To Rustrel, France

June 23, 2025

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I was sure liking our downstairs room, right next to the bikes and the breakfast room. It made loading up in the morning easy. The first thing I did when we went to breakfast was check the tire inflation. There was a couple seated next to the bikes. I told them this was a sign of how my day would go, if the tires were inflated or not. We ended up chatting quite a while. They are from Ft Collins, CO. The husband had just walked a segment of the camino, and now they've been touristing around. They've been staying at the hotel for a week and doing day trips in a rental car. I think anyone driving a car in Europe is brave. The streets in town are far too narrow for me.

We got a little sidetracked there talking. It's enjoyable to have a casual conversation with someone. It was after 10 AM when we were out the door. Jacinto was for carrying my bike through the hotel lobby and down the stairs. I thought going out the way we came in, the back door, made much more sense. He carried all of our panniers to the front, so I had to make my way around there after all. Even though it was 10 AM, supply vans were just making their deliveries. I must have navigated around 6-8 vans in the space of a block. There's not much extra room anywhere around here!

Finally we were loaded, but, no, we were not leaving. We tried every possible exit, but none were the correct exit. I'm not saying anything loudly. At least I wasn't the person trying to figure it out! Jacinto said on his solo bike ride yesterday, he had an easy exit and reentry. Who knows why today was difficult.

We had about 15 miles of busy road and lots of navigation before it felt we were finally in the country and could relax. A good bike path will do that for a person.

We continued to see loaded tourists. I'm surprised at how many BOB trailers we see. BOB brand - which is an American company. Today's sighting was a man with four panniers, a bag across the back of his rack, AND a BOB. Jacinto noted the man had silver hair and also an E bike. E bikes are great equalizers.

Today we had mountains surrounding us. We climbed to 1,300 feet. At the end of our day, we passed a number of lavender fields. We still haven't been seeing cute French towns. I wonder if they are in just one area, and we are out of that area? I like the beau villages!

Today was a long, gradual climb. An extra point I liked about the bike path was having more shade. Early in the day we passed several big grocery stores (ice), but none later when we really would have liked ice. I keep looking for bicycle shops for a kickstand. Today we passed two. Both were closed. Monday.

Our auberge is at the top of a two mile, 4% grade. I was quite slow in the direct sun. My water could have easily made hot tea. Jacinto went to check in. Official check in time isn't until 6:30 PM - but I had written early. I also asked about food, being Monday. They said their restaurant was open, but never replied about the hours. When Jacinto checked in, it was closed, but the man said we could get food across the street. There was a cooling breeze. We sat on the shaded patio and shared three carafes of water. My phone said 93 degrees. They didn't exactly have food, but did have a cooler with some prepared items. I got a salad, and two hotdogs. I shared with Jacinto, eventually. We also had an ice cream to share. All of those snacks added to 25E. That's a menu du jour!

Jacinto said we should hang out for awhile, because we know our room doesn't have AC, and we can see the sun shining on the building. Finally I really wanted a shower. He's correct. I'm sweating sitting here on the bed. The wifi is terrible. I couldn't get all of the photos to load.

We are going to dinner in a half hour. Jacinto asked if we would be hungry. That's a question he doesn't need to ask!

Tomorrow I'm going to be smarter. The first place we see with ice. We are stopping. I didn't even think to bring my stainless steel bottle. That was a mistake.

I had to take one last old door photo before we left town. This one had been recently stained and varnished.

We passed an artist’s shop that specialized in unique metal pieces made of cogs. I could have photoed them all!

Who needs an old fashioned kickstand when I have this good looking bike holder?

I found this two part mural to be disturbing.

We rode a good chunk of the day on a paved bike path.

I think these steep walls probably messed with the GPS elevation calculation

We haven’t had an old bridge photo for a few days. In Avignon, we only got half a bridge.

The bicycle path took us across. No cars allowed.

We have reached the lavender fields of Provence! We must have a good route because we passed a Backroads Bicycle Tour group and their van.

We saw two of these old rock beehive looking structures. They were both near lavender fields.

Jacinto needs money to pay for all of my snacks. I ate 25E of snacks. A salad, two hotdogs, and ice cream. I did share, but just barely! We also went through three carafes of water.

The bikes are parked in an unused dining room.

Jacinto’s first project was getting the fan going. The owner assured us AC is not necessary and the room is fresh. We don’t quite agree.

Today's ride: 41 miles (66 km)
Total: 618 miles (995 km)

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Scott AndersonYou're missing the small, colorful, beautiful villages as a result of your arrow-like route choices. They're are all around you, but mostly tucked away hidden from view or perched up on top of hills. You'd have to slow down and do considerably more climbing to make it up to most of them, but then you'd never make it to Venice and Munich in time.
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1 month ago

Kelly IniguezTo Scott AndersonHere I thought we were wandering all over the place! I'm definitely interested in Rich's beau villages route. He has some beauties.
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1 month ago