At the tail end of the W3C plenary, Paul and I were able sneak away for a couple of stunning caches. First was one in the Esterel mountains, reached by climbing narrow winding roads through steep valleys topped by red rock outcroppings I and draped in sheets of blooming yellow Mimosa trees.

We eventually wound our way to the top of a ridge, looking down the length of a rugged valleys. A broad path, probably a logging road, led along the top and we traversed back and forth, trying to find the easiest way down the slope the last tenth mile To the cache.

At last we picked our way down through the wild lavender, tea trees, and scrubby cork trees, finding a boulder which sheltered the cache and wayposted a decent trail that led directly back to the car (oh well!)

As we opened the cache the wind sprung up with a vengeance, but died out again as we closed the cache back up. Perhaps someone left a genie in the cache? Photos are part of the Cannes set, starting here.

The second cache was a straightforward two-stage multi cache that led as on a circumnavigation of Ile Sainte-Marguerite, which is the "Angel island" of Cannes.  A short boat ride, awesome views of the sea (complete with windsurfers and kites), the Esterel Mountains, Cannes, and the snowy alps in the distance. Very nice!  Again photos are part of the Cannes set, starting here.