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Relaxing in the Ardeche Gorge.
After Sailing for 2 weeks in the Bay of Biscay, we embark on the 2nd leg of our journey.
Everyone was a bit tired, so we decided to get some R and R at the Ardeche Gorge.
Here we get our swimming costumes on, and relax next to the river.
On the first night there, we decide it will be relaxing to bivvi out.
The evening is made all the more exciting, by the story that snakes have been seen here previously.
A thunderstorm in the early hours of the morning, gives us all other things to think about, and in the morning everyone looks a bit disheveled.
Sometimes on the "trail" we would just park up, boil some water on a Trangia's and have breakfast and a hot drink.
The van performed the roles of both clubhouse and restaurant admirably.
We set out on a 2 day expedition, to complete the Ardeche Gorge circuit.
Our intention is to bivvi out in between. I remember sitting in the dark, next to the Gorge, it was one of the most peaceful times of my life.
As we pull-in, at the end of the journey, a few people are thrown into the water for amusement (I am one of them).
On the 2nd day, when we got up to Canoe, the water, was completely flat calm, and the water was like a mirror.
The following day, we completed a Gorge walk, further down the valley, and then had a relaxing Picnic.
It was quite a long drive back, so we broke it up, with an overnight in Fountainblaeu.
I had never heard of the place before, but its right near the home of Louise the 14th, and the most famous bouldering region in the world.
I had a go at cooking potatoes in mud, and made a terrible mess of it.
We headed home the next day, and ended up sleeping under the van, at Calais port, waiting for the boat.
