For years, I played full court, 5 on 5 basketball at the YMCA in Allentown at least three times a week with guys that were younger and better players than I was. They pushed me. I was in shape.
I was so much older then. I'm younger than that now.
Wait a minute. Reverse that.
Now, I walk. Promenade. Just a few times a week. Maybe 5 kilometers or so at a clip. I use about three different routes. They all start with a long downhill stretch. If you live within steps of the church at the top of a French village built on a hill, you don't have a choice. And that means that the return trip ends with an uphill slog. Depending on the route, a
rather steep uphill slog. I suppose that's the way that it should be...end the workout with one last push.
Here are the pics. Enjoy.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhvxnBSi7_z1_7e0cm2A98oNdWozHeemdupuXvJ7LsVXtxLyhzmmX0LNcSIfa9nxjp9EiPNhMyGglBwl8P4bZE0GlYhIT1JMkZrmrO0ygkBGp1dxfBi2Y4gV_XWNDDUej6Jo9eQBgAbXv/s640/1+Windowsill+Succulent.JPG) |
First, check out the blooming succulent on our window ledge. |
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EC8RoDMcytmYxyZi7XGDTZQLbOJ_N0NZYxSOKUyfx1kl63Waz1ppm5ecar1VhijNIvno5ZsGirJR5ilZjSiuGMbG90mlO_h0Fo-ygJdMTXmBNNLbp6m6839xAWop4AaN1-_mJGfL2rWh/s640/2+Downhill+Alley+Next+to+House.JPG) |
Then down the Rue des Bichettes. The blue door on the left is to our cave (pronounced cahve), our dirt-floor cellar. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGphGa2F6oRfsiCPdkiMdLqiHXZ9-NIRvOzxjHUtq01y7H8zeq_ieWSf-RcNUAwzEhaBe7xb9WG7iA21-mRvxF9lJS3gP_xLLaV_OqndTiJjefXWaAMQB-QzNk33Dn4xv-7U6kVjn_4Oz-/s640/3+Downhill+Some+More.JPG) |
Still heading down hill. |
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUaB6ikDTeEYA4T-XFSAinbXQJlPO6vFpp37RiiibL8DWpkXmdUU4SnJuV3cvp3hCPrVH7hstqhihxcPq5lG0CF3yz9ShDMW7Cs7ejp3GamN8wamSaufp0xzrDGnDoob2mjBuaL2CnuQob/s640/4+Downhill+Some+More.JPG) |
We've hit the main road. Still down hill. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_Wa8vUw4GJ2moBwsQd6YEAZ8ybxC-V1yU_KHAL18Z8UsBgyWIhy9GexCm114fD-8B9PEiyQPKvQ8TJZMR8vpQcQHHzo-G2Bz67VhLmn5R210-jHFW6Gfco46ZdRDEBVp7cDJrBu9-3GD/s640/5+Cave+Cooperatif.JPG) |
The local cooperative winery. Grape growers who aren't vintners bring in their harvest in September and October. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqImXQNLtUjraDsDnE4WV1aAYmuhXH722vAM_knLUUqsUZJ3e6NBHASIPBSAdg8qiulrAQ-QQtlX1VZNG39Je573zSDTJM9EqOMH_OfTyb7rcyNS7Uk4jzOM9LTEH4Qi05H3nwYGF6-jwM/s640/6+Into+the+Country.JPG) |
Just past the cooperative, the views open up. This is rural France. My trail runs along that tree line. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeV4Gh2TNudrtauvjiTDXC_B45nlxx1VOoZ5UL4IGB4g8bDcepPu3sMZokePK2-AU29T8xw6GQocISX6ZJPbM2NL2_i8C1ePqpDLZzYrvW6eg-R3nep8YGPLpujP-G7kaJqE7ErVSCrODE/s640/7+Saffron+Grower+In+Town.JPG) |
