Saturday was a day off for me. Chris and Larry rode and I hung out here in le Rivier d’Ornon to rest, post to the blog, and catch up on emails. I spent a little time wandering around the village taking a few photos and exploring.
King of the Mountain Lodge in le Rivier d’Ornon
Le Rivier d’Ornon from across the valley
Le Rivier is a tiny old farming hamlet of about 60 people. Some of the homes are legacy homes now used for vacations and weekend getaways, but the town is occupied year round. Towns named “Le Rivier d’…” are the last towns on the routes to the cols. (“Cols” are mountain passes.) The hamlet cannot grow because of avalanche danger. It is located on a flattish area on the valley floor. There are some farmers’ fields nearby on the flatter areas and some beautiful vegetable gardens a lone horse grazes in a pasture. Children play in the alleyways – all the “streets” are no larger than alleyways barely large enough to drive a car. No Escalades, Yukons, or Suburbans here. People hang out in the streets and everyone says “bonjour” as they pass, including to the “MAMILS” : Middle Aged Men In Lycra. It is very quiet day and night. During the day you might hear a truck driving up the Col road, at night just the sound of the rushing brook by the lodge. When we return from our rides in the evening the street is sweet with the smells of dinner on the stove.
scene in le Rivier d’Ornon
scene in le Rivier d’Ornon
scene in le Rivier d’Ornon
scene in le Rivier d’Ornon
The church in le Rivier d’Ornon