Escapism

There is something relaxing about camping.  Maybe it’s leaving modern technology behind, or the fact that you wake with the dawn and the sound of birdsong or the fact that you can just chuck anything on to wear and not worry. We just got back from our annual camping trip with our niece.  One night in the tent is all that it takes.  We loaded up the car and went to the same campsite as last year, Camping Ruisseau du Treil.  It’s only a 45 minute drive away, but is far enough to feel like a holiday.  This particular campsite has a lovely swimming pool, although because of our poor summer it was freezing this year! 

A few years ago Richard and I used to wilderness camp.  We’ve stayed in some memorable places.  I remember one particular spot in the Pyrenees.  We had been walking all day, but hadn’t made as much progress as we had hoped so ended up camping high in the mountains.  It was an ominous place, surrounded by tall pinnacles and not helped by the fact that before we erected the tent I stumbled on a memorial plaque to a climber who had died there.  After a sleepless night, we awoke to sunshine and, as we climbed out of the gloomy gulley and reached the crest of a hill we were rewarded by the sight of a shepherd moving his huge flock of sheep singlehandedly by using his voice.  He was unfazed to have an audience.  We’ve also camped in some stunningly beautiful places by babbling brooks miles away from everything and everyone.  Of course the drawback to wilderness camping is the fact you have to carry everything, but I also see this as a blessing as it forces you to pack only the bare essentials and is a step closer to natural world and everything it can throw at you.  Yes there is something relaxing about camping.    

Our big hike in the Pyrenees 2005

The Viaur Valley

The Viaur Valley is a special place.  The river Viaur divides the departments of the Aveyron and the Tarn.  It is our favourite river for swimming and our favourite valley for walking.  There is even a roc escalade (climbing/abseiling area) – we’ll give it a go one of these days.  This time we were heading for the pretty village of Laurelie, which sits nestled in the hills overlooking the valley, opposite the slightly higher village of Bar, which is strung out along a ridge.  We parked the car by Le Moulin de Bar and set out upstream along the road running by the river.  As the road bends, we took a path leading off into the woods.  It is a tranquil path, shady in the summer, with only the sound of the rushing water to accompany you.  After about twenty minutes the path begins its sinuous accent up the hillside.   We were once joined by a ferret on this walk – a first for us!   The creature would bound ahead and wait for us to catch up.  In the end he got bored disappearing into the undergrowth.  It is a fairly gradual climb, but finishes with a short, sharp, steep incline – the view is worth the effort.  The path arrives at Laurelie.  You then have three options, to take the marked footpath to Bar, to take the road to Bar or to walk down the road towards the river.  We took the latter route.  As we sauntered downhill we could see a family of wild boar (sanglier) in the distance.  Even they seemed unhurried on this perfect summer evening.     

Bar

View from the bridge

Marche Gourmande - Lescure Jaoul

Last Saturday, 26^th July 2014 was the 10^th Marche Gourmande (a culinary walk) starting from the little hamlet of Lescure Jaoul.  We first and last did the walk three years ago with our friends who live out that way and it was great fun.  This time we dragged our visitors along to take part.  

Lescure Jaoul in the distance

The walk was 13 kms long.  It is called Marche Gourmande because you walk to each stage of your meal. The final leg takes place in the dark, and you eventually stumble into the village centre, some four hours after starting, for dessert and coffee.  It is hugely popular (we were told that 1,000 people take part) so it is necessary to reserve your place.  It is extremely well organised.  At the beginning of the walk you are given a ticket, which you show at each stop to get your food.  Wine and water are included.  Participants leave in groups from the village centre between 6.30pm and 8pm.  We set off around 7pm.  The sun was shining and we had a spring in our step.  

The first stop, aperos, was welcome and everyone was smiling.  The next leg of the walk to our starter was also okay, but the spring in our step had gone.  There was a feeling of camaraderie with everyone sat at long trestle tables tucking into their food.  As we left the sun was beginning to set.  The next leg of the walk was rather long and in the dark, although it was atmospheric to see a line of wavering torchlight behind and in front of us.  Finally, in the distance we could see the lights of the tent where the main course was being dished up.  There had been fewer smiles on this stage of the walk!  However, the food, which everyone agreed was delicious, helped to restore flagging energy levels.  

The final stage was easy (thank goodness) and we arrived back at the village centre around 11.30pm.  We had even managed to overtake a few people en route!  There was a band playing accordion music and the dance floor was packed with swirling couples – we joined them briefly, but we were no match for their elegance!   The evening was rounded off by a firework display.  I would do the whole thing again in a shot – not sure all our visitors would, but we all agreed it would be the talking point of their stay for years to come!