Off to Gorge du Verdon

[Riverbankannie]

We were inspired by a post a few weeks ago to travel to Gorge du Vedon area. Sorry cannot remember who.
Don't know how good I will be posting on the move but here's the first
Off to tunnel and there is a little bit of washing up from last night (blush) and this morning. HWMBO says I'll put a quick dishwasher run on. Last thing before leaving house, we make sure go to dishwasher to empty it and not leave shut up tight. He opens up door to be met with a wall of water and soapy foam, what happened says I, "I decided to put a squirt of washing up liquid in he says to save using a whole tablet" !!!!


An hour later, we have managed to a) find the dishes amongst the foam and clean them up one by one. b) use arms, towels etc to gather up the foam and get it outside, c) ladle out and the water that couldn't drain out because drain blocked by foam. d) remove kickboard and mop up water on floor that ran underneath.

Now I have had to leave a rack of sopping towels drying in house.


Good job we always leave plenty of time for unexpected things on journey, hopefully that's the most drama we will have.

Cite Europe tonight us the plan.
Just seen it was @clanjones

 

[Carol]

If ever you have to much foam, add a bit of conditioner it will kill it right off. a bit late now I know.

 

[clanjones]

Yep twas me! I am sure you will have a brilliant time! We are still messing about on the Tandem currently 30 km from Barcelonette beside lac de Serre Poncon. Very warm just now but not complaining! I'll see if I can post a photo of the lake later tonight, the phone is playing up. I posted some photos of other rides we have done which may be of interest, if you search for 'Bonnette' you should find them.

Have a great time!

 

[Dorwyn]

It'll take much longer to do the Gorge than you imagine. Stop and rest often too.

 

[DBK]

Just remember, if you go east to west on the road on the south side of the gorge the drop will be just to your right - and on a pushbike you can see straight down in a few places! There are a few tunnels but from memory most of them are short but I seem to remember turning my lights on for at least one tunnel - but it was over 5 years ago so my memory is not to be trusted!

Edit: Lights are needed - just checked on the trip report I wrote. Excuse the photos, most the shots of the gorge were filched off the web as my brother fell shortly after climbing over an electric fence and squashed the expedition camera earlier in the trip. But the shot of me wobbling into a tunnel is genuine.
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=1mr&page_id=263787&v=5I

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[wiljoy]

Beautiful area. We've done it three times now and never tire of the majestic gorges. Decent aire in Millau but plenty of campsites up the gorge. Take your time and enjoy.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Oh gosh, wasn't thinking of biking it. We've only got the Bromptons! You lot are so fit.

 

[peterc10]

Beautiful area. We've done it three times now and never tire of the majestic gorges. Decent aire in Millau but plenty of campsites up the gorge. Take your time and enjoy.

Is the Gorge du Verdon anywhere near Millau? I think that may be a different river in a different mountain range.

 

[FIDGET]

Beautiful area. We've done it three times now and never tire of the majestic gorges. Decent aire in Millau but plenty of campsites up the gorge. Take your time and enjoy.

@wiljoy , Sorry not being pedantic but Millau is'nt it in the Tarn gorge, or am I mistaken .

 

[DBK]

Oh gosh, wasn't thinking of biking it. We've only got the Bromptons! You lot are so fit.

You can get a very good electric kit for a Brompton - called the Nano I think from memory.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Riverbankannie]

@wiljoy , Sorry not being pedantic but Millau is'nt it in the Tarn gorge, or am I mistaken .

Don't worry, been to Millau and the Tarn Gorge. Not going that way this time!

 

[Riverbankannie]

You can get a very good electric kit for a Brompton - called the Nano I think from memory.

We have the sparticle electric conversion but still wouldn't attempt long ride especially on roads. I prefer cycle tracks these days.

 

[jockaneezer]

Think we stayed on the aire at Moustiers saint Marie just up the road from the gorge, they were installing a barrier but that was 5 years ago. There's plenty of camp sites in the area and you can hire a canoe and do the gorge.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Currently stuck in Eurotunnel Folkestone. Queued off motorway to get in after kicking our heels at Stop 24 so as not to arrive too early. Now wish perhaps we should have come straight in as not sure if taking first come first served. Trains running about 2hrs late. Had to park in coach area with another MH as no spaces in this van area.

 

[funflair]

Wow enjoy your trip, brings back memories of when we did it on bikes in 1990 a lot slimmer and fitter then.

Mind the overhangs.

Thats obviously the lake looking into the gorge with the "low"road on the left and the "high" road goes up on the right after crossing the bridge.

No this isn't taken from an aeroplane its from one of the tunnel windows on the "high" side.

If I remember correctly this is the valley of the Var out of Castellane, thats the railway following the river and then turning sharp right over the bridge and then it goes straight through the mountains, we had to follow the road over the top

Martin

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Riverbankannie]

Why are there so many Romanian and Polish white vans with British cars on trailers. Are they able to take home and sell for good price?

 

[clanjones]

Brings all the teeth gritting back, when we went up along the south side! We are going to give the Dallius gorge a crack, weather permitting in a day or so, will post a few pictures if a visit is worthwhile. I believe it is drivable but not in a 10 series tag axle Rapido - our French neighbour had tried it and failed!

Picture from today's ride, at the top of Col de Pontis - gives an idea of the size of the lake. Quiet just now but I bet it is hooching in the summer!

 

[funflair]

Brings all the teeth gritting back, when we went up along the south side! We are going to give the Dallius gorge a crack, weather permitting in a day or so, will post a few pictures if a visit is worthwhile. I believe it is drivable but not in a 10 series tag axle Rapido - our French neighbour had tried it and failed!

