Fifteen Adventure Women hikers and our logistics guide, Gillian Arthur, gathered at the Lyon airport Sunday noon. Introductions all around and a brief rundown of our afternoon “schedule” from Gillian set the journey in motion. We piled on a private coach and were in Le Puy en Velay two and a half hours later and, once again we’re transported back in time among medeivel stone buildings that were witness to countless beheadings and other creatively tortured means of meeting one’s maker.

Janet, with Tourist Office in Le Puy en Velay, enlightening us with historical facts.

After our city tour, we ambles back to the Ibis Hotel, our accommodations for the night, for dinner and early bedtime.

Lace-making is huge in this area and is all handmade as this woman is doing

All cathedrals in France are Catholic, and a large presence in this community.

Statue of the Black Virgin inside the Cathedral in Le Puy en Velay

This very large statue of the Madonna and Child is constructed atop a volcanic neck in the center of Le Puy en Velay. The old town itself is built inside a collapsed caldera and, of course, all of the stone buildings are built with basalt blocks.

Statue of the Madonna and Child in center of Le Puy en Velay

Monday, Sept 9, we piled on the private coach again for the short ride to Montbonnet where we started our trek. Fog draped the hills but as we wound our way out of the valley blue skies revealed the exquisite terrain of volcanic hills stretching to the horizen.

Our lunch stop in St Privat d’Allier next to a very old millhouse.  As some of us returned from taking care of our ablutions in the bushes, a black van pulled into the yard, and Peter, who would also host us this evening at his hotel in Monistrol, stepped out and in very short order laid out an AMAZING spread fit for royalty!

Roughing it in the countryside.

We also had Champagne (the real stuff), handmade personal goat cheese pizzas and fresh berries in dark chocolate cups. Tres magnufique!!

Our AW guide pouring Champagne for us at lunch.

Savoring my goat cheese pizza in St Privat d’Allier

Moving out of the basalt flows we then encountered massive granite outcroppings with huge feldspar phenocrysts (for my geo-nerd friends).

Granite outcrop near an ancient and small church on top of the ridge.

Descending into Monistrol

Winding down into the river bottom valley to our hotel for the evening.

Destination’s door, the Hotel de Sucre.

Hotel du Sucre in Monistrol

After a most fantastic dinner, prepared by our host, Peter, he and Gillian entertained with guitar and ukulele.

Dinner conversation was very lively after several bottles of wine.

Our host, chef, and entertainer, Peter.

Tomorrow we trek to Saugues.