Guadeloupe is an archipelago consisting of six inhabited islands as well as many uninhabited islands and outcroppings. North next to Guadeloupe is a Montserat island, south – Dominica island. They all belong to the Lesser Antilles archipelago. Carribean sea is to the West, Atlantic ocean – to the East. Nevertheless Guadeloupe is a part of European Union as it is an overseas region of France.
Kopavogur is on a small peninsula. We start the day by strolling the streets of Kopavogur to the far end of peninsula. Looks like no free place here is left to build ones house. The see shore is left for birds though. We look across the strait to Reykjavik and to Nauholtsvik beach where we hope to finish the race tomorrow.
We get an e-mail from Ivar (organizer of the Ecotrail) telling that Kristian will take us to the start line of the Ecotrail. We are five passengers in the car – czech Zdenek, german Alex, norvegian Ragnhild, Ilze and me. Norvegian however change her plans and move out to drive with another car. So there is room in car for everybody.
Queyras Regional Natural Park is located in the French Alps near the Italian border south of Briancon. Snow melts here during the summer on many summits hence a lot of tracks to the summits and by the mountain ridges. The park is a heaven not only for hikers but for marmots as well. A variety of wild animal and bird species live here. The nature is comparatively less damaged by skiers and other businesses. The fact that our friend Jacques hired out to us his flat in the very center of Queyras in village of Abries comes as an extra.
The journey starts on September 1st with a flight to Nice. Here we take a car and drive some 30 km to the North to stay overnight. Next morning we proceed by the mountain road over several mountain passes to Abries. On the higher part we take a break for some mountain ridge hiking. We explore the fortifications of Maginot Line. Marmots whistle and allow to take some shots.
In the evening we watch from our balcony in the center of Abries the illuminated church and 12 stations of the Cross on the opposite mountain slope. Tomorrow is the day of our first hike here.
We start the way back to Nice at 10am by the road across the Bonette pass – the same way we arrived in Abries.
The first stop is to look at Fort de Tournoux that is a complex of several fortresses. The fortress stretches from the parking place to some 700m further up the hill. Several buildings appears to our view at different places up the slope but it is not possible to see the upper part. It appears that the fortress is closed for tourists for some 4 years already. Its a pity but we have no time to explore it anyway.
Shortly before the Bonette pass we take a stop to visit a mountain restaurant Halte 2000. Tasteful interior, tasty food, nice hostess. A large herd of sheep and goats down in the valley. Some lamas as well, and it is all watched by a pair of huge white Pyrenees dogs.
Col de Bonette is located 2715m above the sea level. There is a couple of km long road loop around the Cime de la Bonette that takes as to 2802m above the sea level. This is the highest paved with asphalt road in France and the highest through road (taking from one valley to another) in Europe. We take the path to the 2860m high summit. It rains a bit. Mountains around look rather wild because of the dark clouds everywhere.
We proceed to Nice to our hotel near the airport.
