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Member#: 199 Location: Registered: 28-04-2003 Diary Entries: 2
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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!
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