The weather forecast for this area in France is perfect for cycle touring. If anything, it may be getting a bit too warm by the afternoon with highs in the mid twenties under full sun conditions. But for now we will hope to find some shade as we make our way to Montbrun-les-Bains today.
We had a simple breakfast in our apartment before packing up and carrying our bikes down the 13 steps of the steep, narrow, twisting staircase to the road below. The staircase is so tight I do not think a regular size bike could be taken up to the second floor apartment without removing the front wheel. Before heading off we said good bye to our hosts Emily and Daan of Thé Choi Toi. For us it has been a great place to stay and we enjoyed our time in Vaison la Romaine.
This is the bridge that connects the two parts of Vaison la Romaine.
We passed over the small bridge into town to buy some lunch before riding the left bank of the Ouvèze River. I like to think of today`s route as the backside of Mont Ventoux. The more west facing side of the mountain has the popular towns of Malaucène and Bédoin where many riders begin their ride up to the top of Ventoux. We were riding along the D40 and there are really no towns of any size between Vaison la Romaine and Montbrun les Bains but Ventoux is almost always in view on our right side. It was really a very beautiful ride.
The secret village of Crestet does not look so secret from this side of the road.
We enjoyed a scenic but short ride beside the Ouvéze River before turning off and crossing one of its tributaries - the Toulourenc River. The Toulourenc paralleled our route all the way to Montbrun les Bains but it was small and we rarely saw it except at a few crossings. The road soon began to climb up into the hills and we spent quite a bit of time reaching the top elevation of 575 metres before we headed back down the other side on an equally steep grade but now with full brakes applied. The view of Mont Ventoux, the surrounding hills and fields in the valley bellow are excellent on this clear day.
At the bottom of the hill we stopped for the sandwich we had brought with us and then stopped again in the small town of Savoillan for afternoon coffee. Savoillan is the largest village we went through today but it only has a single restaurant and a patisserie. We were now less than 10Kms from Montbrun les Bains. However, with a bit of a headwind we were starting to feel the effects of the earlier hills.
Coffee stop in Savoillan. The restaurant was across the street and they had a couple off tables in front of the local church. A nice place for a break.
Not sure how well this will be seen. But years ago the tree was splitting and a metal belt was put around it to hold it together. The belt is completely grown over on one side.
We were near the top of the village when Pat checked ¨mapsme¨ for the location of our accommodation for the night. Pat suggested that we may have gone a bit too far and passed it on the way up. We were not really certain as to its location and had promised to meet the owner at 4pm so we still had an hour to look around the village. We continued further up to the town's belfry where the road ends and parked our bikes. We carried on through the belfry gate and began to follow a very rough coblestone path and stairs about 150 metres to a beautiful small resting area with a small sign - Le Place de Grande Soleil. We were looking around when Scott said ¨bonjour¨ (like only Scott can!) to a lady who is trimming plants, and the lady responded in English, ¨Are you from Canada?" Wow, you can tell all that from a crappy pronunciation of ¨bonjour¨? "Why yes we are." "I am so glad to meet you," she replied - "you are staying right here!" What luck! Now we had to figure out how to get our bikes and equipment up that path!! But it is a great spot. We will be spending two nights here.
Up in Montbrun les Bains looking down into the valley.. We entered via the road bellow.
