DAY 61 - FORCALQUIER TO REILLANNE

The weather forecast today wasn't promising. We were expecting to be out in the rain all day. As it turned out, we stayed dry until lunchtime.

The fortifications at Mane 

We joined the GR653D for an off-road entry into Mane, where we climbed up to the hilltop fortifications and wandered the streets of the old town. 

Old town of Mane

We rejoined the GR to head out of Mane, and stayed with it for the rest of the day. There was a real highlight a few kilometres out of Mane when the path crossed an old Roman bridge. 

Roman bridge outside Mane

Australian walker reflecting on the Roman bridge outside Mane

The path took us through rural scenery of fields and forests, like many other GRs we have followed on this trip. The landscape is quite different though - the fields are planted with sunflowers, asparagus, lavender and melons as well as wheat, there are olive groves and fruiting cherry trees in abundance, and the woods have a rugged look to them.

 Striding out along the GR653D 

Through the woods 

After a few hours we arrived in Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire. It started to rain as we entered the village, and we were glad to find a restaurant open. It was offering an enticing and reasonably priced three-course lunch menu.

Approaching our lunch stop at Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire 

There was steady rain during the couple of hours we took to have lunch, but it had eased to light drizzle by the time we resumed our walk.

A very pleasant walk, even in the rain 

We followed the GR on a roundabout route as the rain increased and there were threatening rumbles of thunder in the hills. We crossed an old Roman ford, but didn't linger. We continued on through Lincel, another attractive hillside village. By this time the thunder had stopped and the rain had eased again. We were able to enjoy the final few kilometres up to another hillside village, Reillanne, where we are staying tonight. 

Approaching Reillanne in the rain on the GR653D 

Day:  61

Distance: 23.78 km
Walking time:  5hrs 13mins
Elevation gain:  577 metres
Cumulative distance:  1505.97 km