Grand Hotel des Voyageurs Rozier

... view from the drivers side as I was looking right into the gorge (don't worry mum I drove very slowly and was very careful not to drive too close to the edge). Luckily there were many parking areas to stop at so both of us could get out and really appreciate how beautiful it was. On the downside it was still a little wet so hiking was off the cards...next time.

... to a park range and has a great love of the area including the flora and fawna. I asked why there were people living in the park and if they were allowed to keep livestock. Apparently they are encouraged to continue living the lifestyle they have for centuries. Having livestock grazing keeps the trees from reinhabiting the land. Aparently that is a good thing. If trees come back than the animal species that have ...

... and white snap dragons, and wild hyacinths in pink, purple, and yellow. This area is really a nature lover's dream come true. From here we continued deeper into the canyon and followed the road along the river. There are two small villages on the opposite side of the river that are not connected with roads and are only accessible by hiking trails, boats on the river or by a "basket" that carries you across the gorge to the village!!! (see photos ...

We are still staying in Florac tonight, but we took a beautiful drive to this village today. The Cevennes national park countryside is gorgeous with big, green hills and hardly any homes or buildings...just countryside! We went on a 5km hike to the Chateau Roquedhouil, a nice old home built in the 1500's. There was a very tall sequoia tree that was planed in 1887 and was about 25 feet in circumference.

Well, as you can tell from the map pin, we still haven't made it to Spain yet! We are now almost a week behind schedule ... not that there was any real schedule to follow ... and hey, I'm always late for everything anyway! We got a late start the morning after the detours to the chateaux - Ian went for a ride ... and I had a sleep in! But it was ok, cause the plan was really very simple - head south ...

... day in June we were limited to the Cevennes, but that was spectacular enough. On the way we passed the Abime de Bramabiaou, where a river literally spouts from the side of the cliff to join the main stream. The second day was a mind-boggling trip down the Gorges du Tarn. This is perhaps the most well known of the French Gorges, and rightly so. Mile after mile of winding river ...

... is just too small. We have an awning to protect us from the worst of the elements and extend the living space, but with ground as soggy as this, and the wind chill factor to consider, it was only any good for storing our chairs and table. Given the shortage of warm clothes and welly boots, we are thinking of coming home early. If we time it right, it shouldn't be any more expensive than the money we would have spent on pitches and diesel.

Tonight we are staying in a farm under the amazing Millau Bridge (or the Grand Viaduc du Milllau) "a thrilling and wondrous vision". H nips out every 10 minutes to take another photo in different light!!! We watched a program on its making on Discovery Channel before we left home and this was one of the main sights he wanted to see in France. It is 2 ...

... re on the Italian coast was about as pretty as a place gets, without climbing, anywh**e we have ev** seen. The sea bass ravioli was orgasmic according to Aura but I have seen a bigg** smile. Boy, this European open sexuality is realy sinkin in. Ev**ybody is nude, or close to. I think we should do this ev**y year. Stuffed mussels really are orgasmic and we each w**e looking for a smoke soon aft**. Ok, lets talk about trains. The good ones ...

... trail. Today is a rest day, so we've wandered around a very old cathedral that dates back over a thousand years i think, and is very beautiful. i don't have any pictures to put up yet, but soon i will, and all my details could be sketchy right now, because my french is lacking. love