Still within the town limits, a grower of saffron. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ54FGRv2Xbtb9o_jLhdPp9EsI1ncXSHyKsgEDsKsjINm7jkPx7txNndRN5AFhuK5BFD_8z5bNHePNHXt_uXWizUKMC39iFK3CfN20LOLz0StuOAOgiQeQILp1A1rvIuHSvy5FLYor4glR/s640/8+Edge+of+Town.JPG) |
And we've left town. Note the abbey's spire at the top of the village. Our house is just a few steps away. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHoozOacxtlrwYVXI1IZOGvNZPrQ01wjpjyUrvKojm_fdo2RHMyfIe2J7vk_AWaMD1cu9Z2JwY0thHVFOY0478RBMiBfW2iSHZH8Vv-TGS7o7i7FYoq9x2b3J1SH4sp7c7Zc5YCSvJdGW/s640/9+The+Quarante.JPG) |
The creek is called Le Quarante. |
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bymMUm2iVW1_KoNLeY62889UnHX70-DjJXlprT9nzwwu3cuw1hLRBIZbu6SdSMeD8wtyX-NHW09KwRw_WeLyiZtcYbbjvVJtdpH52KCZiCDjex70XCkZt2HjLhup99OilfXTScael1fX/s640/10+Abandoned+Vineyard.JPG) |
On the road out of town, an abandoned vineyard on one side... |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSt7mB3-Lc0r9dvd5x9EqgyAqQygGY7G4srjjEXaA1n0Igib7ajhYnv1w8Dge4CxHJ7CpXTFBxzrBEB4yEsa10TLWqqs0R8LvNhCSUSwXUBBvvm_o_s9gPqV3Cc9yZNVj8pZjupGqFzL6/s640/11+New+Vines+Across+the+Road.JPG) |
And on the other side of the road, new vines. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrhdxiYqZQjMiT0qdYldXeW1VpzjuZ1DvLHbpTw03IQKEecAhg4xJ88Rai-AEZ5JGXpVjJR0WQay7xD9uzDg1O9kMWYwvJzigy21NPwvGIkla_bD-22eqDBgLJBtCQKsWlgJf5LTkwMaI/s640/12+The+Terminus.JPG) |
Le Terminus is a fine local restaurant in the old, converted train station between Quarante and sister town Cruzy. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEbKMyCd5XMTqECHNHI3DS73rq9BV81lLQVRoSwMTQS70kLsuEvnD23hn_8cRH3lAiqoczKgPgVeRY0TxWODeEgiTu27b4lQzasJedQuxh_KVe765otBVeSLDJQ9aviC5nvMG1GO9sw97/s640/13+Train+Station.JPG) |
Suitable for weddings and bar mitzvahs. And the public walking path begins in the parking lot. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFsl1lOsx-0G8tQ81K_yP9w63dqvpGx98qLmg7fGBYvQ4q8yC70y2Oo8zDW4GwVz6Z1v7pqUGGtgewWye5mmebGV4ygqVT00L0jDMmF_41kuGVEERu0Tk4wFat_TszDUc9XADSAQ1jlh8/s640/14+Head+of+the+Path.JPG) |
Bicycles and walkers only, please. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYJMZzBR0tCHG2rB2SXKOEgSHySnqWHvtPZ1pd1LUnJq1giCN4NVu_9Kf9LokMJw_xGynrP-0lT7vYfwjKoaX14H9amF_L2uJZwrTRUkKR_543PYYeEmoeQkfscoxMO_O06oytszHz_Xf/s640/15+No+Vehicles.JPG) |
With gates to enforce the ban on motorized vehicles. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqm_kt8UWpi_F_fN0P7yja0oGabTtJ8I2F05-uJ2sPVW051TLNrplXZJrcYKFigPZNeQqG5hh_-xBqThITyLhPfF4SvlZwGfWSu84-d1w0A_04J4iJdlgwGHpgqyXh3DTJqz9svn9ler2f/s640/16+Working+the+Vineyard.JPG) |
The back side of the co-op. Freshly cultivated vineyard in the foreground prepping for spring. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34Ws2rt11JqQRhNKkvh9lEWsB-vM88uaZNh6THSNt7DmFhbQMl6A5cSEIxyrDG0ejvNebkegwlI0_VGkpJ1cJctU-7hjogiXUfx_2gGdcIxY23McxGYcAIXksKMalYpMn1ESwieO0o0wh/s640/17+Horses+a+No+Show.JPG) |
