Channel 2 Med Vajrin 2016: Day 10 – Vallon Pont d’Arc to Vaison la Romaine

We travelled out of Rhône-Alpes travelling further south east to Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, a very popular holiday region covering a large area from the Mediterranean Sea (the French Riviera and our final destination) up to the French Alps, the Rhône River to the west and Italy to the east.

Rod leaving Vallon Pont d'Arc. Note fine riding position and shapely legs.

After skirting the L'Ardeche we climbed steadily to overlook the gorge.

The day before saw howling winds and hail. The evening, sheets of rain, now glorious sunshine.

Nobody was hurrying.

Views from the rim of the gorge were breath taking. We stopped and stopped again. Nobody was hurrying.

Pleasingly, we were of similar cycling ability, allowing mingling and meeting along the way. The first and the last arriving not too far apart.

Clouds scudded, as they do, throwing us into shadow and sunshine, flitting by the minute.

Debbie displaying yogic-like poise in mind and body

The Provençal is known for its flowers, fruits, vegetables, fish and shellfish, wine-making and perfumery. Foods of the area include the sauce Pistou, Tapanade, Nicoise salad, Ratatouille, Bouillabaisse and Cod Brandade.

Much about the goat comes down to smell. Press this button for a goaty smell - smell button

At the first brew, there was broken glass in all the parking spots. Sadly, someone would have smashed all the windscreens to take from the cars. We carefully navigate our bikes away from the shards.

The gorge extended for miles.

We shared the route with motorcyclists, day trippers, tour buses, but only a few other cyclists (one training for the Ironman Nice and another speeding along in a recumbent)

I like the English translation, "To contemplate safely..." - obviously meant for monk travellers.

The lone canoeist

Philip

Euphorbia

Note the cyprus trees in foreground. Very popular, particularly as we cycled into the wine-growing region.

We then left the Gorges de L'Ardèche travelling through numerous villages, wine-growing estates, olive trees and agriculture. No muscular red-coloured cows.

One of several medieval sites.

Looks like and advert for Monster energy drink.

Note the more expensive Cote du Rhone Villages.

We didn't visit - probably a good thing though

Vineyards were everywhere!

The Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur has a wide array of wines and is the third largest wine-growing region in France. Wines include Côtes de Provence, Coteaux Varois, Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence, Bandol and Cassis.

The Rhone

A photo opportunity overlooking the Rhone River.

San

We passed through numerous old settlements:

Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche (the starging point for those that canoe the gorge over the summer months);
Bollene near the Donzère-Mondragon canal (the Rhône river supplies the canal's water);
The village of Sainte-Cécile-les-Vignes
Cairanne – one of 20 villages producing a better Cotes du Rhone and thus being allowed to use the name ‘Cotes du Rhone Villages’;
Saint-Romain-de-Malegarde and Villedieu are both former outposts of the order of the Knights Templar

Van Gogh spent time in Arles painting the countryside. I was particularly reminded of him by the numerous columnar Cyprus trees he incorporated into his painting.

Mont Ventoux in the distance - reminiscent of Mount Doom.

Wine-growing was ubiquitous.

Large wineries dotted the landscape.

We cycled through numerous narrow village streets.

Our destination, Vaison-la-Romaine, lying between the Alps and the Mediterranean and situated at the foot of Mont Ventoux (1912m)

Mont Ventoux getting closer.

On the right bank is the old Roman colony. Digs have revealed immense, luxurious, and elaborate Gallo Roman homes with mosaics, marble, marquetry, statues, ponds, atriums and private thermal baths.