After leaving Marseille we were faced with two choices – continue down the Cote d’Azur and into Italy via the Alpes-Maritimes or head north east for the Hautes-Alpes entering Italy through Piemonte. It was hot and humid, Christian had warned us the coast would be heaving and we felt mountain air was what was needed. So off we set for a place called Rousset near the town of Gap in the Alps only to find it was still hot but at least there was a large lake without the crowds one would find on the coast.  On the way, we passed Peyrolles-en-Provence, Oraison, the striking town of Sisteron, Upaix and Tallard.  Evidence of the ‘secheresse’ (drought) was everywhere.

Giant sprinklers in action in Oraison to combat the widespread drought in the whole region.

The striking village of Sisteron in Haute-Provence.

We camped by Lac De Serre-Poncon, a huge artificial and quite spectacular lake which is fed by the rivers Durance and Ubaye. Waters from the lake also drive the largest hydro-electric dam in Europe. Swimming in the lake was bliss but also available if one was so inclined were wind-surfing, water-skiing, diving and boating.

The impressive man-made Lac de Serre-Poncon and hydro-electric dam. Flowing into it are the rivers Ubaye (right) and Durance (left).

It was still very hot and humid even at this altitude and so a refreshing swim in the lake was very welcome.

We took the footpath down to the lake for a bit of extra exercise!

Back up, a selfie seemed in order!

Thinking Brenda needed an infusion of brake fluid we set off with mild alarm for Gap, the nearest large town which had a VW garage. After a quick inspection however it was a bit embarrassing to be told that we were looking at the wrong side of the chamber – i.e. the front where the thickness of the plastic doesn’t show the real level – and the actual fluid level was perfectly normal.  And by the way, we should remember that lights and alarms come on at the first sign of anything untoward so we shouldn’t question VW efficiency. So off we set again, this time to a campsite higher up near the Alpine village of Guillestre next to the fast-flowing Durance river where we spotted white-water rafting whilst extreme cyclists could be seen tackling the endurance climb to the nearby 2100m Col de Vars.