Calanques de Cassis - 2011




2011 Ascension week -nd
Kayak trip Six-fours to Marseille with CK83




Foreword:
Gerard had invited me to participate in the raid, the itinerary of which was to be decided on the last day before departure in function of weather conditions.

There were two possibilities: Iles d’Or (Porquerolles, Port-Cros) or Calanques de Cassis and Marseilles, my preference.

After picking pool supplies in Cogolin and scuba gear in Ollioules I met the participants at the club where we readied the kayaks, 6 double and two single.  I also learned much to my pleasure that we were going to the calanques due to the Eastern wind.

We had dinner together and early to bed in the club for an early departure the next morning.

Participants:
- Gerard and Nathalie,
- Jacques and Annie from Congo,
- Bernard and Anne from Grenoble,
- Eric l’infirmier,
- Maurice, des « les flots bleus »,
- Jacques G.,
- Eric, the webmaster,
- Christian and Cecile,
- Christian D. l’amiral,
- and yours truly.



Day 1: 28 km




Wake up call at 04 :00.
Loaded kayaks with personal gear and food (a challenge since there is much less space on a double than on a single kayak). 

Heavy kayaks


Eager kayakers


Took off toward Bandol, Pointe du Défens, crossed bay de la Ciotat (huge marine crane) and passed between ile verte and bec de l‘aigle.

Christian and I near la Ciotat

Had lunch in anse de Figuerolles. Where there is a pseudo-independent state claiming autonomy from France, more in jest than in facts though!!! Teenagers were jumping from the cliff, 10 meters above the water, in spite of the cold water which did not seem to affect them.  The water felt like the bay in Tall Timbers, Maine!
Paddled along the coast to a small beach just south of anse de l’Arene close to Cassis, where we spent the night.  Canadair were practising runs taking off and unloading sea water, impressive and very competent pilots.

Canadair in practise


Views from our first bivouac
 Food excellent as usual. The cookies made by Betsy were a big hit as usual, this was followed by the chartreuse brought by Anne et Bernard from Grenoble.  Adequate bivouac but nothing exceptional, the beach being a bit small and narrow.
Good weather so far.



Day 2: 22 km



Dropped garbage in Cassis and filled up with water.   
Christian entering Cassis


We the went in calanque de Port Pin where we got hit by shower, calanque de l’Oule, de Devenson, de Sugiton and lunch in the small harbor in calanque de Sormiou.   While eating we saw a Buddhist monk dressed in yellow and purple walking along the trail, he was the head of Buddhism in France (I forgot his name!).
Heard that hikers had been hit by lightning, some were badly burnt but not killed; we did see the helicopter taking them to the hospital.



Then along the coast we passed the discharge of the treatment plant for Marseilles’ sewers, foul smell and sea full of garbage. Found a good bivouac spot in calanque de Podesta, with high ground for the kayaks and flat and large space for the tents.  Dessert of bananes flambées.  Some excitement during dishwashing when my plate went swimming and Gerard had to use a kayak to rescue it! Those plates float quite well with their high sides!
Stormy night under lightning, thunder, rain.




Day 3: 21 km



Crossed over to ile Calsereigne then to calanque de Fontagne on ile du Riou where we stopped to see the shack of a hermit who spent 10 years on the Island. 

le Riou

le Riou

calanque de Fontagne (ile de Riou)

Christian and Cecile B. on le Riou

Back to calanque de Marseilleveyre for lunch.  Long crossing to ile Maire and iles du Frioul. Paddled along southern edge of the island until we found a good bivouac site in calanque de St Esteve. The first beach attendant we met there was unwelcoming but his colleague was much more helpful inviting us to use their fresh water shower. We slept just under hospital Caroline where quarantined people stayed before being allowed to enter Marseilles. 

 It is via Marseilles that the plague entered France in 1720 and went as far as Villes-sur-Auzon (we saw the “mur de la peste” when mountain biking near that city in 2010).
Unfortunately the restoration project, providing work and training to unemployed young persons, was stopped due to lack of funding but there was a good view of Marseilles from the hospital.
Noisy sea gulls during the night!



Day 4: 13 km


 Grey morning but no active rain.  Crossed to château d’If.  


 Then to Vallon des Auffes in Marseilles, where they made the movie “Marius”, and along the coast to Pointe Rouge and port des Goudes, our final destination. 
Big ferry behind

Towards Vallon des Auffes


Entering Vallon des Auffes


Christian D.  having lived in Marseilles where he attended “Ecole de la Marine Marchande” gave me all sorts of information along that trip.  We carried the kayaks up the stairway to the parking lot where we had left the cars.

Pointe rouge

When we tried to open the gate at the club, we could not introduce the key in the lock and had to saw off the lock!
After unloading kayak and gear, rinsing and storing everything we enjoyed a leisurely lunch at the club.


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