet backwards. Harley however seems to be quite proficient at dune climbing nad has enormous fun launching himself 20 meters down a sand avalanche.
We head to our campsite at the south end of the dune Du Pilat and are amazed to see that we are about 50 meters from the base of Europe's largest sand dune as it rises some 100m above us. We start the ascent one foot forward three feet backwards. Harley however seems to be quite proficient at dune climbing nad has enormous fun launching himself 20 meters down a sand avalanche.
At the top of the dune its quite surreal as if you are in a large desert with the top of the dune stretching out towards to sea and further up to the summit. Its a good training ground for the marathon des Sables.
The summit conquered...bring on the Pyrenees
The dune is a magnet for hand-gliders and parponters as it seems quite a safe place to learn...well its only sand if you crash or worse the sea if you really screw it up..and maybe a pine tree if you are really rubbish.
As the weather had been kind we decided to watch the sun set at the top of the dune and watched the paraponters play in the evening wind.
The view out to sea was governed by a massive sand bar which in some areas were homes to oyster and mussel farms. As the sun began to set the big camera came out so I apologise now in advance of the number of sunset shots.
Sunset Tricks
Pine cone in mouth - action sunset shot..my favorite
One for the kiters
One for the sailors
One for the lovers
Ta-dah thats all folks...well just the decent
Lacanau Beach...Pine trees and Jelly fish
As I write this we have moved on from Lacanau and moved twice and further south...but ill let you read all about that in a mo.
Lacanau is very spectacular endless pine forests and endless weather fronts, particularly windy ones. On the surf front this means the waves have been shockingly blown out leaving just white mush, not the clean barrels of the first surf. So when its windy we put on our walking boots and head out along the miles of shore line that have no foot prints on.
Of course you do stumble across the odd blancmange that Harley thinks is edible. This fella was the largest jelly fish we came across a good 60cm in dia.
One for Sean.......and yes that is the splash of cola at the bottom......
Lacanau is very spectacular endless pine forests and endless weather fronts, particularly windy ones. On the surf front this means the waves have been shockingly blown out leaving just white mush, not the clean barrels of the first surf. So when its windy we put on our walking boots and head out along the miles of shore line that have no foot prints on.
Living close to the coast we know all to well about the way wind plays with the trees bending them and shaping them overtime. A classic spot for this is the road along the back of the Swordfish pub (sadly gone but not forgotten) in Hillhead. The trees there have been molded into the direction of the prevailing wind, but I've never seen trees shaped quite like the Lacanau pine tress.
As with most walks we tend to stop off at one of the local bars to replenish the fluids and to take on some important nutrition......
And just a small beer for me...its a Formidable 1Lt of beer somehow the Giraffe at 2.5Lt seemed a step too far..I put it down to wearing the Ironman jacket and people getting the wrong idea.
Monday, 20 May 2013
Lacanau Ocean
Lacanau Ocean........Surf City France
As we head further west on our travels we decided to go to Lacanau for a number of reasons...a) Surf. b) Its the seaside. c) Pine tress just like home. d) Philippa had a holiday here 30 plus years ago.
A little know fact about Lacanau is that its the home of some great little beach villas all very unique.................
Yesterday we got the bikes out the van and all went for a 10km bike ride to a nature reserve through the pine trees. The dedicated cycle routes are nothing that you would encounter anywhere in the UK, they are pure cycle routes through the center of natural pine forests....amazing.
As we head further west on our travels we decided to go to Lacanau for a number of reasons...a) Surf. b) Its the seaside. c) Pine tress just like home. d) Philippa had a holiday here 30 plus years ago.
A little know fact about Lacanau is that its the home of some great little beach villas all very unique.................
Yesterday we got the bikes out the van and all went for a 10km bike ride to a nature reserve through the pine trees. The dedicated cycle routes are nothing that you would encounter anywhere in the UK, they are pure cycle routes through the center of natural pine forests....amazing.
Saturday, 11 May 2013
Let them eat cake.............
France is strange or is it just me??????....its Saturday 4pm and its the Medoc region surrounded by Chateaux galore with tasting rooms that advertise that they are open.....but everything is closed......its just crazy....Its No Stellenbosch or Franschhoek where they are so welcoming and OPEN ( pleasure, pleasure) small joke for the Bolton's there.
