Monday June 12, Valensole

A pretty girl in the middle of a lavender field - how cool is that!

When the mid afternoon temperatures hit the mid 30’s, the best place for a couple of kiwis is in the shade surrounded by lavender fields with a good breeze blowing. And that is where we are.

It was another glorious morning at Carro when we left this morning, saying good bye to our neighbours and other campers that we had got to know. We found it a particularly friendly campsite and although the vans were quite close together, we managed fine. There was a mist over the distant hills as we left the Mediterranean and headed inland. Jilly very successfully navigated through the maze of busy roads and soon we were heading into the open country of Provence with the backdrop of the high alps. Stopped at Lidl and stocked up on fresh fruit and vegetables and other basics. Lidl have a limited range of products but their prices are really good and so is the produce. After Friday’s effort at Leclerc, it was a pleasure shopping here with so much parking and not too busy.

Yesterday, when I mentioned to Lars’ wife that I wanted to head back to Provence to see the lavender, she immediately said that Valensole, which is on a high plateau was the place to go as there are hundreds of acres of lavender. Found a great site on a lavender farm in the French Passion guide, so that was where we were heading.

Quite rocky surroundings.

Driving into Valensole the sight was quite breathtaking, with neat rows of lavender and stony red soil between. It is not quite in full flower yet, just the purple bud heads, it will another few weeks before they will be really colourful, but we won’t be in this area then. Also noticed fields of sunflowers, but they are a few weeks away from flowering as well. What a sight it will be and guess there will be photographers everywhere then.  We arrived and set up camp under the trees, there were already about 6 other campers here, and everyone else seemed to have the same idea – they were sitting outside under the trees catching the breeze.

Decided to have an early dinner, had bought some yummy chicken kebabs at Lidl, and we were all finished by 7 (the earliest ever for us!) and with the air a bit cooler and the light getting better we set off on our bikes, down the small roads trying to find good views of the flowers and the old buildings, then had a look around the old town of Valensole. Enjoy riding at this time of night as there is very little traffic and can get a good look at everything. On our way back with the light getting much lower in the sky we took a side road and came across two girls taking photos. How lucky for me, two gorgeous girls from New York city who just wanted someone to take their photos in the lavender field! We all had so much fun except Alexis in her flowing white broderie anglais dress who really wasn’t too sure about the bees in the field.

The air was starting to cool quite nicely when we got back and the breeze is still blowing. We sat outside until after 10, it was just so quiet, the only sounds from a dog in the distance and the village bells chiming on the hour.

Evening light on the barley fields beside the camp.