Description:

On 22 September 1878 by a young Scotsman crossing in 12 days, the Cevennes (Cevennes) Le Monastier in the north, south to St Jean du Gard. He was up walking back with his ass “Modestine” 220 km. His name: Robert Louis Stevenson, writer, his motive: adventure, travel descriptions. This journey has one of many that made them famous Scots.


Of 23 4th July 2010 August 2011 explored an older gentleman with his Harley Davidson E-Glide , a gift for his birthday 66ten, the Cevennes and put it back in 12 days 3640 km. The elderly man is not famous yet, but with him it was too adventurous and trying to find out if a Harley is really just there, just to go out.

But why the Cevennes?

By the time you arrive by car, train of Deutsche Bahn in Avignon, know most bikers ride, where to begin, the Cevennes, about 150 miles north of Montpelier.

The Cevennes, which are next to stony, arid plateaus of the “Causses” huge granite domes, jagged slate mountains and the “Gorges”, the so-called gorges, which have been in the rivers Tarn and Jonte dug deep.

There is no Route 66 is still not even begin in these foothills of the Auvergne, the Velay region, Margeride Gedaudan, Aubrac and Lozere.

My goal is the place Bleymard le Parc National des Cevennes. But first things first.

When I Avignon on the N100 direction Remoulins leave, I smell the south; saw the first fields of sunflowers, the smell of lavender growing in my nose. On the edge of a small village, surrounded by an olive grove I stop and breathe in the magic of this landscape, feel the summer heat and hear the chorus of cicadas – the relaxed “laissez-vivre” can begin, at least for 3 weeks.

Before I go further on the D 981 to Ales, I make a detour to the famous Roman Pont du Gard viaduct.

The Pont du Gard is one of the grandest and best preserved Roman monuments, have a tradition according to which, 1000 people worked for over three years. A survey should not be missed under any circumstances, especially because you can cool off on hot days in the wonderful Gardon.

After a half-hour bath, I am leaving the Pont du Gard and Uzes go on to Ales. In Uzes there is an important reason to take a break. A visit to the “Musee du Bonbon Haribo” is a must for all gummy bear friends, true to the motto: “Haribo makes children happy and also the biker.” On three floors, it’s all about the candy and colorful rubber toys, which can of course try and buy.

Anyone who wonders why the museum is not located at its headquarters in Bonn, let me tell you that Haribo since the early seventies, has a factory in Uzes, which now counts more than 300 employees.

The reason is really obvious for Haribo Licorice candy is needed; these gains in turn are made from the juice of Sußwurzel, and are grown in large quantities in the outskirts of Uzes.

Boulevard, logs in the stomach, it is time to initiate life-sustaining measures. Once you have fought through the old town with an HD, it is captured by the small-town flair.

In the pedestrian zone at the Cathedrale Saint-Jean I drink coffee, eat a sandwich and enjoy the tranquility in the sun. Since boulevard, lies not in the mountains, the D106 starts winding and rising. I’m surprised how easy it my 7 cwt colossus in the curve, the third gear and half a gas sufficient to pull the machine out of the corner and back erect. 120 kms to the Mende “create” I almost 3 hours.

The E-Glide is not a curve-eaters, so you better stay on the passive side, send the life at a moderate pace up, casually enjoying the cushion lounging the offered seat and suspension comfort: curves do not simply so but celebrate – with of prudence, which can take a 350-pound classic claim.

The N106 leads straight to Mende, the capital of the most sparsely populated French department of Lozere (78 000), the city itself, from a Roman settlement in the third Century originated, has about 11 000 inhabitants. The old town with its narrow, winding streets lined with old houses that once a beautiful wooden door, sometimes a portal or a private chapel is worth seeing. To the cathedral, dating from the 14thCentury will be held on the last weekend of July an antiques market.

