A Monster?

Was it a monster that left those tracks on Soonwaldsteig this Sunday? Or was it only an angry Wahli?
The latter is unlikely because the weather was so fine that day. All of November was so dull and dark, this sunny day had us out on the open right after breakfast.
We hit the trail at Ellerspring summit. Looked romantic enough for us to decide to give it a longer visit next time :-)

Meyrueis - Fete de St. Michel

driving the RV to Meyrueis was the slowest drive so far. I hardly managed to get into 4th gear, so steep and curvy was the road. Nevertheless, the landscape was worth the drive! I was going around the causse, while Peter rode the motorbike across it. I had the better scenery :)

The last Sunday in September is dedicated to the Fete (Fair, Feast, Celebration) of St. Michel.

Unknowingly we arrived there just in time to participate. On this day, the Lozere-Region carries all culinary declicacies it has to offer up to Meyrueis.
Bread and cakes from many bakeries
Chestnuts in all forms, mashed, boiled, in bread, in Sausages
Sausages - oh, so yummy! Wonderful Chorizo, raw hams and other dried sausages, mainly made of porc. Extremely delicious.
Cheese. OMG. So many kinds of cheese.

All restaurants are open and offer buffets, special menus and, and, and.

The whole village is part of the Fete.

After a frist stroll we bought dried raw ham, goat's cheese and bread and went up to the Causse (the high plateau) where we had a fantastic local lunch with vultures circling above us in the sun.

natural table a la Causse. Notice the Opinel-knife :)

The afternoon we drove the tiniest road to Nants via Treves and the Trevezelle-canyon.

On our way we came across Cantobre, an ancient village perched on a rock like an eagle's nest. Very lovely!

Ispagnac

Three days in Ispagnac, at the entry of the Gorges du Tarn. We settled on the Camping Municipale. Our arrival-day was spent with orientation and revisiting (we've been here before some years ago, with Riva still alive)

Second day we went biking, along a trail pointed out by the nice lady at the trourists' office.
And what at trail it was! My first real single-trail and right away a STS S2 ranking (see the trail at gps-tour.info). It was much fun - and sweaty. We stopped for a sandwich for lunch in Blajoux and returned safely on the street to Ispagnac.

Ispagnac is a very nice village with old houses and a nicely conservated old village with tiny streets. It is not a tourist-village, they have a school, medical care and all you would need to live.

In the afternoon we could watch some 15 paragliders landing near the bridge of Quezac.

France! Today.

Three weeks of vacation right ahead. I can safely say that it is well-deserved for both hubby and me.
RV packed, kayaks strapped onto the roof, bikes - with & without engine stored somewhere and off we go!

If all goes well we should sleep near Pierrelatte and meet up with friends on a 4-star.camping at Vallon Pont d'Arc tomorrow.
A week of lazy lounging in and around the Ardeche, a bit of hiking and biking - such are the plans for the first few days.

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Friday. STOLEN

Today we decided to paddle from Fachwerk down to the lake downstream of Palfau.
It was great fun! Very wet, yes, with much white water. The Sevylor is not quite made for WW II and the water cannot drain quickly enough, making Peter's job as a pilot hard while it drains. Still, we managed all waves and rocks until we stopped for our resting-point at the forking of the streets Wildalpen / Palfau.

Years ago the Sevylor had a defect air-chamber which we had repaired. Today, the same air-chamber gave up on us, denying us the joys of paddling the second stretch with our group. We assumed that the already repaired bit had given in (again).

Disappointed, we hauled the boat up to the street, where there is a parking for paddlers. we stripped the boat of the valves and seats and put it to the side, to pick it up on our return.

With Hermann's car we drove to the exit and waited for our group to arrive. On our way back, we stopped to pick up the defect boat but - incredible - somebody

stole our boat!!!

There is a code of honour among paddlers. You just don't steal stuff!

Saturday will see us on our way home...

Wednesday, paddling solo

With the water from the heavy rain receding, it's time for yours truly to go paddling in my red WTF?!-boat (a Prijon Forte, great riverrunner).

There was still quite some more water than on sunday and admittedly, the 5 km stretch was tiring due to the constant whitewater and rocks to maneuver. I survived :) Some of my fellow-paddlers really wanted to know it and hammered their boats through all holes and big waves they could get. Everybody was having lots of fun.

Monday, august 4th: hiking

Climbing up the Wasserloch-Klamm a steep & narrow canyon with marvellous waterfalls.
Arriving back at the car, I treated myself to a well-deserved Salzatal- waffle. See picture :-)