a stony place a long way from home: Drigas

This post has been a long time coming: dysfunctionality at either end of the Easter weekend marring, and blocking my desire to write about, what was otherwise a sublime 5-day break in the "Grandes Causses" area of the Cévennes. But tonight I feel inspired once again.

In contrast to steeply valleyed chez nous, the big horizons were an invigorating change. Amongst numerous memorable moments were...
the drive down from the plateau to the town of Meyrueis, when the Jonte gorge suddenly opened in front of us:

the gorgeous little bergerie we stayed in, at Drigas:

Cabane de l'Adrech

the village of Drigas (originally a sheep-farming community, now also home to Millau commuters, and farmers shifting to arable as an easier way of making a living):

seeing sheep arrive at the village:

the seering yellow of adonis vernalis:

the abundance of pulsatilla vulgaris:

sweet-smelling daphne cneorum:

the extraordinary landscapes at the confluence of the Jonte and Tarn gorges:

and the wide-open, gritty expanses:

We both fell in love with everything about this varied and atmospheric area. If only it wasn't quite so far. The 10-hour return trip, for just 4 nights, was probably a bridge too far...