Downhill to the coast

Yesterday I ran down the hill under the cable car and got down there almost as fast as the group I was with. Of course, today I am paying the price for that folly.

All I did was glide down the hill from 750 meters to zero elevation, where I pitched my tent under a shady tree canopy, did my laundry, and now I need rest, so I take a nap and I get in the water to swim.

My neighbors in camp yesterday are Dutch and French, and I had a great time talking with them this morning again delaying my departure by a good hour and a half, but it was fun and I got a good idea. Marcel has been doing the vendange at a French chateau called Cheval Blanc. It is apparently quite a great time at one of the upper chateaus like that.

I buy dinner at the supermarket because the pizzeria at the campground has no pizza, I get a great healthy salad nuts and cheese, that I devour sitting on the volcanic coastline where the waves are lapping against the shore as the sun is setting behind me.

A helicopter comes by and keeps flying around, at first I thought they were just scanning for basic safety but it turns out something happened out there because an hour later he still hovering and there is a coast guard boat nearby.Read more