Camargue safari, Provence
Bac du Petit Rhône

Camargue safari, Provence
Toro, on the hoof

Straight straight straight, CURVE. Repeat. The Camargue is the reclaimed land between the canals and the rigoles in the delta of the River Rhône, it’s  farmland, wetland wildlife reserve and fishing ports. Raked by the Mistral and the hot hot sun, the Camargue reeks of smugglers and pirates despite the sanitised tourism image with 5* campings and hotels specialising in riding white horses.
Just the two of us bikers from the French club AMA riding out today because of the continuing blockades of the petrol refineries nearby; we made this as much a wildlife safari as a motorbike club outing. The bacs, lightweight ferries, make it possible to cross the tributaries of the Rhône and there is almost always room for bikes.

The swans, the terns, cormorants and many other less glamorous species are flying humblingly long migrations - thousands of kilometres - of which these precious wetlands are sanctuaries in which to rest and recharge. These migrations really are amazing.
But the black toro grazing in the fields are destined for the table although, a few may see glory in a traditional parade first. We enjoyed our toro steaks in a restaurant just back from sea at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, the capital of the Camargue. Having bagged photos of the Camargue Big Three (Flamingoes, Toro and White Horses), it was again straight straight straight, CURVE. Repeat, until we left the Camargue on another bac.

Thanks to Pascal C for leading our ride on his BMW R1250RJ

Camargue safari, Provence

Camargue safari, Provence
Straight straight straight, CURVE. Repeat.

Camargue safari, Provence

Camargue safari, Provence
Bac du Petit Rhône

Camargue safari, Provence

Camargue safari, Provence
Toro, on the plate in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, Camargue, Provence
Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, Camargue, Provence

Camargue safari, Provence

Camargue safari, Provence
Étang de Vaccarès

Camargue safari, Provence

Camargue safari, Provence

Camargue safari, Provence

Camargue safari, Provence

Camargue safari, Provence
Bac du Grand Rhône