Picture from today's ride, at the top of Col de Pontis - gives an idea of the size of the lake. Quiet just now but I bet it is hooching in the summer!

View attachment 165491

Who wants a flat ride when you can get a view like that from the top no pain no gain.

Martin

 

[Riverbankannie]

So here we are at Giffaumont-Champaubert on Lac du Der. Camped on the aire at the station Nautique.
No view of the lake however as it is a damed reservoir and we are behind the raised dyke. I thought it was going to be a rural site but it is quite commercialised and someone had been here with a LOT of concrete! Very large modern building with an upper Casino, a few restaurants and an information centre.
Plus points, handy for food even if just a waffle or some ice cream or a drink looking out over the water. Lots of free wifi. 6 euros overnight but free 8am to 8pm
It's very hot, I am having trouble acclimatising.

 

[FIDGET]

Hi, We didn't like that aire too busy ,so we moved toa rural one for the night upon the west side of the lake. GPS 48.569586, 4.701024

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Gaston aires]

A great place to visit. North and South rims, just like the grand canyon. Take your time and there is a great aire at "Moustierre st Marie" not too far away, which looks up to the village and a star tied between two mountains.
Phil

 

[wizzer59]

Good luck guys Wish I was there, a great place to visit, with spectacular views, get your kayak out to cool off

 

[DavidG58]

A beautiful area, we have been a few times but not yet in MH, I remember the 'balconies' built for viewing, I am really not good at height and some of these drops are 'spectacular' still makes things scrunch up recalling it now

It was only when I was looking across the gorge at balconies on the other side that you realise they are sticking out over the edge and appear to only be cast concrete, not so keen to look at the views now

But well recall the spectacular views and scenery

Have a great trip look forward to the reports and photos please

 

[Robert Clark]

It's very hot, I am having trouble acclimatising.

Have you got a fan? - just a little bit of air movement can make a massive difference.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Have you got a fan? - just a little bit of air movement can make a massive difference.

We have a 12 v fan in roof light over cooker which helps when the toast is burning, otherwise not on EHU and no space really for fripperies, sorry necessities!
Luckily got a reasonable airflow going at bedtime as the van has opening windows all round rear seating/bed and three roof windows.

Today cooler with odd spots of rain. Isn't it nice when you welcome the rain drops?

Staying on this aire at Lac du Der as still trying to sort my Huawei and my phone. I'll go back to my other thread for that.
Went for a bit of cycling this morning. Just like Rutland Water even down to the church.
Lake too big to get in a photo.
Cannot fault the info centre, they have been printing my insurance certificate for me. Caravan Club insurance had sent me last years one by mistake. All online documents so I went to print a hard copy Friday before leaving on Sunday and found out too late, Of course office closed until today and I phoned them this morning to send me a PDF by email.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Riverbankannie]

Had our first proper French baguette today, I'm not counting the one bought from Carrefour at Cite Europe along with the soggy croissants in plastic tub.

Madame toot tooooot toot toot came along to the aire at Lac du Der this morning. Very nice it was too.

Now we are all sorted with documents, Mifi and cellphone access we have travelled on south.

Nice to have leisurely drive from Giffaumont, we have never seen so many timbered buildings all in one place before. The village streets lined with them and all the outlying farms and their buildings. Of course in varying states of repair. If felt like being in a stage set.

Passed by Brianne-Le-Chateau with a glimpse of the eponymous building set on a hill across the end of the road, then on to Bar-sur-Aube with its pretty mill pond and ruined church. Unusual to find a town centre church in such a condition, and it looked like it had been like it for some time. Some modern building barriers around it so maybe it will be restored. The town cinema is showing all the latest releases.


Road signs say we are on a champagne route, however not seen the fields and fields of vines that can be seen south of Rheims and more importantly have not seen a roadside cave, so no bottles for the fridge. Merde.

After lunch, we joined the autoroute at Juvancourt and made swifter progress to Chalon-sur-Saône where we are now on ACSI site camping Pont de Bourgogne.
Tried to upload photos on 3G but no go. What is the easiest way to reduce file size on iPad. I have PS express but cannot find a way.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Donner (And dinner) and Blitzen. ,!!
Just made it back to campsite in time before the biggest storm has come over. Thankfully we had taken awning in before we left.
Looking at weather map now.......

 

[wizzer59]

Don't worry it's only a storm in a teacup

Maybe it's the one that raged through the south here

 

[snowdrops]

Oh gosh, wasn't thinking of biking it. We've only got the Bromptons! You lot are so fit.

You should Kayak some of it, it's fab. You can hire them just below moustiers.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Moved eastwards to the Jura and pitched tonight at Camping Domaine des Gabelous In Salins-les -Bains (CC 23503) . Parked at first in the town aire, (CC12540) 2 MH taking up the 3 marked spaces but enough room for more to park up in the car park . Not sure if allowed to overnight when not in one of the 3 marked spaces. However very happy with the relaxed campsite 17€ and a lovely swimming pool, small but perfect if there's only me in it! So lovely to swim outside looking up at the wooded hills with a touch of granite showing at the tops.

Very nice to cool body temperature down as over 30 deg today.

Took the guided visit to the old salt workings. The water wheel which was installed in 1750 is still in service with the balancing system which connects to the piston pump to draw up the salty water. I have never tasted anything so salty. Worth a visit. Great loos with a view

There is a modern Thermal baths complex and we are going to indulge ourselves tomorrow. I know it's coals to Newcastle time as we have our own lovely Bath Spa but it's much cheaper here at 12 €.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}