Happy Birthday to Me

 Grenoble—Day 5

Today we drove into The Vercors mountain region and visited Grotte de Choranche limestone caves. (www.visites-nature-vercors.com) I drove Martin, Isa, and Marie in our rental car. I was grateful to get some coaching about driving in the city, on the toll road, into and out of villages, and finally, along mountain roads. As my copilot Martin provided priceless advice about driving in France. 

We began our day in the Vercors village of Pont-en-Royans, because Martin had always wanted to visit. Isa brought some of her university students here to study the gorge and the dangers from past floods. She does research at the University of Grenoble. She is now researching climate change and its effects on human behavior. Her research will help government agencies and NGO's develop policies to help governments plan and respond to the consequences of climate-related events. We had lunch here before heading to Grotte de Choranche, the underground limestone caves—another place in their back yard they've always meant to see.

These narrow houses and shops line
the river. Note how high the first set
of windows are. This is because when
it floods, the waters can reach 10 feet
or more.

This water feature runs to the Bourne
River and is a popular picnic spot.

The bridge over the gorge carved by
the Bourne River.

Note the millstone left of the river.
It's all that survives from a granary.

The village is known for its medieval

architecture from the 16h century.

The main street is maybe 6 feet wide.

Marie and Isa at river's edge. Martin
is taking a picture of me.

This tiny village with its lovely little
river makes you happy to be here.

The pedestrian ford across the Bourne.

The people on this balcony hover 
sixty feet above the river.

Pont-en-Royans is a popular biking

and hiking destination. For us, it was

where we had savory crepes for lunch.

Our guide for the caves gives us
some directions before entering.

The cliff face above the entrance. The
Vercors mountains are massive.

The caves were discovered by accident in 1837,
and since, nearly 20 miles of the underground
labryinth has been explored.

The stalactites hanging over this crystal clear pool
look like a chandelier.

The caves go on and on and the pools
below seem to disappear until a ripple
is created by a water droplet. 

These aptly named soda straw
stalactites are hollow. It has taken
about 100 years to lengthen them
by two inches.

Some of the stalactites are10 feet long;
They have taken about 6,000 years
to form.

                                           The water running here is filtrated though 900

                                           feet of limestone that comes from rain and

                                           melted snow.

A waterfall drains from inside The

Vercors cliff face.

The Vercors are massive and breathtaking.

Seventeen years ago, the guy going

by Gilles (i.e. simple man) created 

Cabane Cafe where you can have

gluten free desserts and great coffee.

Enjoy them in whimsical "coffee

cabins".

One example of a "coffee cabin".

This one offers a kind of hammock.

All the "coffee cabins" offer views

of The Vercors.

Order a coffee and homemade dessert
and maybe purchase a jar of tapenade
or some honey. Ninety percent of the
products are made with ingredients
from this mountain region.

The driving through The Vercors
tests your resolve.

The scenery is stunning, at least that's
what Marie, Martin, and Isa said. I was
too busy keeping my eyes glued to the
road so we would stay there.

The builders carved or blasted away just what
was needed to leave enough room for cars and
small trucks to edge around the gorge curves.