Montpellier via the Durance and the Camargue

Sunday 24 July

The re-takeoffs from the charming Meyrargues microlight base gave rise to some discussion about the take-off direction. The dilemma was this: should we take off into wind but through the gap in the trees, or with a tailwind while avoiding the trees? The strengthening wind and aeronautical common sense eventually prevailed, and all the machines left through the famous gap, which always looks more impressive from afar than in situ. So we had to go back to classic take-off technique, with good speed built up in level flight. The ballet lasted almost 1h45 because taxiing on the runway is cramped. Once again everything went well.

All that was left was to enjoy a very simple navigation: the superb Durance valley, with the Luberon mountain on our right, Pertuis, the famous Silvacane abbey near La Roque-d’Anthéron, then Cavaillon and St-Rémy-de-Provence. At this point, the Rhône and the Durance converge to feed the Camargue. We then discover Arles and the whole imagery of the Camargue: the arenas, the horses, the birds, the salt pans, the great strips of sand, the colours, ochre, blue and green in this interlacing of sea and river.

It is a sort of wild kaleidoscope of light with a very particular beauty. The presence of the port of Fos-sur-Mer then reminds us of human industry, with the large dark metallic masses of the refineries which, together with the port of Antifer, supply most of our fuel consumption. The presence of kitesurfers in the windy Gulf of Beauduc also shows that this wildness is a summer leisure activity. You always want to make these end-of-day flights over the water last.

We had to finish this very beautiful day, almost ideal in the way it unfolded, by leaving the fortress of Aigues-Mortes behind to reach Montpellier Candillargues aerodrome on the edge of the Étang de Mauguio, not far from Palavas-les-Flots. It really is summer and it is very hot.

The welcome this evening is full of attention and interest in our caravan. It is a success. The cycling Tour is over, ours takes over for almost a week. It is great.

Sébastien Perrot

(Diogène GPS beacon)

The Meyrargues paramotor team

...

Louis Collardeau, our flight director

Silvacane Abbey

Following the Durance

St-Rémy-de-Provence

Arles and its arena

Fos-sur-Mer

Mediterranean and Camargue

Port St-Louis-du-Rhône

Kiting at Beauduc

Aigues-Mortes

Montpellier Candillargues

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