A month in Provence Throughnal

WESTY66 photo du jour. Too many to choose from. I ve plumped for the burnt out olive tree refurbished as a boulder behind our van. Just great to look at but you may have to be here to appreciate it.
IMG20240908172705.jpg


And today's offering now the rain has stopped is what we think is a corker town/village just off the coast. Le Plan de la Tour.


Firstly, that is the name of the town.
It is about 10 km from Port Grimaud and 10km from Ste Maxime at a height of 77m. In order to cycle to Port Grimaud you have to go up to 189 m but it's straight down to Ste Maxime then basically flat to St... https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/journals/le-plan-de-la-tour.591/
 
There are so many bootifall towns and villages down there Grimaud is one ( not Port Grimaud ) Frejus another and Sts Maxime is pretty good too.
 
suavecarve said:
WESTY66 photo du jour. Too many to choose from. I ve plumped for the burnt out olive tree refurbished as a boulder behind our van. Just great to look at but you may have to be here to appreciate it. View attachment 946357

And today's offering now the rain has stopped is what we think is a corker town/village just off the coast. Le Plan de la Tour.


Firstly, that is the name of the town.
It is about 10 km from Port Grimaud and 10km from Ste Maxime at a height of 77m. In order to cycle to Port Grimaud you have to go up to 189 m but it's straight down to Ste Maxime then basically flat to St... https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/journals/le-plan-de-la-tour.591/
Click to expand...
Make sure Mrs suavecarve is covered up if you find a €50 note and treat yourself to a meal in the harbour bit in port grimaud!!
Mrs Westy got turfed out for trying to enter in a bikini top (it was scorching!! So she had to back to the static caravan for a t Shirt to cover up the bikini top🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🙄

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Hi suavecarve - we are heading down to south of France and Provence in two weeks time. We have not visited that area before and are following your travels with great interest. Have you got s map of your route you can share on here please.

Thanks Philip
 
theapples said:
Hi suavecarve - we are heading down to south of France and Provence in two weeks time. We have not visited that area before and are following your travels with great interest. Have you got s map of your route you can share on here please.

Thanks Philip
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Bottle of wine into the evening and my skill level on a computer is reduced ..... Drastically. !!!!!

If I haven't sent it to you by uk time 1000 hrs send me a polite reminder.
 
The first time we went to St Tropez we drove the short journey took 3hrs as the traffic was so heavy, we thereafter went on the Bateau Verte in St Maxime its about a 20 minute ride accross the bay, you dont need to worry about parking in St Tropez and the view from boat as you enter St Tropez is VERY nice, there is a street of restuarants along the bay with three stories of traditional accomodation above them but some of the yachts tower above them, great to see. And a large decent market on saturday too.
 
Roger S said:
The first time we went to St Tropez we drove the short journey took 3hrs as the traffic was so heavy, we thereafter went on the Bateau Verte in St Maxime its about a 20 minute ride accross the bay, you dont need to worry about parking in St Tropez and the view from boat as you enter St Tropez is VERY nice, there is a street of restuarants along the bay with three stories of traditional accomodation above them but some of the yachts tower above them, great to see. And a large decent market on saturday too.
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First time I went to St Tropez was in 1967.Stayed on the campsite at St Maxime.
It was also the very first time I had seen Bikinis (in real life) without a top!! A real eye opener.😊😊
DJT
 
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Roger S said:
The first time we went to St Tropez we drove the short journey took 3hrs as the traffic was so heavy, we thereafter went on the Bateau Verte in St Maxime its about a 20 minute ride accross the bay, you dont need to worry about parking in St Tropez and the view from boat as you enter St Tropez is VERY nice, there is a street of restuarants along the bay with three stories of traditional accomodation above them but some of the yachts tower above them, great to see. And a large decent market on saturday too.
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We ve done that route in a motorhome, never again ! I would have thought 3 hours was average from what we saw.
The bateau verte will cost money !