The horses weren't at the fence checking me out. Maybe next time. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-BrkT-WzFAHe6l2Cvjb0HpcMu4cZNHjzC2g3KMZ-c5pf0zyM3ilHladynh3Mr9Hehmvmwutnzts0bSX65xOSmk4fe9UF_1SBaTEgCnpMzwqv9-nvMhyGT3Hs0g1wh-oG6arNsaAqzS5V/s640/18+Tree+Down.JPG) |
One of two trees that came down across the path during recent storms. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWX3L1ujLJTRsEQVlYA48BeFYKzuYkrIb6kesRCvNqg5wnr6g5DOywXrH4fcoh8fcTkBp46IvxrHEl6H1pF0LiL8zXerqvrNtbf9LkWqg6l-K0hG3CZUWXL0cY6WFkadgH1XNCc0w2ZB_/s640/19+Spire.JPG) |
Starting to cloud over. And there's the steeple that I came from and am headed back to. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYTZqJm0i-s_x3zTK4OckMRvUP1MndIHEiDZJELiOUDCoIbk6tIvGTADPeMmSeDKsvchyphenhyphenZd2zDfJc_-hD8uamZbFQur26FPDwfE2mpVpeFC_0C2iY8PyNYff3eA6LsZN_6Q0SlytgMohx/s640/20+Look+Back.JPG) |
I almost forget to check out the view behind me. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIx-0HG2nrCbfHX8JMvmLGYb2wzS_B0DNBzu80RIx7-jTzHd57TMxKR2BCmlu_X0zDXEeLtmaMDRcac_ohy5hjMVNBgiGhzyUNfdXpPhW5YikQcYLboVvNiZ4W7i7GZvqUN-kQBHUaVWPk/s640/21+Garden+Prep.JPG) |
Some folks live along the trail. Cabbage garden kept going right through the winter. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnoJjR6DyJjiqgTQQoilP5MbYHgqycyaw_tLwL3AYQ6QGjgxT5eNI3bwwtj86vMg4T4rS43zEVwqrZWC4Ty7CAxx48jDkWwcLrQGaEROHZux4kFNblzZroqdm2s5q1yZ3YceiIYF5PZbc/s640/22+Trail+Jogs.JPG) |
The trail hits a local road and jogs left. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_PVd25wu-NxU0GQg6wAUCBV1sBz9KqRdLdinWWaOdROotIKGGPeNXUhwDs0GO-FOrnThp7WQqJ72cO8C1i4N_LOAx9yuHSQ0FH6WVr0MH0rO2C-zSJtxly75UhW3vTeiaGiJ8D1-SWrqe/s640/23+Road+to+Home.JPG) |
But I head right, back to town. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQePsypzDvpX-UWU_FptNDJrv3by_QHCXBIpEC9wBkiQV3dk1C9kfg4a3ZaGxnq21xQcA3na-XrdXwn7QGVU1p3XRdZa_wfS8ONIh03E-J76Yn8SyNvctVopwHgG1EqN63WFS77HU8uDL/s640/24+Weed+Blossoms.JPG) |
Not bluebonnets, but pretty... |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ORWSo3DyYJ84V1y3gaCiIhh3YVqd5rTUNjVpp3EU28BGuhBfrpTZZNsbjJifDF81xulC8b5uOoNIOEwi83ZwekEA7MN3rRmchFX0cL6MBCaq9MU6r-RGstIKDyrZBO7bKtU4Oe6hPn7n/s640/25+Poppy+Field.JPG) |
Almost as though cultivated, this field will be a carpet of red poppies in just a few weeks. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFVmUac4YxZEvU2-cBvUDoCHfZMNWveM6mmWn31e8oo12AdeYkumhtwNOoG2JfGxcpAj3e1GdZ4shrMGZTOhPT0uKdKHlqfK6nQesc1HHXWbAU15_h02a9iHJZFPDmjEC0FJqQEkTW03h/s640/26+Back+to+Quarante.JPG) |
Into town along the back of the co-op. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYy6JDmJEBxlAzhf9QTvqR-sIG7mKJN4u-iR3vjIvEt-xJqZ_1G1cbosfMUERyDTcumk_w93TQaNmRdwB-hiYOi0ic_vwjAg8qeO2bh3vq3g_mPe8yNeMD8Uu1oT3eMx5o8h-cximYZ-c9/s640/27+Slog+Back+Up+Hill.JPG) |
The end in sight. |
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What a lovely walk....thank you for letting me join you today.
ReplyDeleteStop by at 08:30 and you can join me!
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