And so after 6 months of living in our little French village it was time to leave. Our last week was taken up with playing Jack at Petanque, saying our goodbyes and packing up. The days were getting shorter and colder. A hush had settled over the town (even more than normal). Winter was coming.
The last day we were in La Roche-Canilliac was Remembrance Day. This year was the 100th anniversary of the end of WW1. The town was to meet outside the church for an 11am start. This being France, the ceremony actually started at 11.15am. We walked from the church, up the main road to the WW1 memorial. At the memorial a few words were said and a minutes silence observed.
After the service it was to the Marie for drinks, this being France. It was on this note that we said our last farewells and then set off to Lyon.
Remembrance Day Service at La Roche
We made it to Lyon and exchanged our car. Peugeot out, Audi in! Trying to squeeze into a smaller car was fun. How did we accumulate so much stuff? We stayed overnight in Lyon and the next day had a quick wander along the Saone River and the old town. I think we were a bit shell shocked to be back in a city. We were keen to be away from it. Off we drove to Provence, the town of Moustiers Saint-Marie and launching place for the Gorges Du Verdon.
Moustiers Saint-Marie is a beautiful village built into the limestone cliffs with a waterfall running through the middle of it. We arrived just on sunset and the light was shining that famous Provence rose glow across the village. Magic! The downside was that it was pedestrianised, so it meant a trek though the village with all our bags. Again, how did me accumulate so much stuff?
View from Airbnb front door
We headed off early the next morning to start our exploration of the Gorges Du Verdon.
It is considered to be the Grand Canyon of France at 25 kms long and over 700 meters deep. The drive was breathtaking as it hugged the rim of the gorge. Adrian stopped the car every few meters as it was another chance to peer over the edge.
Adrian did not like it one bit and Tahshi decided that inside the car was good for her. Adrian was even getting vertigo while driving, but was so feeling vertiginous that he couldn’t forfeit control of the car. Meanwhile Elijah and Amber were straight to the edge delighting in the views.
The sweeping vistas took in the snowcapped mountains in the distance. The water in the river below had that distinct limestone blue colour.
The Gorge was so deep that you can hardly see the red car on the below photo.
Some perspective- spot the red van.Â
The drive took us from the canyon rim down to the base of the Gorge. It was good to check out the river up close. We started a walk that could take you along the river for 16kms. It would have been amazing but Tahshi would not have enjoyed it and time was against us. Add it to Amber’s list of amazing walks to do sometime in the future.
Amber and Elijah at the river edge- try and spot us to appreciate the scale
Tunnels through the cliff face and our fancy car
After the walk it was back into the car for the drive along the rim on the other side of the Gorge. More lookouts and scary heights.
The road finally wound it way downward towards the Lac de Sainte-Croix. In summer the lake is buzzing with kayaks and boats. At this time of year we had the place to ourselves. We admired the view looking up the gorge from the lake. The kids did some rock skimming and we all admired the sunset… It was 4.45pm. We headed back to Moustiers Saint-Marie for the night.
French Escapades 