The mistral arrived during the night. We were nowhere near a tree but got woken by branches on the roof so moved into the centre of the car park as some trees were "bending" which in hindsight was an error as we got the full force and the motor was seriously rocking. After a bit more thought and a gap opening up we are now parked against (a hopefully solid) wall which is taking an amount of the buffering.

Already seen the council lorries turning up with large branches in the back of their wagons.

Reckoning on seeing this through and still cycling but probably only to Ste Maxime, port grimaud and Grimaud today. Tomorrow is less wind so pampelonne would be the target if we survive today. Then it returns on Wednesday

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We were on our way to Annecy last week. Overnight stop at viviers aux carpes, and looked at the weather forecast. And decided to stay here for the week.
The weather is such a disappointment this year, cold and wet.
Out for 5 weeks, if we can stand it. Too old to bother going down to Spain.
Roll on printemps!
 
Ha Ha yes it does cost money, I seem to recall 8 euros return, I would pay 8 euros to visit St Tropez, especially today looking out of the window 😀

Arh Le Mistral ive heard a lot of it but never been a victim of it yet thankfully, nature can be very disagreable sometimes !
 
elwyn horton said:
We were on our way to Annecy last week. Overnight stop at viviers aux carpes, and looked at the weather forecast. And decided to stay here for the week.
The weather is such a disappointment this year, cold and wet.
Out for 5 weeks, if we can stand it. Too old to bother going down to Spain.
Roll on printemps!
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We ve only had yesterday with rain and today with wind. Temps sitting between 26 and 36.
Though Wednesday is supposed to be windy and Thursday is mild.
 
The weather in the Charente Maritime was dire as was the forecast so we have battled through torrential storms to get to Provence. Aiming for Pamplonne /Ramatuelle but stopped en route at Cavaillon to do do a bit of a bike ride along the disused railway line. Trying to park was a nightmare but ended up in the Stade at Taillades near Robion. Having a beer now in Les Baumettes. Going to try Isle de la Sorgue as you sold it so well!
 
Abacist said:
The weather in the Charente Maritime was dire as was the forecast so we have battled through torrential storms to get to Provence. Aiming for Pamplonne /Ramatuelle but stopped en route at Cavaillon to do do a bit of a bike ride along the disused railway line. Trying to park was a nightmare but ended up in the Stade at Taillades near Robion. Having a beer now in Les Baumettes. Going to try Isle de la Sorgue as you sold it so well!
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Isle de la sorgue has so much more to offer than we showed. Numerous water wheels. Pop in to TO for map of town. and Fontaine du vaucluse is well within cycling range. Thoroughly pleasing.

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WESTY66 photo du jour.
Say no more.
Apart from "Cor"
Don't need an oar.
IMG20240909131144.jpg



2 entries today as we found a beach with some wind protection. Ste Maxime and port grimaud.


We have stayed here before at a functional paying aire about 1500 m from the beach.

We have come here from 74 m above sea level Le Plan de la Tour. Downhill all the way and sit at about 40 kph with the wind behind you. 90% of the non completely... https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/journals/sainte-maxime.592/
 
Number 2

From Ste Maxime there is a dedicated segregated cycle path with panoramic views of the golf if St Tropez. Real pleasure to just meander along at a really relaxing 17kph.

Numerous beaches were passed and the well attended Les mures campsite in... https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/journals/port-grimaud.593/
 
suavecarve said:
Isle de la sorgue has so much more to offer than we showed. Numerous water wheels. Pop in to TO for map of town. and Fontaine du vaucluse is well within cycling range. Thoroughly pleasing.
Click to expand...
Walked in at 6:30 this evening and had a Quick Look around and then had a nice dinner at Au Chineur with lots of sewing machines on display. Going back in the morning for another walk around with the shops open. Lovely recommendation and thank you!
 
suavecarve said:
WESTY66 photo du jour. Too many to choose from. I ve plumped for the burnt out olive tree refurbished as a boulder behind our van. Just great to look at but you may have to be here to appreciate it. View attachment 946357

And today's offering now the rain has stopped is what we think is a corker town/village just off the coast. Le Plan de la Tour.


