Travel
Across the watershed to where the river Tarn contributes to the Atlantic. Deeper, wider gorges than the Ardèche and even more sparsely populated. A different architecture telling the story of a land that has suffered of many wars.
Dramatic limestone gorges carved deep and liable to flash floods, the road along the top of the river Ardèche is renowned for the view contrasting between the helm oak scrubland and the meandering gorge. Distinct from Provence but still architecturally related: the Ardèche flows in to the Rhône and hence the Mediterranean.
A weekend with Pascal checking out routes of some of the motorbike itineraries the forthcoming GLME motorbike camp, which is being organised by the French club AMA.
From our base in Chorges, Pascal and I checked out routes to the dam of the river Drac at Le Sautet in Champasaur, the Col du Noyer (1664 m) and the valley of the river Béoux. And the impressive citadel and powder store of Mont Dauphin, built by the engineer Vauban.
Unfortunately, we didn't have time to enjoy the stunt bike meet at Dévoluy. Maybe another year...
Shoreham Beach is a small island with a shingle beach, just over a couple of bridges from Shoreham town. There’s a brackish lagoon which is a wildlife reserve. The separation from the mainland is small but the change in feel of the place is huge. There are million pound properties fronting on to the public beach and also affordable single bedroom flats just a road back. The sky seems that little bit brighter than the mainland, we stayed dry on our walk on the shingle although the mainland was clearly enjoying thunder and lightning.
Weather still treacherous in the Alps, we headed west from Marseille to the Pyrenees, staying in the spa town of Bagnères de Luchon. I stayed there for a couple of nights back in 1988 when I was working on the location crew for London Weekend Television's drama “Wish Me Luck”.
