The Shepherd Family

I met Emeline by chance at a farmer homestay during my very first solo trip by motorcycle right after I passed my riding license. That summer, I packed for a 3000kms solo accross the French Alps. Emeline was taking a weekend break with her 4 month-newborn son, Azel, after several weeks up in the mountains of Devoluy, living with Max, her husband who was a shepherd. She told me how Max decided to become a shepherd, after a burn-out working for several years as a mechanics in the French Air military. She was herself recovering from a toxic previous mariage, and the new family was aiming at nothing more than a quiet and simple life together, albeit tough.

She invited me to join them up there to spend a few days with them. I parked my bike and climbed up there to share their life for a few days, in that cabin with no running water nor electricity, at the pace of the sheeps, and the peace of the mountains.