F is for Fragrant: wild lavender and thyme in Province

Wild lavender along our path.

Gentle violet colours, echoes of the shutters in the villages we have been visiting.

Even though we are at the height of summer here in the south east of France, there was still a profusion of wildflowers along our hiking path today.

A little gem surviving the dry, hot summer.

Fred takes real pleasure in photographing flowers so this was an unexpected treat for him.

What I loved the most was the fragrant wild lavender and thyme - herbes de province waiting for the picking!

The lavender bushes got smaller and smaller as we climbed. Once we crested to the dry plateau, they were miniatures of themselves and certainly look nothing like the cultivated fields of lavender. But their fragrance is heady.

The yellow route marker, peeping through the wildflowers on the mountain.

R is for Randonnee Panaromique: a hike in the Moyen Pays of Province

The joy of being on a path, hiking the Circuit de Vieriou.

Another country and another opportunity to be on a path!

We chose a hike in the Moyen Pays of Province today. The route is rated average, climbing and  then descending 480m from the village of Coursegoule. We spent about 4 hours on the paths with switchbacks taking us up onto the Crete du Cheiron, along the crest and then back down via the Bastide de Vieriou to the village.

A fabulous morning; clear, crisp fresh mountain air to walk in with endless vistas. Very special.

Our destination, the Crete du Cherion, from the village of Coursegoule.
The beautiful terraces no longer used for lavender but for grazing crops.

The Chapelle St-Michel, XI century and almost untouched all these years.
Our destination looming in the background

The village of Coursegoule from the Col de Coursegoule, our highpoint at 1424m along the hike.

Magnificent views across the Moyen Pays as well as across to the Alps.

Switchbacks. Not easy walking, rocky, boulders and lots of loose stones.