BYU Duck Pond

Maybe you've lived your entire life in the Provo, Utah area. Or perhaps you're a BYU graduate with plenty of fond memories of BYU life: the clean campus, sunny summer days spent licking Creamery ice-creams, bustling Wilkinson Student Center, and juicy J Dawgs. Either way, if you live in the Provo area or you're just passing through, you really should visit the BYU duck pond. There aren't very many more relaxing and pleasurable places to pass a Sunday afternoon than in this quaint, newly-renovated area.

Over the last year, the entire hillside South-West of campus has been completely transformed. It began with the cobblestone path zigzagging the overgrown woods of the South-campus hill. The deep, muddy ravine that claimed dozens of tennis balls, flip-flops, and tennis-shoes weekly became a stone-lined stream with crystal water tumbling over sand-colored rocks and spilling out of boulders in artificial waterfalls. The overgrown underbrush was cleared and pruned. Stone tablets now mark the freshly-planted foliage. Iris cascade from the hillside, nodding their fragrant heads to passerby.

And finally, the duck pond. The dirt paths leading to the banks of the pond have been paved with dusty, burnt red cobblestones. Fresh, dark woodchips blanket tree beds, kissing the green grass in crisp, curved lines. And a new wooden dock frames the once unkempt dirt pond banks.

This Sunday afternoon, I watched as young families gathered on the wooden benches eating sandwiches or fried chicken. A larger group sang happy birthday to an elated young boy, then passed out ice creams to the energetic children. One boy pushed a stroller with a watermelon almost as large as he. The children knelt near the dock edge, gripping the wooden rim and leaning eagerly over as they pointed enthusiastically at the young ducklings swimming in that adorable quick-bobbing fashion.

A handsome mallard perched on a large rock in the water, lazily pruning his feathers. The rest of the ducks horded near the bank where three young boys were tossing bread crumbs. Two females, however, broke from the group when they eyed me sitting on the far bench. One cautiously hopped up on the dock. When my attention remained focused on my notebook, the duck began quacking insistently, waddling in my direction and eyeing me pointedly. Smiling, I promised her I’d bring bread crumbs next time I visited. So the young brown duck waddled to the grass to nibble clover heads, clearly disappointed.

This duck pond and the cobblestone path above it are by far my favorite places on BYU campus. Here are some great ways to spend time in this pleasant little area:

·         Play Sequence® – my favorite card/board game – at one of the metal tables next to the stream and the hillside path.

·         Picnic under a large tree in the green grass next to the pond.

·         Read a novel in the summer shade.

·         And of course, feed the ducks!

Montpellier-le-Vieux

Situated on top of the Causse Noir plateau, just a half an hour North East of Millau, is Mother Nature's majestic creation: Montpellier-le-Vieux. During the warm summer season, both locals and tourists come to admire Montpellier-le-Vieux's grand landscape. Strange rocks burst from the earth: archways and columns topped with bulbous heads that seem to smile down in caricature humor. There are several color coded trailways, with paths for both novice and seasoned hikers.  Most of the trails are paved, making Montpellier-le-Vieux a perfect outing for families of all ages. However, for the more adventurous hiker, there are several smaller and more savage trails breaking off from the main paths. There is also a quaint little train that runs through the mountains offering tours for a small fee.

Montpellier-le-Vieux is always open for visitors. However, the small train, the restrooms, and the tourism office are only open from March 26th to November 6th. For ticket prices during the tourist season, visit this site. However, I visited the area at the beginning of March. With the ticket booth closed, we were able to enjoy nature's wonder for free! The early March visit was wonderful; the weather was beautiful and we missed the large tourist crowds.

Montpellier-le-Vieux is an incredible place to pass a few hours or an entire day exploring and picnicking. Whether you are passing through the area or staying a few days, try to stop by this impressive landmark.

Hang-Gliding in Millau

My grandmother and the Toulouse clan drove up today. They arrived in time for a large family lunch, finished Southern-French-style with strong Roquefort cheese on baguette bread and pistachio flavored pot de crème for dessert. Afterward everyone gathered in the living room for a few rounds of karaoke on the wii. There was enough ABBA, Queen, and Highschool Musical to keep everyone singing for hours, but the blue skies and French canyons were beckoning to us, and even Freddie Mercury couldn't keep us inside during such beautiful weather.

Today we planned to visit Montpellier-le-vieux, a mini Arches National Park tucked away in Aveyron, with impressive rock structures clustered in ruinesque groupings. However, when we saw the colorful crescents dotting the sky, we had to make one quick visit to the parapenting take off point on the plateaus overlooking Millau.

As we zig-zagged through the dark evergreen forests that blanketed the plateau, dozens of brightly colored paragliders peeked in and out behind the trees. The fleeting preview heightened everyone's  excitement and anticipation, until finally we reached the take off point! A large crowd was already gathered in the clearing, watching the paragliders lazily circling overhead and hoping to witness a take-off or two. Several paragliders and a lone hangglider waited near the cliff edge, listening in their radio instruments for a signal that the winds were favorable for take-off.

The view from the top of the plateau was breathtaking. Distant plateaus framed the horizon, with Millau nestled picturesquely at the bottom of the french canyons. The river Trone meandered through the town, down the green forge and disappearing behind the farmed valleys.

Because of Millau's stunning scenery and favorable wind-currents, it has gained international recognition as an ideal destination for all aviation sport lovers. In fact, some even refer to it as the paragliding capitol of Europe. With its plunging cliffs, pine covered plateaus, and clear azure skies, Aveyron's landscape is the perfect backdrop for an incredible flying experience. Regular fliers return each summer to relive the Aveyron adventure, the rush of the skies and the thrill of flying alongside vultures. Millau also provides professional assistance for beginning fliers, like tandem flights or short courses. For all aviation enthusiasts, this is an experience not to be missed.

Here is a short video featuring a hang-glider taking off from the cliffs overlooking Millau. I apologize in advance for the shaking; film-making is obviously not my forte!