It starts this way around 6.30am …

We load up the dogs in the owner’s car and I drive us about 1 km away to a very quiet road. Once there, the dogs have free reign. We must keep close tabs on the male, as he is pretty big and does scare people. Thankfully we’ve only come across two other people walking their dogs, and we’ve known them both. They are friends of our hosts.

Our host took us along here the morning she left so we understood how the morning walk worked.

She pointed out the home of one “famous” person who lives here.

We haven’t spotted him, but we have seen his gardener on several mornings. The actor played a character in the James Bond movie Diamonds Are Forever.

But who is he??

I thought I’d share some of the sights and smells we experience every day on these walks.

Those are small clumps of Thyme growing wild along the path’s edges. They really do smell amazing. No wonder they are one of the key ingredients in the famous Herbs de Provence.

There are heaps of flowering plants that look stunning.

Others with thistles and burrs.

Most of the track is not too difficult, and it forms part of designated walk people use for fun. These signs show the way.

But, at some points, the road is very rocky and a little bit steep. You really have to watch your step.

The dogs love climbing the steep banks to explore for wild boar and other animals.

At our half way point, where we turn around, we get a pretty nice view of the Pre Alps through the trees.

For a significant part of our 1.5km each way walk, there are loads of these. They are just starting to ripen. Hopefully over the next two weeks we’ll get to harvest some.

Then, it’s time to load up again and return home for breakfast.

Oh, who is the actor?

Oh, I couldn’t destroy his privacy. Let’s just say his character was ……

…Blofled.