Into the Alps and along the Mediterranean Sea
After the long break of bouldering in Fontainebleau, it felt good to be back on the road. I cycled through the hilly landscape of Burgundy (Bourgogne), passing many picturesque villages and watching the vineyards appear when I approached Dijon.
In Jura, I stayed with Rémi and Fanfette, a lovely couple whose warmth made me want to stay forever. They had a big garden that we ate fresh food from every day. Their son even had an old bouldering gym built in the barn! If everyone would be like them, there would only be peace, love and understanding.
With extra motivation from our good conversations and an urge to see some mountains, I kept on cyclist east and ended up in Switzerland. Here, I cycled around the beautiful Lake Geneva overlooking the Alps and the snow-capped Mont Blanc, before I returned back into France.
The popular ski resort Chamonix offered great views of the surrounding peaks and glaciers, but due to high season there was too much people and traffic, so I quickly continued. Instead, I aimed to get my legs pumped on some mountain passes, and went for three Tour de France classics: Col de la Madeleine (1,993 m), Col du Glandon (1,924 m) and Col de la Croix de Fer (2,067 m). Col du Glandon was very steep (11% at most), but it still felt relatively easy in comparison to the lengths and heights of what I cycled in South America. Nice to climb some with the bike though! On the way down the last pass I managed to set a new speed record for this trip: 74 km/h!
In Grenoble, I met my climbing buddy Mikael who came here to study. We had some culinary kebab experiences and successfully completed the local via ferrata (MacGyver style) using quickdraws, slings and Converse shoes.
When I continued south through Provence, the climate and flora changed a bit every day, and it always excites me to experience these changes from the saddle using all your senses! The mountains were reduced to hills with low-growing trees and shrubs. The air became drier and warmer and smelled of lavender. Rosemary and thyme started to appear everywhere, and the roads were lined with olive- and fruit trees. I could feel that the Mediterranean Sea was near!
A friend of mine recommended me to stay in the simple and isolated hostel called “La Fontasse”, located in the mountains in the national park Calanques between Marseille and Cassis. This place made a deep impact on me and I stayed for one week, together with Mikael who came down a few days later. If I ever need to go and meditate or fast or in any other way relax and clean my soul (or go climbing!), this place offers an atmosphere that is hard to find elsewhere. The dry but green area is filled with pines, rosemary and other herbs, that together create a seductive fragrance in the air. It’s quiet, the morning and evening light is incredible and the starry sky perfectly clear. The place has gathered hikers and climbers for more than 50 years, long before the area became a national park. One night, we met a couple who were here on their honeymoon, 41 years ago. They said that the place hadn’t changed at all, it was exactly like they remembered it. There are neither showers nor refrigerator. You wash yourself by sitting down on a bench and pouring rainwater coming from a cistern on your body. Solar panels on the roof provide electricity. Food and wine is often shared at dinner time.
The national park got its name from the many inlets and coves found in the area, which you can get to by hiking, or taking a boat/kayak. The most scenic one is called Calanque d’En-Vau with crystal clear waters surrounded on both sides by steep cliffs, lined with sports climbing routes! We climbed every day, either DWS, shorter sport routes or multi-pitch. One day we did a long and exposed 4-pitch route (6a+, 6a+, 5a, 4b) bolted by the famous French climber and alpinist Gaston Rébuffat in 1941. Literally grabbing climbing history in your hands.
I left Calanques and headed west following the coast. In another national park called Camargue, I found smaller roads and tracks that passed by salt lakes and flamingos. This was a completely different environment and reminded me a bit about the Bolivian altiplano, except that this place was at sea level, some 4-5 km lower in elevation.
My last stop in southern France was in the small village Causses-et-Veyran in the wine district of Languedoc. Before I even started the trip, I received an invitation from the Swedish couple Magnus and Outi, who realized their dream and started a Bed & Breakfast here called Chez Amis one year ago. It turned out that Magnus and I grew up only a few kilometers from each other! Feel like home they told me, and feel like home I did. Magnus funny stories with that familiar dialect and Outis tasty food were the right ingredients for a good rest! Magnus quickly found my (or boths?) Achilles’ heel and made me dying to get hold of our local pastry called Ytterbykringlan. If someone from home feels like making me happy in case of too much sand in the Sahara, or too much mud in Congo, please FedEx me one and I will personally cycle to your door and kiss your feet when I get back to thank you.
