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Your blog hostess getting some big airtime on the via Ferrata de Roche de Julienne - blue route ( graded difficult) - excellent stuff -and more than enough exertion and exposure for us
There are five different routes on this cliff for all abilities
Needless to say the ground is a long long way below her feet
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Buis les Barronies ( note now correctly spelt) … and beyond
We last visited Buis ( as it is locally affectionately called) in about 2007 when we were competent regular climbers- the town is surrounded by rocky hills with a plethora of outstanding climbable crags offering climbing for all abilities in the French style with fixed bolted protection.
Now some years later strength and flexibility have noticeably diminished along with the confidence to climb harder routes that comes with regular outings- that said, this trip offered the opportunity to climb the pleasantly easier climbs we would have ignored previously as ‘too easy and beneath us’
In fact the easier climbs offered delightfully entertaining mornings before the full sun hit the various faces-,it meant early morning starts, but the village Boulangerie opened at 6.00am helpfully. Our routine became that of early waking and setting off by 7.00am, visit boulangerie to buy breakfast ( pain au raisin every day- my oh my they’re good) then drive to crag by 8.00am. We would then climb until it got too hot to bear before retiring back to the campsite and the municipal pool ( to die for- massive and at 28C water temp)
Evenings were either in the campsite or a meal out in town ( there are some excellent restaurants in Buis, or the run of the mill burger/pizza joints according to one’s requirements) sitting on the terrace in a shady bar in the old town sipping an ice cold pression (draught lager) or a chilled glass of Rose wine in the evening heat and watching the world go by is a delight before sampling the local Provençal cuisine and finally finishing the evening ( around 10pm or so) with an ice cream from one of the many gelataria outlets
All things have to come to an end- we checked out this morning, did some more climbing to around lunchtime then stopped off in a gorge on the way out where the river has been artificially dammed to provide a swimming area- nowhere near the temperature of the municipal pool, the river temperature was beautifully refreshingly cool after the roasting we had received at the climbing crag
After a good swim and lunch we drove about an hour and a half further SE to a village called Ville Sur Auzun just east of Carpentras. This is the traditional start point for the classic cycle of the Gorge de Nesque balcony ride- our planned activity for tomorrow ( ascent is 20km at an average gradient 2.5%- so quite an easy one) it’s meant to be stunning and a ‘must do’ as there is virtually no traffic on the road but fellow cyclists- we’ll make it a round trip by coming back via a col and final long descent back home
We’re currently relaxing with a beer having been again to the local municipal pool ( free unlimited access again as part of our camping fees in the village camping site) - water temp…… 30C 
Some pictures below and cycle report tomorrow
Rosie climbing at Baume Rousse
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Hedonism!
Sampling local tapas menu in a tiny street side venue in old town area of Buis- tapenade, chèvre, pains, vin rose and lots (and lots) of garlic