Firstly, that is the name of the town.
It is about 10 km from Port Grimaud and 10km from Ste Maxime at a height of 77m. In order to cycle to Port Grimaud you have to go up to 189 m but it's straight down to Ste Maxime then basically flat to St... https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/journals/le-plan-de-la-tour.591/
Click to expand...


One of my favourite parts of France,and will be heading that way slowly the end of the month.

It’s been interesting following your travels so far Jon :giggle: (y)
 
Plans (if there were any) are out of the window for the moment.

The mistral is blowing and rocking the van so we seek safe harbour from it.

Looking at it, I thought we could just move to fayence and be out of it but further north and east is required.

We really wanted to leave the mercantour area for another trip with the motorbike so we are only going to touch it with probably vesubie gorges and hope we find somewhere to overnight allowing us to cycle up and down.

Castellane lake looks favourite for today if it's out of the wind

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suavecarve said:
Castellane lake looks favourite for today if it's out of the wind
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We enjoyed our stay there, there was a free Aire and a private one at the opposite end. We stayed at the private one as the guy also runs a museum and the price included entry, lovely walk up to the church if weather is decent.
 
lorger said:
We enjoyed our stay there, there was a free Aire and a private one at the opposite end. We stayed at the private one as the guy also runs a museum and the price included entry, lovely walk up to the church if weather is decent.
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Perfect timing.

Saw your post when filling up at the auchan. Passed the other aire which looked very nice but have plumped for yours. Settling down for lunch then over the hill for a dip.
Very hot today with no wind, hoping we are far enough away from it for tomorrow.

Nice one, cheers


When you say church. Do you mean this one ?
IMG20240910133902.jpg
 
suavecarve said:
Perfect timing.

Saw your post when filling up at the auchan. Passed the other aire which looked very nice but have plumped for yours. Settling down for lunch then over the hill for a dip.
Very hot today with no wind, hoping we are far enough away from it for tomorrow.

Nice one, cheers


When you say church. Do you mean this one ?View attachment 947133
Click to expand...

Glad to be of service, if visiting the church make sure you sign the book. Since our visit a land mentioning it on here a few others have been and signed the book, it’s a lovely wee church but they must’ve been mad to build it up there 😂😂
 
Couple of entries tonight.
The first is just a future reference for us a stopping point for going into some balcony roads around the area.


We didn't stop. We haven't seen the town. This journal entry is for future reference for us when we return with our motorbike as there are motorbikes galore.

We saw the aire at a time when a refill of coffee was required so pulled in and it's a... https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/journals/comps-sur-artuby.594/

Oops nearly forgot photo du jour. Just our first post black eye selfie ! WESTY66
IMG20240910165002.jpg
 
Lac de castillon

The lake is part of the verdon barrages and the town of castillon was flooded for electricity and our pleasure purposes.

We are staying about 500 yards from the auchan and paying 7 euros and I m not grumbling. Think you can get leccy for 3... https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/journals/lac-de-castillon.595/

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Just planning a cycle up a "dangerous" road tomorrow and looking for a different return route and found this new to me religious cult with huge statues. We saw them across the valley and didn't take too much notice.

It actually passed the suavecarvewalletometer test and I was prepared to pay 5 euros each, entry fee.

It only opens at 1530 hrs

Luckily for my wallet it is only open at weekends in September.

Phew.

maps.app.goo.gl

Cité Sainte de Mandarom Shambhasalem · Castellane

maps.app.goo.gl maps.app.goo.gl
 
lorger said:
Glad to be of service, if visiting the church make sure you sign the book. Since our visit a land mentioning it on here a few others have been and signed the book, it’s a lovely wee church but they must’ve been mad to build it up there 😂😂
Click to expand...
With religious building it would appear that the more difficult the building site, and the more they have suffered in building it then the more brownie points they accrue with whichever God they believe in. Suffering equals godliness...or something.

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