Wednesday, August 17 after a rainy and windy night, I left the Lastours belvedere plateau to go directly to Carcassonne. Having to renew my cocktail of drugs, experience shows that at least one is always missing, I found a pharmacy that is near an EPAD, all generic drugs of course, are available, elderly people oblige. Then I would go to a Total gas station to fill up with Excellium diesel; I took the opportunity to inflate the reluctant right front tire with the truck's inflator! Then at Bricomarché I bought neon tubes to replace those out of order and tape resistant to morning humidity, fog, to stick the Garmin 276Cx's out of order suction cup to the windshield. This is an example of the maintenance of a vehicle traveling on tracks and roads. Finally, I took care of the well-being of the driver. It is 4 p.m., it is raining and the temperature is 24°C. I parked there.
Thursday, August 18, the night was peaceful accompanied by a few refreshing showers. The project for the next 6 days consists of visiting the Cathar Country on paved roads. This overcast day brought me back to my reality, I can only visit the monuments flush with the daisies, and again! I bivouacked at the exit of the Défilés de Pierre-Lys in the Pont d'Aliès car park.
Friday, August 19, a night without rain and without thunderstorms with mild temperatures, what a pleasure! But it seems that the heat wave is coming back. This day was devoted to the discovery of the fortresses of the Cathar country, at least what remains of them perched at the top of the Corbières bars overlooking the Fenouillèdes furrow. Of course I was content to take pictures from below. I set up my camp at the exit of Durban-Corbières between the river and the local garbage cans.
Saturday, August 20 I will travel the departmental road D40 which twists in the state forest of Termenés at the foot of the Corbières mountains. Alone on the narrow road with the rising sun in the back it was a sublime moment of fullness, what happiness! Tourists in motorhomes do not frequent narrow roads, and for good reason. The Galamus gorges, maximum width 2.00 meters and height 2.7 meters are prohibited for motorhomes. Alas no refuge for photos. I decided to stop at Pass St Louis on a picnic area.
Sunday, August 21 I progressed in state forests on the mountainside with the aim of visiting the Gorges de la Frau (fracture in Catalan and Occitan) and the Pas de l'Ours, see the map. From Fougax-et-Barrineuf the D5 took me to the end near a dam of rocks. There is no motorway junction between Fougax and Comus. Similarly, I climbed to the Col de la Gargante to see the Pas de l’Ours but the final phase is a hike. So I recognized my limits. In Joucou, a statue of Christ on the cross recalls the Christian roots of medieval France. I bivouacked on an area of the D222 en route to the D613 at 845 meters above sea level.
End of the D5 road, hike to the Gorges de la Frau |
Joucou pass, tunnels and overhangs |
Monday, August 22 was a small morning of photo hunting for the jacket of my site, the weather is gloomy with small showers. I was going to the parking lot of the Château de Montségur put off by the steep path for the approach. The two photos published are unremarkable, bof. After filling up with Excellium diesel at Total, I parked in the parking lot of an Intermarché Hyper. Tomorrow I start the Vibraction Rb34 track from the Cathar country of Foix to La Franqui, pond of Leucate, that is to say 366 km of track in five days.