Off-road Trip to the Ardèche, France with Hill-Hoppers-Club 2003

Last Revised: $Revision: 1.9 $, $Date: 2004/01/10 19:36:16 $

Hill-Hoppers Travelday, Thursday

About 5.5 hours took the trip to the famous off-road terrain "Centre tout terrain" in Rouchepaule in the northern Ardeche. We are passing Lyon on the bypass road. Then we go down the A7 Hi-way in direction Marseille. At exit 12 (Channes) we leave and we follow direction Annonay and further on the D121 direction De Puy. At St Bonnet le Froid we turn left into the D9 and after 7 km we reach the village Devesset. The Camping site is located some kilometer further on the right, our destination for today.

Offroad, Friday

10 km further we reach the "Centre tout terrain" in Rouchepaule. 16 EUR are charged for one day per 4x4. The terrain is in first place stony and we follow the blue path down hill. The path is relatively simple with several times a little tilted positions. Lorenz explores the terrain with his Trial-G. We go further down hill passing the brook. Now the terrain gets difficult, the path gets smaller and one can only proceed with a sloped position. At many places it way is so worn out that we likely would slide down the hill.

The following rates have to be paid per day for the camping (on 5-2003): 3 EUR per person, 1 EUR per dog, 3 EUR per caravan, 2 EUR per tent, 2 EUR per car and 3,50 flatrate for electricity.

Finally the path gets so narrow that we can not proceed anymore. The map is basically for Cross-motor-bikes. It need allot of effort to turn. Now we doing construction work to fix the worn out chunks in order to get back.
Markus tries to master a stony path after lunch, with his Jeep Cherokee. It is very difficult and a fallen tree is in the way. This adventure costs two mirrors, three knobs and some scratches.
In the evening we do barbecue.

There are three gas stations in St Agrève. One automanted gas station at the supermarket Shoppi and two in the village.

Offroad Driving School, Saturday

On the training terrain near the central office Christoph gave an excellent terrain driving training. He teaches how to pass uneven terrain slowly and save, starting and restating an a slope, passing v-shaped gullies.
Finally passing a log and obstacles was exercised.
#Verschränkung

Later I try to buy some gas - a challenge on Saturday evening on the country. The gas station belonging to the supermarket Shoppi advertises 24 hour service. Although it is an automated gas station - the EC-card is rejected immediately, and with the credit card I am asks for the type of gas before it is ejected. In the town there is another gas station with historic gas pumps. The second hand furniture store next to it has still open. I ask if I can get gas? Oui - that possible. I ask, more as joke, if I can pay with the credit card? In disbelieve I already fetched cash, when the man says Oui again - but he insists that I pay with the credit card, as I have ask for it.

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