Todays Hike

Today I decided to set off for an ancient Roman Encampment that I found on the hiking map. It is about 20 miles away northwest. It had snowed overnight so I took lower roads to avoid ice. I wasn't quiet sure I could find it, but I did.

It had snowed in this area and there was fog and cloud surrounding villages. You take a side road toward a forest called Jaumes and then kind of wing it. I found a parking area off a one way dirt road through the woods. We parked and started walking through a new olive grove...or, I should say, a renewed olive grove. New shoots growing off old trunks. In the distance were hills and mountains covered in snow. It was a very overcast heavy sky day. The earth was light butterscotch  brown clay color.

We met up with a really nice old man with 2 ski poles. We talked for awhile and it turned out that he was Norwegian. He told me the Roman encampment was about 30 minutes away...It was more like an hour away. We were game. We got onto the right trail and headed out. Along the way there were exercise machines in the middle of the woods. Kind of weird.

 You walk up and up through olive groves, deeps woods, rocky landscapes. I kept the dogs on leash as there are signs that warn of sheep in the area...or goats. We saw many dogs on the back off leash but with goat bells on so you could hear them coming.

When we hiked up, there was no one up there. The view is outstanding. You can see the sea and all of the shore villes from way up here. 

When we got up to the top, everything was dusted with snow. You had an incredible view North of Bar Sur Loup and the Gorge Sur Loup.  You keep walking and you come upon the Roman site. It is in ruins but you can see what a great spot this was. On a clear day you could see any ships coming towards the shore and any Gauls coming from the North.
We made our way through the narrow trails that run all over this site. Kate led the way. I was second, Emile brought up the rear. We were soaked.

This is what I came here for...to go to places like this. I have always loved walking through the country in Europe and always wished to have my dogs with me. I can imagine Marc Antony pacing around in a red cape and Centurion boots in this spot resting before the next siege.

It started snowing so we headed back down. I didn't bring water so ate snow and tried to get the dogs to do the same, but no way for them.

We saw a few people with dogs on the way back down. We saw a dog walker with a bunch of dogs....one being a tiny Papillion . The Papillion was insistent on getting Emile's attention.

He was not afraid in the least. The walker was really far away when at last, this little dog ran, like a squirrel down hill to get back to her. The second dog was really old. When you know a really old dog, you can feel their lightness on the earth. This dog was a sweet senior that you just want to shower with love. Good for her that she is out on a hike on a snowy day with her little friend.