Its also very apparent that its all about the brand, the label and not the community. Its as if nothing has changed from the "let them eat cake" era of Marie Antoinette..... beautiful Chateaux surrounded by communities close to dereliction. 90% of the houses have their shutters closed all day and all you hear are barking dogs as you walk the empty streets, its like a seen from a zombie film.....ahhhh maybe it is. Check back tomorrow to see if we are still human......
Its also very apparent that its all about the brand, the label and not the community. Its as if nothing has changed from the "let them eat cake" era of Marie Antoinette..... beautiful Chateaux surrounded by communities close to dereliction. 90% of the houses have their shutters closed all day and all you hear are barking dogs as you walk the empty streets, its like a seen from a zombie film.....ahhhh maybe it is. Check back tomorrow to see if we are still human......
Friday, 10 May 2013
Red Wine....mmmmm...Medoc
Pauillac......the mecca of red wine.
As our travels take us closer to the West coast we passed through Bordeaux and then onto Pauillac the home of La Tour and Lynch Badge wines. Unbelievably we can actually see La Tour from our campsite. We parked up the van in on our pitch and headed over the road and walked up the vineyard road of La Tour and was amazed to see the famed horses of La tour ploughing the narrow gauges between the vines...Amazing. Now you know why it costs so so much.
As our travels take us closer to the West coast we passed through Bordeaux and then onto Pauillac the home of La Tour and Lynch Badge wines. Unbelievably we can actually see La Tour from our campsite. We parked up the van in on our pitch and headed over the road and walked up the vineyard road of La Tour and was amazed to see the famed horses of La tour ploughing the narrow gauges between the vines...Amazing. Now you know why it costs so so much.
Now I know the terroir of the region is stony and sandy but again I was truly amazed at how stony it actually is.
Phil and Harley at Chateaux La Tour.
We then headed towards Lynch Badges and the small village that surrounds the chateaux and again all within walking distance of the Campsite....Tomorrow is lunch and a wine tasting at this legendary vineyard but no more cheese please..............
Eymet......Old Uni Friends
Our Journey took us through the Dordogne to a small village South of Bergerac to Karen and Simon Colebourn's house....well CDP then their house. CDP or Cafe de Paris a typical French bar near the town Church. It's funny how we abbreviate things like CDP and the AX or Ashley Cross or the BT, Bermuda Triangle and it's the same everywhere.
Anyway back to the blog.....we met Karen, Simon and their daughter Megan and their son Harry and had a great BBQ of duck breast and sausages with a fab salad of walnuts and some duck gizzard or such like. The night, as you would expect, was full of great memories as it had been 20 odd years since we last met but the conversation, memories and the wine flowed. It was a fantastic evening so we would like to say a huge thank you to Karen and Simon and hope to see them again on our journey.
The next morning was market day in Eymet which was most exciting for Harley and a struggle for those with hangovers.
Our Journey took us through the Dordogne to a small village South of Bergerac to Karen and Simon Colebourn's house....well CDP then their house. CDP or Cafe de Paris a typical French bar near the town Church. It's funny how we abbreviate things like CDP and the AX or Ashley Cross or the BT, Bermuda Triangle and it's the same everywhere.
Anyway back to the blog.....we met Karen, Simon and their daughter Megan and their son Harry and had a great BBQ of duck breast and sausages with a fab salad of walnuts and some duck gizzard or such like. The night, as you would expect, was full of great memories as it had been 20 odd years since we last met but the conversation, memories and the wine flowed. It was a fantastic evening so we would like to say a huge thank you to Karen and Simon and hope to see them again on our journey.
The next morning was market day in Eymet which was most exciting for Harley and a struggle for those with hangovers.
Sunday, 5 May 2013
Dordogne photos of Domme and our mini Plage
A hot days walk in Dordogne to Domme by ironmanAllen at Garmin Connect - Details
Untitled by ironmanAllen at Garmin Connect - Details
11 miles in the blistering heat to a great walled town called Domme where the Knights Templar were held on trial.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domme,_Dordogne
and more importantly its open on a Sunday for ice cream and refreshments galore.....
11 miles in the blistering heat to a great walled town called Domme where the Knights Templar were held on trial.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domme,_Dordogne
and more importantly its open on a Sunday for ice cream and refreshments galore.....
Saturday, 4 May 2013
Circular walk from the Dordogne, Montfort by ironmanAllen at Garmin Connect - Details
Untitled by ironmanAllen at Garmin Connect - Details
Now this is France.......scorching sunshine, the Dordogne meandering, Swallows galore and buildings made of Sandstone....some looking very similar to habitats in Cirencester. Tomorrow the BIKE comes out......