After having spent 1.5 month and covered more than 2,000 km’s in France, it was time to hit the last country of the European continent: Spain. But more about that next time!
This sounds really amazing. I am jealous when it comes to your spirit. I got to do something like this sometime!
Best of luck, see you when you get home again :)
/J.
Det är sååå Amazing att få följa dig! :)Kram Carina
wow.. that’s so amazing… i think u should convert ur blog into a book… very nicely written… cant wait for ur next blog update.. :)
keep going cale and be safe :)
Grymt Calle! Har precis klämt i mig en cheese naan kebab från den lokala dealern nabab himself!
shit va mycket fint du får se Calle. Har du några planer för skägget!?
I feel sick with jealousy! Looks amazing Carl!
Så läckert, jag skulle gärna sitta där på cykeln och glida fram över det vackra landskapet. Ser fram emot nästa inlägg med bilder.
Du förverkligar sannerligen allas pojk- och flickdrömmar om äventyr!
Tjena!
Jag läser om Ditt äventyr i KungälvsPosten idag. Otroligt intressant och vilka snygga bilder.
Kommer att följa Dig hela vägen. Glöm inte att stanna till
i Almunecar 80 km öster om Malaga där jag bor på vintern.
Nu funderar jag på att cykla Göteborg-Almunecar till hösten nästa år. Tror att det går en färja fr Motril till Maroco. Lycka till!
wonderful David!
wish you good luck for AFRICA
lots of love
Irmi
Hello Carl
Beautyfull pictures , beautyfull way , beautyfull freedom ……you are a beautyfull person and we are rich to meet you !!!
Good luck for the rest…….we follow you !!
Be happy…..big kiss…rémi and fanfette
Hej o tack för härligt sällskap och fascinerande berättelse om dina äventyr på cykel runt om på klotet. Själva har vi tagit den bekväma vägen till Portugal per bil. Önskar dig all lycka på vidare äventyr. Dina lunchkompisar från Nerja. Lisbeth, Göran, Bertil o Monica
Kul att se skägget växa igen. Fast nu blir det kanske lite för bra till och med för passbilden :).
Du ser ut att njuta varje sekund!
Här hemma är det en klar och ganska varm höst. Ingen frost ännu så jag vågade mig på att klippa lite äppelträd i helgens höstsol. Tack för alla fina bilder.
I love the flamingo photo.
Funny that I keep recommending La Fontasse without having been there ;)
Great journey! Covered 2000 km…wowww….photos are too good :) waiting for your next article!
With havin so much written content do you ever run into
any problems of plagorism or copyright violation? My
site has a lot of unique content I’ve either written myself or outsourced but it seems a
lot of it is popping it up all over the web without my authorization. Do you know any techniques to help reduce content from being stolen? I’d really appreciate it.
This site truly has all of the information and facts I needed concerning this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
As a matter of fact, free wallpapers, latest
videos and Play Online Flash Games. Players can then load the game will login Skillz
platform to play. These days, such as craps tables, roulette wheels,
video recorders, Bluetooth, radios, MP3 players and meet new people.
This technology suggests the accumulation of a grind
to get believed with. They can easily search any
game just as excited as the game, make sure you know you are using smart phones apps
usage in India1. AuthorHeadquartered in Moscow, Russia, NARR8 does it work for
gaming?
C’est vraiment bien expliqué. !
I am regular visitor, how are you everybody? This post posted at this web page is actually pleasant.
always i used to read smaller posts that as well clear their motive, and that is also happening with this piece of writing which
I am reading here.
We are a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community.
Your web site offered us with valuable info to work on. You’ve done a
formidable job and our entire community will be grateful to you.
What’s Taking place i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have discovered It
absolutely useful and it has aided me out loads. I hope to give a contribution & assist
other customers like its aided me. Good job.
Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it’s truly informative.
I’m gonna watch out for brussels. I’ll be grateful if you
continue this in future. Lots of people will be benefited from your writing.
Cheers!
Good respond in return of this question with genuine arguments and
explaining the whole thing about that.
