Through Provence

I'd initially intended to stay on the campsite at the Lake Saint Cassien for two nights.

It's a nice site in a good location and we had everything we needed, but the village was quite modern and mostly un-interesting and the idea of getting my kayak out appealed, but after a walk to the waters edge I changed my mind.

Whilst the lake looked very welcomeing, it was extremely muddy at the shore line with the water level being so low.

Not ordinary UK type black mud, this was white Provence mud, but never the less, still mud.

I watched a man an get out of the lake from swimming and he looked a bit yeti-esk.

Louis, me and the kayak would've needed a major de-mudding, which rather put me off getting out on the water. 

So with all those pretty Provence villages beconing, I decided we'd move on today and do some proper tourist sight seeing.

The drive through the Provence countryside was quite memorable, we passed field after field of lavender plantations.  

It's been harvested now of course, but the farmers were burning off what must be the waste and offcuts.

So the smokey aroma of lavender hung in the air as we drove past.

A beautiful avenue of Plane trees as we passed the lavender fields

First stop was the pretty hilltop village of Gault.

I managed to park in the town square and we wandered the narrow streets up to the windmill at the highest point in the village where there were panoramic views over the surrounding countryside.

All the buildings are beautifully maintained and constructed from the same local stone. 

Many of the houses appear to be built straight onto the bedrock poking out from the ground,

Here are some photos of Goult village

Door of the day !

And some photos of Fontaine de Vacluse, situated on the river La Sorgue, our parking place for the night

Man wrestling a draggon, but no explanation evident

The river La Sorgue, the water is so beautifully clear