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squiz Member Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 3071 |
23rd June 2016 Mt. Biking: Ste-Euphemie sur Ouveze to Buis-les-Baronnies Wind Direction: Wind Stength: Surf / Sea State: Air Temperature: Sea Temperature: Weather: Sunny and hot :) Max Speed: Distance Covered: Thursday 23rd June – Bike ***** then Open water skinny dip:) ***** sunny and hot. Covered 16.52 miles, out 4hours and top speed 32.80 mph. Our second ever night spent here near the top of the world famous biking spot Mont Ventoux and we now know how it got its name because at two in the morning a strong Vent (that’s wind to you and me) started rocking the van!!! Exactly the same thing happened when we were here before and we had to move the van to shelter behind some bushes but we stuck it out last night so it was a bit disturbed with the wind rustling the bike cover and board bag:( Up at 5 for a wee just in time to see a lovely sunrise but then slept in until nine. Too windy and rocky to do our exercises so after breakfast we packed up the van just as the road down to Malaucene was becoming very busy with cyclists attempting the famous Tour du France ascent, there were old and young, road bikes, mountain bikes and even a tandem braving the tough 22km. climb which was a struggle today because it was very hot! I would love to do the climb but think I would struggle to make it, perhaps when I get to 65 and get the old age pension we will treat ourselves to a couple of Electric mountain bikes and then try! We are slowly heading nw on our way home and Mag found a nice route through beautiful Provence we haven’t been on before first heading for Ste Jallie a Beau village ending up in Nyons but as usual we were distracted en-route and didn’t make it! The scenery was stunning with high craggy mountain ridges looking like dinosaur backs with fields full of lavender and fruit trees mainly apricots with the odd cherry tree, we passed many lovely looking villages but you can’t stop at them all and past the Gorge d’ Ubrieux - short but perfectly formed - with cyclist’s everywhere enjoying the perfect biking terrain. We were becoming a bit jealous of everyone out in the fragrant air enjoying the sunshine so when I stopped to take some pics of a lavender field Mag suggested we head back to the last village and ride back to the Gorge for a picnic which was a great idea. I had spotted a great swimming place by a dodgy tunnel in the Ouveze River which was the most amazing aqua-marine:) It only took us a few minutes to return to Ste-Euphemie sur-Ouveze finding a shady parking place by some wonderful old houses to pack a picnic and great our bikes off. We explored the village first biking down to the river where I had fun crossing the ford a couple of times and getting my feet wet - a welcome relief in the hot air. Then back up the very narrow paths between the houses to the main road. We hadn’t gone very far before we found a cherry tree to pinch a snack! The outward journey was mainly downhill all the way which isn’t ideal as its best to do the uphill bit first but never mind. We made good progress and were soon at the 400m tunnel which was scary with no lights on our bikes! Hoping no cars came the other way, we safely made it to the other end to the good swimming spot by which time a couple of cars had parked so we carried on to the Gorges which were even more beautiful out of the van. There is always a breeze when you are on the bike and the smell of the lavender and wild flowers, especially the Broom is unbelievable! With a carpark both ends of the gorge and several large pools to bathe in it was a popular spot and was quite busy. So we moved on past the rock climbers to the next town Buis-les-Baronnies which was pleasant enough by the river with an old arched shopping area popular with tourists and hippies drinking beer by the river:( We then started the climb back, not up to the Ventoux standard but hard enough in the hot air, we were getting hungry by the time we reached the Gorge so headed down to the river and found a tiny rocky island for French bread and cheese followed by strawberries, we know how to live:) Refreshed after our picnic and paddle we went in search of the swimming spot. Stopping just short of the tunnel we locked our bikes to a road sign and headed down the steep but short path to the river. It was the most beautiful place - the fast flowing stream had been dammed at our end by a foot of rocks making a section between two steep cliffs deep enough to swim for about 50m and we had it all to ourselves apart from a French naturalist at the other end. We decided to join him for a spot of skinny dipping as the water was the perfect temperature to cool off and the swimming gear was back at the van. We had the whole spot to ourselves for ages then things livened up, first three French people arrived for a picnic, then a mother and teenage daughter for a swim, quickly followed by four Swiss down with their easy chairs! Our tranquillity was well and truly ruined!!! We also had the problem of getting out of the water without too much embarrassment and giving the late arrival an eyeful as we only had one towel! Mag went first and managed to get out and then when she had dressed passed me the soaking wet towel. Back on dry land in our lovely shaded spot we were happy to watch the others enjoying the water. Then with a cuppa calling we returned to the bikes for the short section back to the van. Not sure where to go for the night I saw a white road just off the way we were heading with view point symbols finding a sign for a Col – we don’t know the name of the Col yet because some ‘tool’ with a shotgun has blasted the sign – sadly quite common here:( We found a nice parking spot just short of the top, reversed in to the most amazing views back to Mont Ventoux where we were last night. Fingers crossed no strong wind tonight. We had a nice time with cuppa and cake outside reading until it got dark, I am typing this at nearly 11 o clock in the quiet mountains with the door open and it’s still hot! Photo Gallery Here |
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