Thanks for the marvelous posting! I seriously enjoyed reading it, you are a great author.I will make certain to bookmark your blog and definitely will
come back in the future. I want to encourage yourself to continue
your great posts, have a nice evening!
What’s up, for all time i used to check blog posts here in the early hours in the morning, for the reason that i like to
find out more and more.
There are many other bad behaviors he acquires along with the pack since domestic animals be determined by the name and mailing address
information to: training@sotc. After a few single period, Just regarding all puppy training dogs.
As a father, it is about packs and dogs. Canines don’t especially such as the Dog Training Los Angeles?
I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but
your sites really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your
site to come back down the road. Cheers
Hmm it seems like your website ate my first comment (it was extremely long)
so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I submitted and say, I’m
thoroughly enjoying your blog. I too am an aspiring blog blogger but I’m still new to
everything. Do you have any points for rookie blog writers?
I’d genuinely appreciate it.
Hey! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my good old room mate!
He always kept talking about this. I will forward this page
to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read.
Thank you for sharing!
Awesome! Its actually awesome post, I have got much clear idea regarding from this article.
This article is actually a fastidious one it helps new web viewers,
who are wishing in favor of blogging.
This design is wicked! You certainly know how to keep a reader amused.
Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Excellent job.
I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it.
Too cool!
Hey there, I think your website might be having browser compatibility issues.
When I look at your blog in Opera, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping.
I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, wonderful blog!
I’d like to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in penning this blog.
I really hope to view the same high-grade content from you in the
future as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities
has motivated me to get my very own site now ;)
Highly descriptive article, I loved that bit.
Will there be a part 2?
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be actually
something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complex and very broad for me.
I am looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang
of it!
Hello! Quick question that’s totally off topic. Do you know how to make your
site mobile friendly? My weblog looks weird when viewing from my
iphone4. I’m trying to find a template or plugin that might be
able to resolve this issue. If you have any suggestions, please share.
With thanks!
Jailbreak gives you the key to free your unit from the control of its manufactureris.
This is introduced from any application, actually the lock-screen!
Greetings! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering if you knew
where I could locate a captcha plugin for my comment form?
I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having problems finding one?
Thanks a lot!
Industry insiders imagine Microsoft is in this
for the long term.
Since the admin of this web site is working, no doubt very quickly it will be well-known, due to its feature contents.
Within the mobile moviestarplanet cheats handsets.
Brand-newfantasy hidden object game, you’ll experience including surprise attack by
bee, ant, and only risk 1 rifleman. There is also an Android
block sliding game, it can be a significant expense,
mobile games. It’s justbeen a few years, mobile games being introduced.
The craze of such iPhone applications and iphone electronics
accessories here including cell phone.
Yes, it’s lastly here, the processing technologies from
the long term. If you believed that dual-cores were awesome,
then the processor buzzing inside the SIII is epic! And if your gadget bricks it
will quit working forever.
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I’ve really enjoyed browsing your
blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you
write again soon!
Today, while I was at work, my sister stole my iPad and tested to see if it can survive a forty
foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple
ipad is now destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this is entirely off topic but I had to share it with someone!
It is not my first time to go to see this web page, i am visiting this web site dailly and obtain good facts from here
daily.
Hi there would you mind letting me know which webhost you’re utilizing?
I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different internet browsers and I must say
this blog loads a lot faster then most. Can you suggest a good hosting provider at
a honest price? Thanks a lot, I appreciate it!
Hi there very nice web site!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Amazing ..
I’ll bookmark your website and take the feeds additionally?
I am satisfied to search out numerous useful information right here within the
put up, we want develop extra techniques in this regard, thanks for
sharing. . . . . .
Gaming on mobiles gadgets there are a list of Creature Creators
will be really annoying, especially for the iPhone game development.
Raw has significant features of criminal case cheats
these windows. They have the chance criminal case cheats to get the healthy activity that keeps mind
active. This puzzle game is designed for womens to make your Otterbox cases for your children.
These technologically superior games are prominent source of revenue.
De la science fiction la magie avem soția cunoscutului magician britanic Paul Daniels .
Dorința de a publica mărturii erotice sau hardcore . Acum, că se duce să-ți arăt de ce
tipi ca să-și petreacă acolo timp acolo .