Still ant work out why the French Cafes/Bars are always shut when we need a drink.............
Now this is France.......scorching sunshine, the Dordogne meandering, Swallows galore and buildings made of Sandstone....some looking very similar to habitats in Cirencester. Tomorrow the BIKE comes out......
Still ant work out why the French Cafes/Bars are always shut when we need a drink.............
Friday, 3 May 2013
Puy de Dome day..........
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puy_de_D%C3%B4me
Our site was situated some 14 plus Km from the summit of the Puy de Dome and having walked the previous day to the local Put de Gravenoise at 933m we set our sights to something a bit more challenging...yes that summit in the background, some would say its akin to the Lions Head in Cape Town.
Harley being a petit chien was granted access to the funicular too - thank goodness for that. Our walk back to the van clocked a solid 28km for the day...and the sun came out too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puy_de_D%C3%B4me
Our site was situated some 14 plus Km from the summit of the Puy de Dome and having walked the previous day to the local Put de Gravenoise at 933m we set our sights to something a bit more challenging...yes that summit in the background, some would say its akin to the Lions Head in Cape Town.
Our walk took us through Royat and then up and up and up until we reached the Volcanic national park where we then found a path to the summit. The weather was perfect for walking no wind, moderate heat and no rain. As we hit the major slopes the temperature picked up and so did the perspiration. At the top we could see the view over the Auvergne and the volcanoes its famous for.
The Puy de Dome has seen 13 tour finishes and tyhe most famous being the shoulder to shoulder finish of the 1964 Stage 20 12 July Brive – Puy du Dôme 217 km Julio Jiménez (ESP)
The 1964 Tour de france was one of the greatest races of all time. Anquetil had come off his Giro victory that ended just 14 days before the Tour started and was tired. His battle with Poulidor culminating in a titanic side-by side climb up Puy de Dôme in stage 20, where Anquetil had conserved just 14 seconds of his lead, is one of the legends of the sport. Unfortunately you cant cycle up this great climb today.
As we admired the views we could spy on the horizon snow on the far off peaks and then the clouds came rolling in and unloaded their contents so we took the easy option of the train that runs up and down - those that have seen the Garmin post will no doubt have questioned our time down.
Roll on The Dordogne..............
Thursday, 2 May 2013
Untitled by ironmanAllen at Garmin Connect - Details
Untitled by ironmanAllen at Garmin Connect - Details
Just a little hike to day to the highest Volcano in the Auvergne region, Poy De Dome, and the site of 14 tour finishes but unbelievably you cant cycle up it..... Some great vertical Ascent achieved today.
Just a little hike to day to the highest Volcano in the Auvergne region, Poy De Dome, and the site of 14 tour finishes but unbelievably you cant cycle up it..... Some great vertical Ascent achieved today.
So here we go..... France the early days.
Having made our way to Longres a great walled city just North of Dijon we decided to stay for two nights in our first municipal campsite at an incredible 13€ a night. Facilities in the way of toilets far far better than the last place - no nesting birds and bird pooh in this one.
Longres is the home of Longres Cheese which is small and round with a dip in the top so you can pour Champagne into it....how indulgent, let them eat cake.........
The cheese is aged in a cave or a cellar for 2 to 3 months and washed weekly....yes the French wash their cheese at the same intervals as themselves....ahhh lovely. Okay enough of the toilet humor. Oh yes and they do their own beer too.
We walked the ramparts of Longres and then the next day we took a 15km walk along the Roman Roads and encountered a number of interesting sights, Napoleonic Forts, Roman Fountains, and Ancient Escargots formations.
We moved from Longres on Philippa's 47th birthday...how old is that????? and made our way to Royat in the Auvergen region and the home of Volvic water and the highest concentration of Volcanoes in France. So to celebrate I cooked and we cracked open a bottle of Champagne from Camel Valley not France, Coals to Newcastle springs to mind....
Having made our way to Longres a great walled city just North of Dijon we decided to stay for two nights in our first municipal campsite at an incredible 13€ a night. Facilities in the way of toilets far far better than the last place - no nesting birds and bird pooh in this one.
Longres is the home of Longres Cheese which is small and round with a dip in the top so you can pour Champagne into it....how indulgent, let them eat cake.........
We walked the ramparts of Longres and then the next day we took a 15km walk along the Roman Roads and encountered a number of interesting sights, Napoleonic Forts, Roman Fountains, and Ancient Escargots formations.
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