I rely on the N 88 direction Mende Langogne and nearly missed the exit to le Bleymard. The traffic planners are otherwise so exemplary in France, but the reference to the street number would be much easier.

So then I bend to the right onto the D901 towards Le Bleymard.
After 28 kilometers I am standing at the entrance of Saint Jean du Bleymard described and see the sign “Chambres et table’s d’hotes” Our home.

When I want to leave the E-Glide on the hotel car park, a male voice asks me, with unique Dutch accent, but stop the bike in the garage, I’ll not tell me twice. Homeowner Felix greeted me very warmly and already has a cold beer provided. An attentive host, for whom I feel sympathy immediately.

This ubertrag immediately made his hunting dog Duc, prompting the mouth with a ball in to play.

Anita and Felix are very careful, friendly and attentive hosts. The decision to use Our home as a base for my day trips, turns out a golden touch, as Anita and Felix are excellent cooks, they were both over thirty years in Africa. Felix is an agricultural engineer and Anita has trained as a nurse, what do I want to happen there yet?

The house “Our home” remained for 12 days of the hoard of interesting conversations in German, French and English, Dutch, I could not learn in a short time. I became acquainted with African music, let me get into the rhythm and feel with a glass of red wine or a glass of beer after the vibration. As I write this article, I hear in the background Malaika, a gospel of East Africa.

After the first night in La Combette Fruckstuck there is a fresh, homemade yogurt, cereal, eggs from their own chickens, fresh fruit and homemade bread. Anita and Felix eat healthily and to share with your guests about it. Since I have booked half board, I was expected at the latest at 18:30 clock for dinner. This warm dinner has it all, it is very tasty and was varied, and there will, depending on the desired water, beer or wine.

With my first tour I want to first learn to know this mountain village of Le Bleymard, with the characteristic slate roofed farmhouses in the Cevennes.

The first visit is the church and the cemetery, because here you learn a lot of names, families and the age of the deceased. After the initial curiosity is satisfied, it goes on. The town stretches along the D 20 direction Pont de Montvert, the road rises rapidly and does not, I suspect the Mont Lozere, 1541, but the high Col de Finiels. In summer it is ideal for hiking up here, is because while in the valleys of the heat, here on a permanent wind freshened.

The foresight, I chose jeans and high heels. So it is not difficult for me to take the walk to the mountain top. Still, it takes a good hour until I have the top “Sommet de Finiels” reached in 1699 meters – out of breath. – You would have to again play sports. – On a clear day you can see from here to the Mediterranean, but also now in the clouds, it is a beautiful panoramic view.

In the cold season, the summit turned into a lively winter sports center with lift operation and a large network of trails. Up here you get an inkling of what winter means in the Cevennes – Wind gusts to hurricane strength.

When I got back in the saddle, the E-Glide sit and go downhill, I enjoy the winding roads, the scent of herbs and becoming noticeably warmer air. The 300 inhabitants – the village of Le Pont de Montvert runs like an amphitheater on the southern slopes of Mont Lozere up.

A filigree bridge spans the Tarn, which rises at the Mont Lozere in 1575 meters and a raging mountain stream flows into the valley. During the Tarn flows towards Florac, I take the road to Genolhac, from where I’m at the western limit of Parc National des Chevennes continue on the D315 Villefort. Felix told me that I should necessarily bring swimsuit and towel; it was a damn good bet.

The dam is proving to be a popular terrain for swimming and sunbathing.

Many locals and holiday visitors spend on the shores of the lake their vacation days. On the steep slopes, after all, had several side valleys are flooded with traffic jams, anglers have stairs carved into the rock and fish can rest on platforms.

Against 17 clocks I pack my bathing suit and look forward to cruising around this hilly terrain, where the curves allow the transmission does the rest and balloon tires are also required at the profile edges.

France is also associated with musketeers, landed gentry, Comte, Monarchy and so I was not surprised, suddenly a massive Renaissance palace with three distinctive round tower to see the forest.