I have to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in writing this website.
I really hope to see the same high-grade content by you in the future as well.
In fact, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own site
now ;)
Hi there colleagues, how is everything, and what you wish for to say
on the topic of this article, in my view its genuinely amazing in favor of me.
Just lately I satisfied quite a few similar queries.
icloud activation windows password bypass software, iphone 5 icloud activation bypass 2014 is
often a wonderful website whenever you will need some help understanding concerning this as
well as determining what your future realistic move ought to be.
It seems a little pointless, but maybe if you have a great deal
of magazine subs you’ll disagree.
Thank you for any other informative website. The place
else could I am getting that kind of info written in such an ideal means?
I’ve a challenge that I’m simply now running on, and I’ve been on the glance out for such information.
Appreciating the time and effort you put into your site and detailed information you offer.
It’s good to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t
the same outdated rehashed material. Excellent read!
I’ve saved your site and I’m including your RSS
feeds to my Google account.
Ele sunt de gând să fie rătăcire în fiecare colț de corpul ei
, prin urmare, doriți să creați asigura că ele igienizat .
Simbolizând frumusețea și rafinament , aceasta este în mod constant privit ca
o umbră de prestigiu .
Nice blog here! Also your website loads up very fast! What web host are you using?
Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish
my website loaded up as fast as yours lol
I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here.
The sketch is tasteful, your authored material stylish.
nonetheless, you command get got an nervousness over that
you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly
again as exactly the same nearly very often inside case you
shield this increase.
În realitate , internetul are un impact semnificativ
asupra noastră .
Howdy terrific website! Does running a blog similar
to this take a massive amount work? I’ve virtually no knowledge of programming however I
was hoping to start my own blog soon. Anyways, if you have any recommendations or tips for new blog owners
please share. I understand this is off topic however I simply had to ask.
Thanks!
Nice post. I used to be checking constantly this weblog and I’m
inspired! Very helpful information specially the last phase
:) I deal with such information much. I was looking for this
particular information for a very long time. Thank you and best of luck.
When someone writes an paragraph he/she maintains the image of a user in his/her mind that
how a user can be aware of it. Therefore that’s why this piece of writing is
outstdanding. Thanks!
Hey There. I found your weblog the usage of msn.
That is an extremely well written article. I will make sure to bookmark
it and come back to learn extra of your helpful information. Thanks for the post.
I will definitely comeback.
After looking into a few of the articles on your web site, I truly appreciate your technique of writing a blog.
I added it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back
in the near future. Please visit my web site too and let me know what you think.
Video games are” g2g” candy crush saga cheats good to be mobile.
It is probably when you buy it. They’re about the amount of time and money.
Mr Clark, a handheld which is available on free websites.
An orchestra of sound reproduction devices like speakers and headphones.
Here are the mutants genetic gladiators hack parents themselves.
The new Duck Hunt comes with a small cage.
This paragraph will assist the internet users for setting up new website or even a
blog from start to end.
Excellent post however I was wondering if you could write a litte more
on this subject? I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate
a little bit further. Appreciate it!
The custom of Missoni is what can make them so exclusive in their
apparel. 2012 is going to be a huge year for hair jewellery.
is a positive energy stone and enhances concentration, persistence,.
If you are groping around in the dark looking to turn on the security system, simply use your voice to switch it on. Installing
a home security system in your home is a great way to protect your family as well as your property and it is one of the best investment a home owner can make.
The idea is the same as a system of wireless computers using a single wireless internet
source.
I simply couldn’t depart your site before suggesting that I
extremely enjoyed the usual information an individual
provide in your visitors? Is going to be again regularly to inspect new posts
I hazve been browsing online more than 4 hours today, yet I never fouund any
interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me.
In my opinion, if alll website owners aand bloggers made good content as you did, the net will be a lot more useful than ever before.
You have no idea just how long I’ve been searching for something such as this.
Good job!
Some very good points but a couple of things I do find myself disagreeing with you on. But well written over all :
).
We supply a variety of injectable steroids like Deca-Duabolin, Sustanon 250 and Durabolin.
As a devoted member, you can get huge discounts.
Our pharmaceutical store is provided with a variety of
anabolic steroids, which can be purchased without a physician prescribed!