Randonnée Ravin de Magnier – Department L’Hérault

I’m calling this the Randonnée Ravin de Magnier in a tribute to my buddy John who when he could not decide what to call a hike, would simply looked on the map and named it after the nearest adjacent landmark. Randonnée Ravin de Magnier translates to Hike -Ravine of Magnier….. I’m assuming Magnier is the name of some dude who first hike it?

I was finally able to get out for a hike about noon as it absolutely dumped for the last 24 hours. You can see in this image the storm moving on north and east.

After the storm, it was more low angle light back in progress.

Dormant vineyards.

In the distance, the area around my apartment.

This is a look over the village of Lauret and to the hillside where I’m heading. I have never hiked this area and I’m finally getting around to it.

As I walked to the start of the hike, the local creek was raging after the overnight rains.

Like many times in these parts, as I explore new areas, I simply find more cool stuff. This forest road takes me out to a quiet ridge with amazing views.

Looking southish, you can just make out the Mediterranean Sea.

My impression was that this is an old fire road now used for hunting. I also got the feeling this area burned in the recent past because of these occasional lone trees.

As I round the corner to the west side of the ridge, in come views of Claret.

What a great hiking route and possible new gravel riding route. I need to find ways to loop in more gravel rides for this area in case any of my gravel grinder friends in Florida come visit me!

The hard rains over the last day have this stream raging. This is the drainage of the spring we explored a couple days ago.

The light!

I was craving French bread on my way back home so I swung by the Epicerie. I also need to say goodbye to our new friend. He has been tolerating all the crazy Americans I have brought through his store over the last month.

One last image of the vineyards outside my apartment. It turned out to be a wonderful afternoon.