Janas, Cape of Good Hope?

Summer is still summer, but not for long! So you have to take advantage of it. A few months ago, VTOPO moved and I left Marseille to settle in the small seaside town of Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer. As the locals regularly tell me, there is a taste of California here. And it's true that while walking along the seafront, I feel a bit like I'm in Laguna Beach, at my friend Hans Rey's house. Here people do a lot of sport, jogging, fitness, paddle, surfing... But also road cycling and mountain biking. There is no shortage of spots around and I decide to rediscover the Janas forest. It's been 15 years since I last returned, which means I have no more memories! This forest is like a green lung, blocked to the north by the urbanization of Six-Fours and Seyne-sur-Mer, 2 towns on the Toulon coast. On a map this forest does not look very big, but looking at it more closely, you quickly realize that the relief is marked, the valleys numerous and that its highest point sits at 352 m above the sea, at the level of the chapel of Notre-Dame-Du-Mai. I love riding very early in the morning or in the evening as the sun goes down. The lights are so much more beautiful and above all these times are marked by strong transitions where man and nature behave differently. I wake up early and join my photographer friend Gaetan Riou who accompanies me on this trip to Toulon. At the parking lot, it is dark, we climb the small road on the Seyne-sur-Mer side. After passing the barrier, which prohibits you from going any further by car, the tarmac becomes much steeper. It's a good wall, sprinkled with the colors of dawn that must be faced. We then climb up to the chapel, the highest point of the massif. The sun begins to rise and a magical spectacle plays out before us. From all up there, we have a 360 degree view, due south, the big blue, the sea as far as the eye can see, to the north the Var hills, to the west, La Ciotat and the Calanques of Marseille, to the is the bay of Toulon. Only the firing of military weapons disturbs our peace... Because Toulon is the military city par excellence in France. Many strategic installations are concentrated here. We hear all kinds of automatic weapons, some of which make disturbing, almost electronic noises as the rate of fire is high. We come across a pigeon hunter, sitting quietly on a rock, facing the sea. His dog is tied to a bush. In this period of tension with all the accidents we are experiencing in France, it is important to maintain dialogue with practitioners. Even if the practice is a real problem and poses major cohabitation concerns, far be it from me to label the hunter, the practitioner therefore, as a complete idiot. I think, like everywhere, there are intelligent people, others not. The only problem is that a ball doesn't have too many moods. We engage in dialogue because ultimately we are all here to enjoy the same moment, that of the sunrise. I leave my friend the solitary hunter alone to concentrate on the rest of the route. I spot a path on the ridge. Just before heading there, I am caught up by 2 guys on bikes. One recognizes me, he follows the adventures of VTOPO on Facebook. We begin the discussion, they are two soldiers from Toulon, I take the opportunity to gather a little information in order to learn as much as possible about this sector. He confirms to me that the path on the ridge is very good and that if I want to go to the old semaphore, I must turn right once I reach the track. I let them go ahead, with Gaétan, we take a few images. What is surprising here is the terrain. It is radically different from all the surrounding massifs. It’s truly a massif apart. Because in the region, limestone dominates. But here, not at all. This is Phyllade, a metamorphic rock with a stratified structure, close to slate. I learn quickly because this rock is a real ice rink when it is wet. And this morning, as the sun is not high enough, all the shaded areas are ultra slippery. Amazing ! Even with my 29-inch Ripmo, which usually doesn't flinch, I have to be extra careful. The goal is to fly over rocky areas without touching the brakes too much. You then have to see far and locate the place where you can grab the levers... I had come there the day before, in the middle of the afternoon, with friends from Saint-Cyr, and the grip was just perfect, I rode well in front with Baptiste, a young local. Here, it's quite the opposite. I arrive at the old semaphore, a ruined half-tower, facing the sea. An old military battery below is being swallowed up by vegetation. Gaétan shows me the place where Wade Simmons was photographed. A little nod to the freeride star, we make exactly the same image! I continue a little further towards the sea and find a fantastic viewpoint over Cape Sicié, located far below. The austere gray of the rocks, the steep slopes leading to the sea and the white foam of a sea formed offshore remind me of the Cape of Good Hope. As in South Africa, we feel all the violence of the elements, I would like to come back here on a very stormy day! I attack the descent, the sun has not yet had time to dry the slabs, I ride cautiously, looking away, above all not focusing on the soaked and shiny rocks. Further down, I come across pedestrians who are going uphill and who are having difficulty putting one foot in front of the other because it is so slippery. Once at the bottom, I decide to go up a second time. By the time I return to the summit, the ground will have dried. The sun is rising and it's getting hotter and hotter. I only took one 0.5 L bottle and I'm starting to ration myself. It's October 25 and it's still very hot. However, the weather forecast announces the arrival of winter in 48 hours! Once at the top, I tackle one of the descents shown the day before by my friends. It's still as good, the ground has dried, I can release the brakes. The trail is playful, sometimes steep, sometimes technical. The slabs follow one another, the supports, the braking confidently... Further down, I throw myself into the woods, into this forest populated with cork oaks and eucalyptus. The smells go to my head, I am intoxicated by these gifts of nature. I decide to push on to the coastal path. More than a path, it is a wide but very pretty path with very beautiful views of the Deux Frères rocks, 2 islets which must have given many sailors a cold sweat... I continue to the cove of Fabrégas and its black sand beach. Located in the town of Seyne-sur-Mer, this place is very popular for swimming, the setting is a real postcard. I arrive there from the east side, which seems to me to enjoy a bird's eye view of the beach. Some sharps have come up on the rocks, the red earth contrasts with the gray rocks of Cape Sicié. We are in the middle of school holidays, people are swimming. It is midday, Gaétan and I take a seat at a table by the sea, our feet in the sand. Under a blazing sun, we enjoy our lunch in this pretty straw hut. Our morning of riding ends in the best way possible! On the way back, while it's still hot, I unload my things at home and head to the beach by bike. In less than 5 minutes, I am on the sand, in a swimsuit. I put down my Ripmo and jump into the water. What a joy to still be able to enjoy these last magical moments! GO The Janas Forest is accessible from Six-Fours or from Seyne-sur-Mer. In our case, we left from La Seyne. Access by car or train. WHERE TO EAT / WHERE TO SLEEP To sleep, it will depend on the program. But being in the Var, you will inevitably find suitable accommodation. To eat, if the Paillotte de Fabrégas is open, go there! With good weather, it's perfect. ALL THE INFORMATION If you want to ride on Janas, an ideal route taken from VTOPO VTT Var : Cap Sicié ! TO DO ON LOCATION there is so much to do and see. Difficult to recommend one thing over another. As much as the tourist sites and sites to see are easily identifiable, if you like nice beaches, we recommend that of Sablettes in La Seyne-sur-Mer. © Cédric Tassan

Janas, Cape of Good Hope?

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