Day 12 – Sault to Moustiers Sainte Marie - 71 miles

Today was a significantly longer ride than Ventoux, but the climbs were considerably shorter and less steep   

Large numbers of these tandem, recumbent cyclists were moving at what felt like a snails pace. Five wheels can't be efficient compared with our 2 wheeler tandem.

Loud music, support staff awaited these riders 

(an 8 day trip from Annecy to Nice)

Perhaps early signs of a 'Frexit' campaign?

Our morning was relatively easy, though some busy roads and our first contact with huffy drivers. 

First brew

Andy sporting a very fine Mont Ventoux cycle jersey.

Tea break

Similar to Sault, our overnight stay, we passed through another Roman village, Banon, known for its goats cheese wrapped in chestnut leaves and tied with raffia string.

Our overpriced body wash for the women of Bath is actually made in a cowshed.

Fabulous fields of wheat with a rolling landscape backdrop - woodland, lavender and more lavender.

Provence is delightful.

Easy riding

More olive trees as we moved further south

...and lots of lavender

...and lots of wheat.

Stopping for photos I was separated from our group by a passing train

Wisely I waited.

Lavender fields everywhere, but not yet in bloom.

Riez, the ‘Capital of the Lavender’, includes many craftsmen, potters, faience-makers (fine, tin-glazed pottery on pale buff earthenware), honey and lavender traders.

There was an oil refinery strike so our guides had to queue for ages to get 20L of diesel. The brew was delayed so we found a cafe and stopped for...

...Mr Whippy icecream.

And good coffee.

Could Kathy fit any more in her cycle jersey?

After lunch we were back on winding and well-surfaced country lanes, leaving behind our rolling landscape.

A very varied and attractive landscape.

We climbed up onto the Valensole plateau. The village itself was the birthplace of Admiral Villeneuve, who commanded the French fleet at Trafalgar.

Our final destination, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, the "most beautiful village of France", lies at the western entrance to the Gorges du Verdon. 

The village has been a centre of the pottery trade, especially faïence for centuries. It sits astride a rushing mountain stream dividing the village into two. The sound of the river and running fountains all over the village creates an Alpine ambiance.

This is the beginning of the Gorges du Verdon

Moustiers Sainte Marie

Map