April 18 Le Pont de Montvert to Florac (About 20 km, about 350 m)

We knew that today would be hard work. The suggested official GR70 route is 28 km long and involves climbing 545m. There is a minor short cut by taking the GR68 path which saves 4 km. We were worried about this. The landlord of the Auberge des Cévennes told us of a short cut.We took it. He reckoned we would save 10 km on the day. We doubt this but we saved at least 5 km and about 200 m climbing. The landlord used a highlighter on our TopoGuide to sketch out the new route. The official route climbs just over 200 m from the village up to a plateau at about 1100m and climbs further south to a ridge at about 1300 m and then turns west along the ridge to climb to 1400 m before dropping to ca 1100 m by the Col du Sapel.  His route branched off SW on the plateau at point shown in the Le Chemin de Stevenson Topo Guide at point 37, followed a minor road to reach the D20. At this point we were recommended not to follow the D20 but to follow a forest path right and loop round to the D20 later.
We were pleased to have this ace up our sleeve, as we could not leave Le Pont before we picked up the makings of lunch. The baker's shop was shut on Thursdays and the other shops did not open until 09:00. We were somewhat late leaving. We panted up the steep slope to the plateau.

The view back into Le Pont.

We crossed the plateau and followed the landlord's instructions.

Following the forest path and four other walkers in the know.

We then followed the D20 for several kilometres. The road was quiet. In the hour or so we were walking along it we saw 4 or 5 vehicles. We realised why when we arrived at the Col du Sapel. The road downhill was marked as difficult and dangerous.

The view to the the north with the snowfields on Mount Lozère just visible.

The Col du Sapel

We followed GR 70 to junction with GR 68 along a forest road. We had good views down to the road taken by RLS.

 The flowers were superb:

At the junction we climbed to follow GR68, but not that far. GR70 seemed to be less of a good bet, because we would need to walk on a busy main road and it was further. We went steeply down into Florac.

On our way into the village we passed another Carrefour supermarket. Our hotel: Hôtel des Gorges du Tarn, yet another Logis de France was at the other end of Florac. The room was excellent with TV and WLAN, so we could download the "Guardian". The food in the restaurant was good but the portions were somewhat  small:  Salad with goat's cheese, zander (pike perch) with polenta and veg, cheese and fruit salad or yoghurt. Walkers need serious amounts of stodge. We drank a glass of reasonable but expensive  Chardonnay.