Road trippin’ in France

September 7 Article

day 3 & 4

Day 3 saw us driving from the small town of Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort., leaving the most wonderful hosts Cornelia and Etienne behind, towards the even smaller town in the Provençal region called Lafare.

This small town was just a stones throw away from Mt Ventoux. The wind was howling that afternoon when we arrived at 15:00. We were greeted by the friendliest hostess. We unpacked, had nibbles and a welcome drink, whilst Mrs Eggan explained and guided us through the most popular and not so popular info a tourist needs. We then took a short walk to explore the small town with it’s many fig trees.

Day 4 we rose early and was welcomed with the most amazing breakfast. Everything your heart could desire was laid out to feast on.

The wind was still howling and cycling up to the top of Mt Ventoux was not possible.

Instead we went to a traditional French weekly market in Vaison-la-Romaine.

Little history about the town. This site has been settled in the Bronze Age, but it’s name stems from five centuries as a Roman Town.

A pretty awesome experience to say the least. We then drove to Bédoin where the route for Mt Ventoux starts and had I had biggest croq Monsieur at the restaurant for lunch.

We bought some antiques and nibbles for the next day.

We stopped over at a nougat factory.

Later the afternoon we went for a run and made it back in time for coffee and cake at the B&B.

Road trippin’ France

September 3 Article

day 5

Mt Ventoux

Little history.

Mont Ventoux, the name means “windy mountain”. A variety of flora and fauna may be found on the lower slopes but only moss survives at the peak, where temperatures can drop to -27’C. The bare white scree at the summit makes it look snow capped even during summer.

We parked the car in Malaucène, cycled a short, yet hilly 12kms to Bedoín.

Cycling up Mont Ventoux was pretty awesome, names of Tour favourites painted on the road.

The hill is a 21km climb, with inclines varying from 7-11%, and no flats for you to catch your breath.

The first 15kms is pretty tough and by far the most difficult part if the climb. The last six, well they are tough because you are tired from battling with the first 15.

At the top I had a crepe, no pardon me, I had 2 and a coffee. We cycled down to Malauciène, packed the bikes, changed into running gear and went to explore the Gorge Vaucluse. We did a hike/run and took an ice bath in the stream.

Iconic – see the photos and Carel’s vlog to experience the epicness.

Road trippin’ in France

August 31 Article

Day 2

The two provinces of Languedoc and Roussillon stretch from the foothills of the Pyrenees on the Spanish border to the mouth of the Rhône.

I can see why millions of holidaymakers flock here every year, in between the dry sunburned land, you find an area producing half of France’s table wine and the seasons first peaches and cherries.

But today is Sunday, family day.

Etienne and Cornelia planned the most amazing day out.

We decided to rise early and do a short run exploring Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort.

We enjoyed breakfast alfresco.

We took a short drive to Sauvé and enjoyed the Sunday buzz on the market plain and enjoyed an incredible late lunch.

Beyond such sensuous pleasures are many layers of history, with examples of early Romanesque architecture.

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We spent the rest of our Sunday exploring these by kayak, the most amazing was The Port du Gard, a 2000-year-old bridge. A major fear of Roman engineering. It was a key link I the 17-km aqueduct, parts of which were underground, carrying fresh water from a spring at Uzès to Nîmes.

It was such a wonderful day.