Nimes - day 2

Comments are coming, but generally, Nimes was a great place to finish our trip. Stayed in the Youth Hostel not far from the Roman Tower and 18th century gardens pictured on day 1. Also a pretty interesting days walk to get to the Roman Amphitheatre which is still used for bullfights. Youth Hostel was a good place - friendly, clean and good value.

Inside the Arenes.


Inside the Arenes.


Interestingly painted house. In reality, the blue of the house and the blue of the sky appeared to be almost identical.


Inside the Arenes.


Inside the Arenes.


We had a great (and inexpensive) lunch here, including "Torreu" or bull - cooked like a malaysian rendang but without the spices. Very nice.


Nimes’ historic centre is focussed around its dramatic Arenes - one of the best preserved Roman amphitheatres in Europe. They still have bullfights here.


Some locals playing petanque in the city’s beautiful park, the Jardins de la Fontaine.


the Fontaine de les Jardins.


At least when you're packing up to go home, you know that EVERYTHING has to go in the bags - no pondering what you should and shouldn't take :)



Packed up and ready for the 36 hour trip home (well, to Sydney at least). Neil waiting for a lift in the Nimes Auberge de Jeunesse terrace area.

Nimes - day 1

An interesting sign in the Jardins de la Fontaine. The German version was also full of errors.

Leaving Chasseradès for Robyn, Len, Jan and Neil :(

Our home for the night(s) near Chasseradès, though it nearly wasn't for Robyn, Len, Neil and Jan due to un erreur in the booking. Thanks to the others for sharing.


Our jolly and easygoing host.


Here come the friendly Germans with their donkeys.


Chasseradès main station!


Au revoir to the departing four. Len nearly departed for good when trying to reach the connecting train in Nimes! That's another story!

Day 6: la Bastide to Chasseradès

Leaving la Bastide - the station.


Some interesting trails today - mainly UP for the first half hour, but very beautiful.


Spot the w/r waymarker.


The perfect lunch spot, although the blackberry bushes were strangely empty of fruit.


The walking wounded having a break.


"There's no WHAT!" - the moment we discovered that there was no room at the inn.


Hotel des Sources, Chasseradès.


Our German friends with 2 of their 4 donkeys.


Our French friend from Tours who spent each day travelling on her own, catching up with us here and there.


Chasseradès was a beautiful old village.


The church.


A few drinks while waiting for dinner.

Despite Jan's hip/feet problems, we enjoyed the week a lot, but were glad to be heading back to more familiar forms of transport the following day. 3 weeks later and Jan is still having hip problems, but coming from the school of stoicism, is not complaining about it.

Next time you see them, ask Len and Robyn about their experience of train travel in Nimes ;)

Over to you Eric.

Day 5: Cheylard l'Eveque to la Bastide

Leaving Cheylard - some attractive rhubarb and a tree with orange berries.


Fearless Rex stepping out as we leave Cheylard.


Jan dealing with feet/hip problems on the road.


A compulsory shot of a menhir.


View down on thankful walkers from the top of the Tour de Luc.


After a bit of a trek, it was wonderful coming down the hill with our French friends to find a bar full of happy Bega Valley bois-walkers and our hotel.


Kind of like seeing the last days of a dying establishment in many ways.

Day 4 - Langogne to Cheylard l'Eveque

Another long day.


There weren't too many opportunities to take this photo. Eric and Joy leading us out of Langogne.


E and J still leading.


In most countries, this would be a picture of geese and other birds - here it was a picture of someone's dejeuner :)


Me posing on the bridge - can't remember the river or the next town though.


Eric's secret to his stamina. He secretly had a Citroen deux chevaux to whisk him ahead of the rest of us.


Funny, no mention of the surprise at the back of the picnic shelter ;)


An early prototype of the Concorde.


There was some beautiful scenery on this leg of the walk.


Most of us were pleased to have a comfortable place to sit and enjoy lunch ............


............. Helmut had other ideas.


Talk about the walking wounded - Rex and Jan in the bois.


Getting close to Cheylard l'Eveque now.


Told you.


Happiness is finding your luggage when you reach your destination.


A lovely place to stay the night - quite a gem in fact.


The zen of having walked a bloody long way and being able to sit down.


The view from the chapel on the hill - very scenic.


The chapel on the hill.


Looks like main course - what a great feed.


Hungry walkers engrossed in conversation.