We headed through beautiful, snow covered mountains and high plateaux.  We stopped to grab bread for lunch at Murat – an old town with very narrow, windy streets set in the mountainside.  We continued on, over the Col de Entremont (1295m) heading for Le Puy.  The auxillary alternator belt broke at some stage (hopefully it was just the belt and not the alternator as well).  Some work will be required when we can find a suitable place.  Until then, we will have to watch electricity consumption from the second battery. 

We stopped in Le Puy, an amazing town in an old volcanic region.  The Chapel de St Michel de l’Aiguihl was built on top of a volcanic plug opposite another plug which ‘houses’ an enormous statue of the Virgin Mary and child.  We parked the Landie and climbed up over 200 steps to the chapel on top and fantastic views.  It does beg the question – why build it there?  It must have been a huge effort to carry everything up there!  From Le Puy, we headed on towards Valence.  The pass is said to be open, although difficult.  We stopped at Lamastre for cash and then camped in a layby in woods near to the Col des Fans.