To the South of France via Lyon .......

In June we were invited spend a few days with Ione and Stephen in their
house near St Tropez. We didn't take much persuading!!

On the way down having driven past Lyon on many occasions on the
way through France we decided this time to make a quick dash into
it and have a look at the city centre on a warm and crystal clear Sunday
morning
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These three shots give a quick impression
- the white church on the hill overlooking
the city - a boule tournament on a
Sunday morning and a handsome
horseman against the perfect blue sky.

An elegant and energetic city.
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...... and the Rhone

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Heading down the
Rhone then
crossing it looking
for a decent wine.
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In Hermitage looking
for one we knew.....

........and finding it!




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(left) J and G outside Stephen and Ione's delightful bougainvillia covered
house in Le Rayol to the west of St Tropez and (right) celebrate arrival
with an 'eskimo moment' in Le Lavandou.

S of France The Porquerolles Islands

The overhead shots of the Porquerolles Islands (Sausage Rolls?) - below
right - include in the top shot the cove where the incident shown in the
following section took place. The main purpose of the visit was a little
'light exercise' on bicycles which were picked up when we left the ferry



--Looking _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The riding is rougher than expected (left) and Ione falls (centre)
but recovers - and poses to prove it on the other side of the island.

St Maxime and Port Grimaud

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St Maxime golf course and the Bay
of St Tropez over which it appears
the author is poised to 'belt
the ball'. Stephen looks on
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Stephen and Ione loll on a bridge in Port Grimaud marina ......followed by Garth and Jacky lolling on a bridge etc etc

Col D'Iseran -Europe's highest road pass

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The return route was via Briancon
and then further east to try to
reach the Col d'Iseran, (above
Val d'Isere) the highest road pass
in Europe. The French autoroutes
are a delight as this Alpine foothill
shot shows Then into the Alps
and the foot of the pass then the
climb towards it.........
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But we were to be thwarted
Two weeks into June and the
pass is still blocked by snow.

The author hurls oaths at no
one in particular - then works
on plan B

South of France -after the pass

Two compensations for missing the pass, the fortified monastery of St Michel de Maurienne....

......and approaching the

champagne region a

hillside covered with

poppies
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Lastly before heading back to

England Jacky finds one of our

'holy grails' in the Champagne

region - the Veuve Cliquot field!!

That night we were on the ferry.

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______________________ End of South of France posts______________________

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