Friday, August 21, after lunch, Nico, I and other people take the car to go in Auvergne. Direction: Sancy !
On the road, we pass the viaduct of Chavanon (third longest suspension bridge in France: 300m range and 100m above the river that passes between the pillars) viaduct that we take there of that many years to go from Geneva to Brive and vice versa.


A little after 15h we arrive in the Monts d'Auvergne and first appears nipple turns detours :

We drive on mountain roads, in fields environments, forests ... then we come (and go through) the city of Mont-Dore. The city has an interesting architecture and some cottages remind me of the chalets in the Alps or in the depths of the Swiss mountains. The site also includes thermal baths, a very old and newer. Many of the buildings in the area (mostly old) are built with the dark rock, almost black, pulled volcanoes result of cooling of magma and its compression ages. A few minutes after leaving the city, we have arrived at the parking Sancy ski resort.

The discovery of Sancy will start from here, we go for a little walk on the slopes of the extinct volcano, to the sides of the chairlift pylons.

The walk goes well and, one eye glued to the ground (the other enjoying the scenery), I collect some volcanic rocks on the ground. A small river divides not very far from our way, there seems to be information in hand, we'll see. This is actually the Dordogne which is the junction here of Dore and Dogne. One taking life in the woods, the other gushing from the rock, but both taking their source in the vicinity.

Next to the hungry of water on the last picture, a beautiful piece of volcanic rock made me the eye. To stoop down to pick it up, my heart decided to bother me tachycardia. I still lined the rock in my purse before falling somewhat to join the others who are eating wild blueberries.
I sit on the foam, in the shade of an oak, my head on a tuft of grass I rest a little, hoping that my tachycardia calm down. At one point, a helicopter from the mountain rescue zooms above us. Moments later, it's a big Defender Gendarmerie climbing the ski slope, sending the loose stones under the wheels, leaving a large cloud of dust behind him and throwing stones.

Over time, we need to go down to the cottage where we will sleep that night (and also where we take dinner and meals and noon tomorrow). These are Nico knowledge that take the chalet (they are part of the French Alpine Club) and the atmosphere is quiet, very friendly. Despite my heart still tacho, I dragged myself to take some pictures of the corner. The cottage, as if lost in a green and rock, with its large windows and its particular roof as the breakpoint of the ski slope that descends the slopes of Sancy and stops at a few meters the chalet.

Tired, I come back to the cottage and waits spend my tachycardia enjoying the view from the terrace.
It is only a half hour before the meal my heart finally found a normal pace (to my delight and relief of everyone). Young ladies arrive on horseback, the nags are quite stocky, and discussing a little with the riders, we learn that they are Icelandic horses and they are perfect for such a rough terrain.
Shortly after, the meal is ready! We all eat in the dining eaten, mountain views... tomorrow, I'll be! On the menu tonight: the puff potatoes and meat, chicken rice and dessert, a piece of pie with blueberry. Everything is cooked on site, but unfortunately the blueberries are not from here (for health reasons, foxes corner using blueberries as a place to urinate... and say we were eaten this afternoon...).

After lunch, we go nico and me to enjoy the sky. It is fine, light pollution is extremely low here, although the black night, so enjoy! Pictures are chained so, while we enjoy the view with our eyes, the mountains silhouetted against the starry background for our greatest joy. In addition, the Moon greets us before quickly hide behind the peaks.

Just over two hours of photos and astro later, it might be time to go to sleep, tomorrow we will rise Nico and me at 7:30 am for departure at 8am to mount the Sancy.

Good night to all and see you tomorrow! (With just the sound of horses under the window ...)

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