DAY 56 - GAP TO LA MOTTE-DU-CAIRE

A long day's walk started with a small stretch alongside the N85, the main road which follows the route taken by Napoleon in 1815 after he returned to France from Elba. We read a bit of the history on a storyboard before leaving the road to join the GR653D  (the long-distance walking path which we are largely following).

Reading about Napoleon's journey through the region in 1815

The GR took us through a couple of minor roads to a dirt track which led uphill. And then uphill some more.

Waiting for a group of young mountain-bikers to go by

A significant climb usually leads to wonderful views. That proved to be the case here, as we looked down on the castle and town of Tallard, up and down the Durance valley, and across the valley to the mountains opposite. 

Those hills in the background became not so much pretty as daunting when we realised we would be climbing them

Descending towards Tallard after some morning climbing (which proved to be just limbering up for the more serious climbing this afternoon)

Above Tallard

We had been walking for 3 hours when we descended into Tallard for our morning tea break. 

Morning tea in the village square, Tallard 

Exploring the old streets of Tallard

After exploring the streets of the historic old town, we set off across the Durance and started climbing up the mountain on the other side (still following the GR653D). We were still climbing over an hour later. 

Taking time to look back as we climbed up into the daunting hills

The reddish smudge in the middle of this photo is the town of Gap, from where we started today's walk 

We walked up past Venterol, descended along a road for a while, and then turned on to a bush track (all of this on the GR653D) which took us up to the Col du Buissonnet.

Signpost at the Col du Buissonnet - 12 kilometres to go, almost all downhill 

From the Col it was a steep but straightforward descent to the valley road far below.

Descending on the GR653D 

The descent was fun

The last section of the day's walk took us partly along the road, partly through tracks among the orchards which are a feature here in this area, to La Motte-du-Caire. 

Among the orchards. There were signs asking pilgrims and walkers not to pick the fruit. 

Once in La Motte-du-Caire, we sought out our accommodation.  We were helped by the stencilled figure on the wall. We later discovered that Giacomo, the Italian walker we had met last Sunday on his way to Briançon, is also staying here tonight.

We found our accommodation in La Motte-du-Caire

Day:  56

Distance: 38.2 km
Walking time:  8hrs 20mins
Elevation gain:  1326 metres
Cumulative distance:  1392.79 km