So the place we stayed in last night, Sunday I think 🤔 (I’m loosing track of the days, must be an age thing) was a Gite some of the group stayed in the Château next door, simply stunning. We are quite literally in the middle of nowhere 😊. I know a lovely lady or two who would relish this place, no people, no hassle, some fabulous riding, beautiful walks & decent wine!

We had a meal as a very large group last night, I was moaned at for not looking at the camera

This morning was glorious, I woke up to the sound of birds and the smell of fresh croissants 🥐 being baked!

We cycled almost 70 tough miles today with some 4500 ft of elevation, given what we have done this week, I thought I would be ok, some of the climbs had gradients of 12% average – for 600/700 metres (Cold Ashby is around 4 or 5% average with 9% at its steepest point ). The sound and volume of the cricket’s was truly astounding.

At the top 🔝 of the first climb, I met a couple from Hampshire who are poodling around for a couple of weeks on their bikes. There was also a French man who asking me if I had cycled up the mountain ( given the hot 🥵 sweaty mess in front of him, I’m not sure he needed an answer) then he told he had climbed Ventoux 3 times in 1 day!



The ride was actually superb, the uniformity of the vineyards I find strangely comforting 😊🤷‍♀️, we passed fields of lavender that smelt beautiful, fields of sunflowers 🌻 all turning their heads to the sun as it rose, fig trees, apple & pear trees and lots of goats 🐐

We stopped 4 miles before the hotel & had an ice-cream, delicious 😋. I have drunk the equivalent of 4 litres of water 💦 today!

So although I thought it was the toughest day so far, in terms of gradients and because my body is exhausted the sites, sounds and smells make it all worthwhile. There are so many more things I could mention, like Le Mistral, the Ardèche, the gorges, crossing the mighty Rhone but my blog would go on for ages

Now I’m off for a shower and some rest before a tough day tomorrow. À bientôt 👋

Back to the start

Onwards to Day 11