September 30, 2018
Eyguieres to Mirabeau
two very pretty villages and a chateau
We have begun to settle on 08:30 am as our start for breakfast. It's perhaps a bit leisurely but it seems to work well for our hosts and temperatures are just starting to warm up when we are ready to leave. Today's breakfast at Le Demere worked out pefectly as the sun was just clearing the the trees in the backyard as we sat outside (jackets on) beside the pool. We stuffed ourselves with various types of bead, homemade yogurt and jam. Pat had an egg and the charcuterie serving was fabulous. This certainly made up for our weak performance at dinner last night! We were sent on our way with full bellies as well as ice in our water bottles specially prepared by our host. We were treated very well at this very lovely home.
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The ride today would take us slightly north and east back toward the Apilles and to several small villages. The cycling was again mainly on country backroads as well as some time on a specially designated Luberon cycle route. We were concerned about the build up of clouds and the possibility of forecasted thundershowers but they never materialized.
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The first leg took us again throgh some country roads as we headed for one of the few crossings of the Durance River at Mallemort. Once across the river we rode up to the town of Lauris and on to a small coffee shop / bar in Merindol. This looked to be place where the local guys get together Sunday morning to watch the horse races and escape the family. Likely their idea of church!
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We resumed our ride and after a few minutes Scott had that "did I put my wallet away moment?" No wallet - he raced back to the coffee shop. Inside he asked about a wallet - heart starting to pound. Not sure if anyone understood his pleas but they seemed concerned. Such a relief when he found it in a rarely used back pocket!! - Everyone laughed. Back on our way. Next stop was Lourmarin where we enjoyed a very delicious brick oven pizza for lunch.
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Next stop on today's ride was another pretty French town, Cuceron. They really are beautiful old towns woth lots of people out enjoying the wonderful early fall weather.
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We then turned our route south and were thankful to be moving away from the gathering dark clouds as well as for the exciting 10km downhill that came along with it! The next view we saw was the Chateau Ansouis - of course this required a bit of a climb as only hilltops were safe in the middle ages.
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It was a long day in the saddle today as we carried on to La Tour d'Aigues and one last hill late in the day enroute to Mirabeau. We arrived at our destination just beyond Mirabeau at 6pm and found ourselves the only people in the hotel. The manager was waiting for us, he took us around the building, handed us the keys and left. We wandered around the large, converted 16 century building all by ourselves. This hotel was really out of the way but it met the daily distance requirements. As a result, we were depending on being able to have dinner there. And a most interesting dinner we had!! The system at the hotel was that you buy prepared dishes from the manager, prepare them to your liking, eat in the dining room and then do your dishes! It was a surprisingly fun and delicious meal albeit totally on our own. It felt slightly eerie as we turned in for the night.
Today's ride: 69 km (43 miles)
Total: 199 km (124 miles)
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I can’t believe your dinner experience in this hotel! That’s never happened to us. We’d starve if we had to cook our own supper.
5 years ago
5 years ago