Peter Mayle Country

Before I get into today's exploits, I should mention that the 2013 Cotes du Rhone vendange appears to have started - whites only as of now. There is still minimal tractor traffic on the roads, but they're finally getting at it. Today's excursion took us over into the Luberon and the haunts of Peter Mayle who made this area famous and now tourist ridden - thanks Peter - with his A Year In Provence book and then TV mini series.

We had three stops in mind and began with a return visit to Roussillon.

We started with an walk in the ochre canyon and since the sun almost always shines here, it was a fabulous walk with incrdible views.

We then walked in the old village, discovered that our favourite lady painter, Francoise Valenti, doesn't work any more on the weekends and then continued to walk through the upper town and enjoy views of both valley and town.

On our way to stop number two, Gordes, we pulled into a little wooded picnic area and had the classic French picnic out of the back of the car.

Gordes was, as usual, crawling with tourists, but we stopped for the view of the town from the rock below town anyway and drove to the centre of town and quickly exited Gordes.

Final stop was Abbaye de Senaque, which appears to be a little less cared for - the lavender bushes anyway. This remarkable setting is still always a pleasure to behold.

We took the route home route through the Venesque Gorge and despite winding roads, found this an amazingly quick exit from the Luberon and before we knew it we were in Carpentras and then home. We were a little earlier today getting home and Claude managed to access his e-mail so everybody felt a little more connected. Saturday night was spent with a pork tenderloin dinner here, cards and camaraderie.