How could you not? This is what our money is used for...saving eels. Hooray!
As you can see today was a day by our dear Rhône.
But we started out at Châteauneuf du Pâpe for a walk round the vines. These ones are on the top of a rise overlooking the river down towards Avignon. The stones are sharp white limestone, not the more rounded 'galets' of Vieux Télégraph. Sore feet- as usual I was in trainers and not properly shod! It was breezy and sunny but not really very warm. Only 17 degrees today. So exhilarating on top of the ridge. It is different from our area because the rolling slopes as well as open views give a sense of height even though it's only a river galley.
People are busy in the vines now with wires and posts, and strange insect-like tractors. The leaves are bursting, butterflies fluttering, birds of prey a'preying, you get the idea!
The journey continued down to the ruined château of Hers on the river. You can do a good walk along between the Rhône and a wildlife canal here.
Nightingales singing here and we think we heard beeeaters too. And a flock of sheep were making
their way along the banks of herbs and wild flowers, tended by young shepherd and his dogs.
Midday struck from across the river at Roquemaur but we still had to visit Montfaucon on the other (Gard) side. There was a vague hope of a café... Alas not, though the views from its former castle mound were pretty good. We could even see Sablet.
By the time we manoeuvered ourselves back to Vaucluse again and into Caderousse, it was nearly two. So all we had for lunch was an espresso in this rather smart café. One to remember - the menu looked good.
And so to the final bit - a look at the CNR turbines and lock just up the river.
Most exciting! Zillions of cubic metres of water rushing through and turbines churning up the river.
The current caused a sort of eddy at one side where a raft of debris, mostly tree bits, formed a round swirling mass.
And this where the eel ladders are.
