| 1. day |
Arival to Villeplane. Overnight, handing out material and advice about the single hhikingdays. Also advice about the nursering of the donkey. Overnight was an ancient village house. Unfortunately we arrived late from the train at Entrevaux that we did not make to explore the house. Dinner was a good experience. Lasagne, salate, redwine and ownprovided cheries. The owner was the son of Christine, who arrange these hikes. |
| 2. day |
Villeplane-Sauze. 13 km or 16/18 km. We passed the redlands. An interesting geologic experience, where there were signs telling about how the developement of the area took place, and what wildlife we might could see. The last 5 km was a climp uphill over the redlands mountain top. On the way up, we enjoyed the many houses we could spot around on the other tops. It was also the first time we experienced the thunder. Fortunately protected, by staying in a barn, we passed on our way. On the other side we could hear the hens and geeses living in the barn.. We did overnight at Brigittes small auberge. It was a sleeping hall for 10 people, and dinner was served at the buttom of the village. Dinner was homemade ravioli, good meat and icecream for dessert. Red wine was included. |
| 3. day |
Sauze-St.Martin d'Entraunes. 13 km or 18 km. Grasscovered slopes and pineforest. Overnight took place in a room at a campingsite. This gave us the oppertunity to get a swim at the pool, at Cornelia was able to play at a playground (as the only day of the week). This was the week's longest hike. We had to cover 15 km, where the first 7 km went steep upwards to a plateau. Over the plateau and then downhill for another 3 km. Our biggest surprise on this part was all the mountain bikes that passed us. They took it uphill and downhill without hesitating. The last 6 km was straight passed the river Var. |
| 4. day |
St.Martin d'Entraunes-Sussis. 7 km. We thought we had an easy walk today, which was also the impression for the first 2-3 km, where we visited the village St. d'Entraunes to experience there markets of local goods (Especially cheese, honey and cakes), then we passed the river Var, and had to cross the river upward, and then it went uphill for 3 km. 500 meters from the overnight there was a littele path downhill to the river again. Unforthunately we had to climp the trail upward again. Overnight was at the Gite d'etape at Nicole and Alain in there 300 year old house. We realy felt welcomed, and Cornelia enjoyed the little rabbits, and the garden full of grasshoppers. |
| 5. day |
Sussis-Entraunes. 12 km or 16 km. We decided to take the short hike. But it didn't mean that we shouldn't climb uphill and go very steep downhill. But we could relax more since we only climped up to 1550 m, instead of the 2000 meters that was a part of the trail. The trail was not so interesting, and we were caught in the thunder and rain 2,5 km from Entraunes. We overnighted at the Auberg Rôche Grande. They had a small play/ reading room where we played cards, Black and White and other games. Dinner was surpreme. Especially the homemade yogurt with honey and almonds. |
| 6. day |
Entraunes-Estenc. 9 km or 18.km. This was one of the most beautiful and easiest days. We walked along the river Var, and saw lots of beautiful waterfalls, dripstones and the dammed river. The overnight was at Gite de la Coquille which was a seperate house from the family living on the site. What was a bit strange was that we had to set and clean table and do the dishwash ourself. But it was a good place for a child because there were alot of animals like rabbits, cats and tadpoles. |
| 7. day |
Estenc-Refuge de Cayolle. 13 km. Through pine forest, along brooks to the shepherds hhut in 2045 m. Here we studied some very curious marmot that jumped around infront of us. Further up through a ravine to the Bouchardepass in 2539 m's højde.From here we continued on the otherside down the most steep slope I have experienced. Cornelia actually did fine continuing downhill, where I was more worried. The problem was that we could see the ground 400 meter down. The Overnight was at Refuge de la Cayolle which is a hut for hiking people in the Mercantour national parks central massif. It can be very cold there during the night, but most people decide to go to bed already at nine o'clock pm to have an early start next morning.. |
| 8. day |
Refuge de Cayolle-Estenc. 13 km or 21 km. The last climp into the Col de Cayolle in 2645 m height. The beauty of the trip was definately the many gletcher lakes we passed and the snow still laying on the ground. In the destance we could hear Ibex, but we never saw it.The last two hours it just went down hill almost 1000 meter to Estenc. my feet were hurting me. From Estenc we were transferred back to Entrevaux to catch the train back to Nice. |
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