Category Archives: Hymer MLT 580 4X4

Start Elevation = 1260, Finish Elevation = 2060m This morning’s job was to fully stock up on supplies before we head to the mountains for some camping. So grey water was dumped at drainage at the aire we were staying. Groceries from the Carrefour down the road. We thought we could get LPG there butContinue reading “Alpine Beauty and Glaciers – Col du Lautaret, Alpe de Haut Provence, France”

Starting altitude – 560m, Final altitude – 1260m I am not going to lie, last night was one of the toughest yet. It was 34 degrees in the van through the afternoon, by 10pm it was still 28 degrees and around 40% humidity. By 1am it was still at 25 degrees. The electric on theContinue reading “Up, up and away – Briançon, Alpes de Haute Provence, France”

This morning we were out before breakfast to make the most of the (slightly) cooler morning. Two expresso in the café with the other locals contemplating their shop at the Saturday market. The Sisteron market is arrange around the clock tower (l’Horlage). Along with the abundant local fruit and vegetables piled high on the marketContinue reading “Market and Citadel – Sisteron, Alpes de Haute Provence, France”

As was forecast this morning, it just started to drizzle as we did a quick dog walk for the last time in Castellane. Just what we hoped for there was thick cloud and light rain! We had hoped to do the Sentier des Siréniens hike whilst in Castellane but the 28-31 degrees C we hadContinue reading “Lovely day for a walk in the rain – Sisteron, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France”

Castellane has become a bit sticky. We got up and walked the dogs along the river via the 15th century Pont du Roc. We strolled into town for a coffee at our new favourite café where all the locals hang-out. Bought some fresh bread. Leisurely breakfast. Perhaps took a peek or two online at the,Continue reading “Pressing Pause – Castellane, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France”

This morning, realising no crampons and ropes were required we decided to scale the Roc. The 720m altitude rock which dominates the skyline of Castellane on which a small church has been built in the amazing way that religious buildings can be in apparently inaccessible places. The church which dates back to the 9th centuryContinue reading “Views, views and more views – Roc and Verdon Gorge – Castellane, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France”

Today we *should* have been visiting Nice then Monaco. Then this morning I got a random Facebook post which talked about the Route of Napoleon, an iconic must-do drive through the Alpes and a new plan was born. We had toyed with a crazy run to Tuscany, Pisa and Florence then trip through the SwissContinue reading “Route de Napoleon – Castellane, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France”

We had a leisurely start this morning as it was a Sunday and drove the 15 minutes to Ménerbes down narrow but very scenic country roads flanked by vineyards and lavender fields. Ménerbes looked above us on the approached stretched across the hillside ahead. The honey colour stone village commanding views right across the Luberon.Continue reading “Provençal Village 5. Saving the best until last – Ménerbes, Provence, France”

We arrived back from a stroll around Fontaine-de-Vaucluse last night to find a U.K. plated Sprinter van conversion at the barrier to the campsite. The young couple had just driven straight from Calais (over 1000km) for their 1 week holiday in their self-converted (during lockdown) van. We warned them that though the display said oneContinue reading “Provencal Village 2, nearly 3 and 4 – Lumières, Provence, France”

After what seems like slot of city touring on this trip and also having read A Year In Provence by Peter Mayle. We decided that today was the day to go rural and go to the hills of Provence. We have selected a week’s worth of villages for our tour and we are looking forwardContinue reading “Provence Village #1 – Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, Provence, France”