Hello Hivers! I'm truly excited to share with you the adventure of my first hike of the year, an escapade that aligns with my personal goal for this year: to explore nature more and connect with the outdoors.
Yesterday, I put on my hiking shoes (just simple sneakers, but I need to buy some good hiking boots) and hit the road towards a beautiful spot in Normandy, between Saint-Martin-du-Vivier and Fontaine-sous-Préaux.
Saint-Martin-du-Vivier, nestled in the lush Normandy, is a village full of charm and history.
The first mention of the village dates back to 1240, under the name of "Ecclesia de Viviario." The village was then a parish, attached to the diocese of Rouen. The current church of Saint-Martin-du-Vivier, in Seine-Maritime, dates from 1858. It was built in the Neo-Roman style, replacing an old Romanesque church from the 11th century, which was in poor condition. Its narrow streets and old houses offer a fascinating glimpse of traditional Norman architecture.
A bit further, Fontaine-sous-Préaux is just as enchanting.
This village, with its tranquil atmosphere and picturesque landscapes, seems straight out of a fairy tale. Historically, Fontaine-sous-Préaux has been marked by agriculture and livestock farming, a heritage that is still reflected today in its preserved rural landscape.
These two villages, surrounded by winding trails and really cool views, were the perfect backdrop for my hike.
The hike began with a small dirt path that ran between a meadow and a community orchard (where all the villagers can take care of it and harvest the fruits).
Then, there was 1km to do on the road.
At that time, there were no cars so it was very quiet.
After a while, the app on my phone told me to take a dead-end road.
It led me to a few houses and a path in the middle of the forest.
I then descended into the village where there was the famous church I mentioned in the introduction.
It's really beautiful. But I didn't get close because my hike didn't take me past it and I wanted to get back to my car before nightfall (I hadn't planned for a flashlight).
So, I took the path called "chemin de la Robinette."
I arrived at the edge of a path. I thought I had to follow it, so I did, but then my app vibrated my phone to tell me that I was not on the right route. So, I turned back.
I returned to the road, passing through some really beautiful small farms.
Finally, I returned to the small paths in the forest.
This is where there was the most elevation gain (almost 300 meters of positive elevation, which is a lot for this region). But it was very beautiful.
It was cold, so everything was a bit frozen.
After a while, a fir tree had fallen across my path. So, I had to bypass the trail, and I didn't expect to have so much trouble finding it again.
I went from a forest with several species of trees to a fir forest where it was much darker.
Then I came out of the forest, and I was halfway through my hike. The sun was already beginning to set, and it was getting colder, so I picked up the pace.
For this last part, there was much less interest in the walks. It was mostly fields as far as the eye could see.
Moreover, everything had thawed here because the sun had warmed the earth. As a result, it was very muddy and slippery.
At one point, I had two choices in front of me. Either I continued the hike (for at least another 1h30) by taking the path on the left, or I rejoined the car by taking the road on the right (30 minutes on foot).
It was starting to get very cold and darker, so I preferred to opt for safety and took the road.
In the end, it wasn't so bad, I got to see sheep who seemed happy that I had passed by there too.
As I made my way back, reflecting on the day's journey, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction and tranquility.
The varying landscapes, from the quaint villages to the vast fields and the contrasting forests, painted a picture of the diverse beauty that Normandy has to offer.
The cold, the quiet, and the isolation only added to the experience, making it a perfect start to my hiking adventures this year.
And as a bonus, I had the company of the cheerful sheep towards the end, a delightful end to an enriching day.