walk along the train line

We drove a short way north to the tiny hamlet of Sauve Clare to walk along an old train line and through the tunnels.  In 1950 the narrow-gauge railway, started in the 1880s, was closed.  The old line meanders from Nice up through the hills west for 210km.  It is roadway and cycleway near Sauve Clare and now part of a Greece to Spain cycleway.  We needed torches in the first tunnel, the longest, and could just see the light at each end when we stood in the middle.  All the tunnels are high and lined.  There is a rough track up and over each tunnel.  We walked through three tunnels.  Several cars passed us and three bikes.  The road is sealed but the tunnels are not.  On the way back we could hear a car coming through the tunnel so we waited for it to come through.  It was just as well as the car bought clouds of dust with it.  We took the track over the top.

 

Chapelle St-Augustin, Sauve Clare

 

On the other side of our narrow road is a construction site building social housing.  We have had a look each time we walk to the village.  Part of the enormous plot has paving and stone walls.  In the week we have been here people have been inspecting the stones.  Today there was a Recherches Archeologiqes team [their t-shirts said so] sweeping and carefully moving soil.  One lady was using the digger slowly, peering intently at what she was doing.

This evening we joined the Womens Club [mixed] singing group. For the first half we joined in singing 70s hits, had a break for wine and apertifs, then the serious singers stayed for singing in parts. It was a lovely evening.