Day 23 - Moustier Saint Marie to Quinson Gorge du Verdon

 

Tuesday 29 September 

Not too much happened today after all the excitement of Moustiers yesterday and the excess of photographs, I could only include a fraction of them as the internet was very slow.

The peak of excitement today was getting held up by a flock of sheep and goats being herded along the road.

We drove to a little village called Sillans la Cascade where I’d hoped to visit some waterfalls but the main carpark was barriered off, out of action and couldn't find anywhere else to park so I had to give up on that one.

I did a quick supermarket shop in Aups and topped up the diesel then headed to Quinson in the Gorge du Verdon region.

I'd planned to spend a couple of nights on a campsite here as I thought they had direct access to the gorge, so I could get my kayak out for a paddle through the gorge.

But they don't have any access, there website is very misleading, I’m glad I didn't book it online yesterday. The only nearby direct access is from a kayak hire company and they won't let me use their beach to launch even for a fee - very annoying.

Anyway we walked around and came across an electric boat hire company, what's more, opposite them is a free motorhome aire.

So I could save the campsite fees, hire an electric boat instead and cruise the gorge in effortless eboat style 😀

That sounds like a great plan !

This is where I'm heading tomorrow

So I'm on the free aire tonight and will hire the eboat tomorrow.

The aire is only a gravel carpark without any views or services but it'll do me nicely for tonight.

I've spent the afternoon planning a route for the next few days, there so much to see in the Provence and Luberon areas it's difficult to know which direction to head in, but I think I have a plan now . . . until I spot something else to see 🤣

I walked up to the little village of Quinson after tea and it's quite an attractive place.

Archaeological investigations have revealed the area has settlements going back to the Bronze age. There's a museum and a park with a recreated Bronze age village.

The recreated Bronze age village

Quinson Village laundry, no water in it at the moment

 

Day 22 - Peipin to Moustiers Saint Marie

 

Monday 28 September

Today we crossed the lavender fields of Provence to the beautiful little village of Moustiers Sainte Marie.

It's probably the most well known of the BVoF Les Beaux villages and with good reason.

It sits at the entrance to the Grand Canyon du Verdon and is protected by a golden star suspended on a chain high above the village between two rocky cliffs above Chapelle Notre Dame Beauvoir.

So high I couldn't actually see it unless I was looking in the wrong place ?

On our evening walk the sun was glistening on it so it was more visible, and here it is . . .

The gold start over the town and Chapelle Notre Dame Beauvoir.

Here's a better photo of the star I nicked off the internet

The village is perched on the side of a dramatic limestone hillside and at its heart is the source of the river Adou which tumbles through the village and made Moustiers a village of stationers, potters and drapers in medieval times.

A monk came here from Faenza and brought the secret of enameling earthenware with a technique known as faience.

The industry disappeared in the 19th century but has since been given a rebirth by 21st century artisans using the same techniques.

River Adou

Louis making the most of the Adou refreshing qualities

Oh the concentration, come on, share it then !

It's a lovely place to wander, Louis enjoyed it because on almost every corner was a drinking fountain with a doggy dish carved into the stone for the canines.

He also approves of the gelatos.

It got extremely busy by early afternoon so we headed back to Ed and sat outside enjoying the views.

And had a play with the drone . . . . .

And the drone after dusk, I'm quite pleased with these as I've not flown it in the

dark before and as a bonus it came back home without crashing !