Cycle tour France - 16th June to 18th June

Well the first climb out of Gosperries was heart attack material , 3km straight up but with stunning views of over the Gorges d'Ardeche. Very unusual landscape with oaks clinging to the rocks, big canyons which we went up and down into of course. Huge numbers of tourists doing the drive and stopping for the views, sometimes mid road so had to keep your wits about you.

Note all the canoeists

In the afternoon the famous Mistral wind slammed everyone with 35km winds. Endeavouring to stay up right and with forward momentum was challenging. It was with much relief to get to Vaison la Romaine, a medieval town. 

Cycling over the Rhone bridge in a side wind was an exercise of courage.

Vaison was fun because it was so quirky, accessing the hotel over the cobbles, trying to get luggage to rooms that were up narrow stairs with no lifts of course.

You can ride up the middle but relies on no old dears walking towards you.

This was the view from our room of the town Vaison

Note the tread wear on the stones from centuries of use.

Next morning  was the infamous Ventoux day, a 1900m climb. Thankfully the terrific wind had dropped right way as would not have even been attempted. We chose to do the alternative route around the mountain valley. Beautiful trees everywhere with overpowering scent of Limes, Holm Oaks and Gentia in full bloom. We called into another medieval village called MontBrun for a snack. Village at the top so the trick is to spin like hell in the granny ring on the bicycle up the cobblestones and if lucky will make it to the cafe/bar. Ciabatta with goats cheese and a cold drink was perfect.

Lunch stop at MontBrun

We had called into Sallivos earlier in the day for coffee ( French coffee generally terrible but one perseveres) but the sign said " ferme " closed.

This was the entrance to town of "ferme" cafe. So appealing.

The other cycle members had a great ride to the top of Ventoux with everyone making it.

It was very poignant for one member, John Crike, who with his sister, did the ride in rememberance of his wife who died one year ago. They reinacted her lifting of her bike when Johns wife rode the mountain 6 years ago. Very emotional for all.

John Crike

The crueling gradient.

We all arrived  in Sault about the same time in the early afternoon. We stayed in the same hotel as last year so sussed out the Intemarche to supplement breakfast for the next day as we remembered Madams was very light and we had 124km to cycle next day.

View from Sault

As noted some of the accommodation in the rural areas look quirky on the approach but very rumpty in the courtyards with random stuff everywhere, stairs to nowhere, masonary that needs love, doors everwhere. A continual work in progress.

Today was our last long ride, 12 days completed. We enjoyed the ride notwithstanding the 32C. Heat off the tarmac was something else but again varied and interesting countryside.

A bit more traffic around now as only 150km from the south coast. The Verdon gorge has a huge lake so many holiday makers. 

The lake a Les Sallies su Verdon

Know you are in Provence riding past this, fabulous scent.

Matthew still eating icecream

Tomorrow is our second to last cycle day and Mick (the easy going Englishman) casually advises "theres a bit of a climb for 7km maybe 6degrees.... something to look foward too but would have to say we are getting pretty good at this after some 16,000m of elevation gain to date.