Thursday, July 23, starting at 9 am for an hour drive in the backwoods of the Causse to reach the Gulf of Padirac at 10 am sharp! However, there is then the tail to do ... We will eventually have the tickets in 10:55. '' We '' yes, because I always guide my Breton friends! And today, it will be the Gulf of Padirac, the lunch and the Monkey Forest in Rocamadour.

In 2011, I had already been to Abyss, but he was then forbidden to make photos from the boats pass. (For security reasons boatmen (completely blinding flash in the darkness!) And the rest of the route by choice ... I think the staff.)
This time, the photos are still banned on the underground river but, oh joy, the rest of the course is allowed to the photo (without flash)! It's party in my head!
We descend the stairs quietly and atmosphere cools quickly. During the descent, I will take the opportunity to give some information about the Pit.

According to legend, St. Peter, on his mule, following the Roman road between Autoire and Montvalent finds himself facing the devil in the Pit. The latter having been dug by the Devil when out of the underworld. The Devil then asked St. Peter to let her soul that St. Peter had saved in exchange for letting him pass over the chasm. St. Peter denying it talonna his mule and it leaped over the Pit, printing the mark of his hooves in the rock. The devil, enraged, went back into the Pit, transforming the Gulf of Padirac door of Hell for people in the area (and history spread rapidly ...).

Came down the metal stairs, we lost more than 10 ° C and went down to fifty meters deep. The chasm is about 35m in diameter and plunges to 103m underground with more than 40km of galleries (40km explored only ... there may be more!) With a river on the halfway. The visitable part to the public is about 1km to the river section and 1.3km for the foot part.
Bottom structures are furiously thinking about Jurassic Park !

Management now the bowels of the Earth and enter the famous door of the Underworld:

Water oozes and drop through the rock, making it very slippery walking. Limestone plaques have already formed and even some beginnings of stalagmites. Without holding onto the fence downhill on the buttocks we risk end. Some walking deeper and deeper and this is still a tail, this time for the boats.
Having shipped our boatman gave us a brief history of the discovery of the abyss and the specifics of it. We learn that the river on which we sail measuring between 50cm and 6m deep in the path we do. That apart carnivorous killer shrimp (delete as appropriate), there is not much life here except microorganisms, mosses and some algae and a small snail that lives only in this river. The absence of light (the minimum should be seen rather say that there is still lighting for tours) and the water temperature (12 ° C permanently) are only moderately conducive to 'life forms expansions. During the trip, being on one of the edges, I miss several times to grate my head in the rock, it must be said that this is not always very wide and I'm not what one might call ' half-portion '.

Arrival at the landing of the Rainy Lake we see the Great Chandelier (an impressive stalactite height 60m). Landing, everybody down! Our boatman explained to us that we have the right to take pictures in this part of the tour without the flash. A second bug for me and presto, I hasten to get out my camera and do some light tests (thank you the rise of ISO 6D!).
The visit begins with the foot of another huge column of limestone, stalactite with a new waterfront (it does not grow more, because of the water precisely).

After a bit of stair treads (we will have 130 to 130 to move up and down), we arrive at the Great Lake Gours. 120m long and several natural dams formed of limestone (the famous ''Gours''). The aquatic lighting gives a surreal side to the place, as if we landed on another planet.

The overflow water from the lake overflows via a cascade to following the river. But we, we turn around and head (with a fair amount of stairs ...) to a bronze bust of Édouard-Alfred Martel. The first explorer of the Pit (there realized 7 explorations between and July 9, 1889 May 31, 1900), which also decided to its tourist exploitation in 1896.

We end up walking in the hall of the great Dome and we go down to the river. We can see several beautiful concretions like draperies or broccoli (and even the river with our boat):

We end up walking in the hall of the great Dome and we go down to the river. We can see several beautiful concretions like draperies or broccoli (and even the river with our boat):

We take the little boat with the boatman who had led us to go. They give us further explanations on the killer shrimp carnivores. Suddenly a boat opposite happens with the passenger who takes out his camera and sends several series of powerful flash. We are all blinded and both boaters well say stop, she does not listen and does as he pleases. It will take the boater in front of the boat hull gives the stroke of the oar beside her so she finally decided to stop. By the time his eyesight back, we discuss briefly our boater, on an understanding of the ban on pictures on the river (saw that people often use the flash ...).
Once landed, we take the way out. For a passage, there is solid pieces in a small pool of water.

We went down with the stairs, however, we will use the elevators to go up! The sun warms us rather well, it was 14 ° C lower, while here outside it is 36 ° C heat shock ... hello!
As we emerge, it is a little past noon and stomachs starting to wake up. Drive back towards Rocamadour. On the way, I remember the restaurant I have eaten during of the report in 2011 at the Monkey Forest.
So, I watch along the route to Rocamadour to find him ... and in a turn, he is, the 'Roc du Berger'!

After a meal of raw and a little well-earned rest, we leave for Rocamadour. The city is still beautiful, it would really have me do a story ...

Above Rocamadour, there is also our destination in the afternoon: the Rocher des Aigles (which I had already made a report here in 2011) .
It is in full sun and without a breath of wind that we will visit the Rock of the Eagles.
We start with the show of vultures, condors, eagles, parrots and other birds. The show is (with the vagaries of live half-wild animals premium) almost the same as in the last report that I am here, I will just show the photos this time.

After spending nearly 45 minutes in the sun (and a similar sun on the white scree, I not tell you the brightness back, for once, I wish I never wear sunglasses ...) we make a small tour of the park where the performing birds have their homes. (We are accompanied by a bad-talking woman who takes himself too seriously and the center of the world... it was appalling ... especially because she spoke loudly and took apart some people who were within her range...)

Around the park finished, return to the car where we rush on bottled water. Back to Brive and quiet night to rest.

Discover new things and regions is to me something beautiful and very rewarding. But when it's me who discover a region that I know and that everything goes well, that's just great! For me it is always a pleasure to share my knowledge and discoveries.