Pilgrim's Progress – Long Distance Walks in Europe and the UK

I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it’s very difficult to find anyone.’
I should think so — in these parts! We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner!

J.R.R.Tolkien – The Hobbit

I made it down from Mont Ventoux to my accommodation at Mont Serein. It wasn’t without incident as the descent was at times a bit hairy and the path wasn’t brilliantly signposted. But at shortly after 6pm I arrived safely at the camp site and my accommodation for the night – a hobbit house without any electricity!

I’m often asked, why doesn’t your wife accompany you on your walks. I normally explain that she kindly looks after the house, garden and dog while I am away. But there is possibly another reason – I’m not entirely convinced she would enjoy swapping a luxury mattress at home for a night in a hobbit house!

I arrived shortly after 6pm to find that the camp restaurant was closed on Fridays and there were no facilities to self cater. Thankfully there was a store open where they could microwave ready meals and sold beer! I was in there like a flash!

My hobbit house was located a few metres from the campsite petanque ground. A lively game was in progress. I ambled over to observe proceedings. I am no expert in petanque but I was impressed by the levels of skill on show. Unlike bowls, petanque balls can either be deployed along the ground or aerially. Both require considerable amounts of skill!

Overnight the temperature dropped to 5C! But I had a great night’s sleep in my hobbit house – far preferable to a night under canvas!

The campsite was adorned with varied posters highlighting the attractions of Mont Ventoux. These included the fact that in 1967 wind speeds on Mont Ventous were recorded at 320km/ph!

In contrast to the previous day’s ascent of Mont Ventoux, the descent to Malaucene proved a bit of a doddle. I did get lost but managed to navigate my way back to the GR4. There were a couple of gruelling ascents and  challenging descents but I made my way into Malaucene shortly before 2pm and checked into a local hotel, Le Blueberry. Hobbit houses are great – once every five years- but civilisation has a lot going for it!