Piolenc to Avignon

October 9, 2023

A shorter ride today as we terminate in Avignon. Last night we met up with Canmore friends Val and Greg who had been staying in Bedoin and doing day biking trips. You know, like up Mt Ventou. Yikes! So we had (Canadian) Thanksgiving dinner together and due to its proximity - about 15 km - we all voted for some Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Best. Wine. So. Far.

For a short ride, we got a real mix today. No busy roads at least! But we had some gravel like below, some great country roads with few cars, some rock sections, some dirt paths, and yes Marjory, there were a few more bridges!

I don't think rural France gets up early on Mondays.

Komoot takes us on a "single track ahead" which had us wondering, and then shortly onto this concrete path to the river. Then after 50m, back to gravel. Oh well, at least its not "single track"!

I have seen these all along the Rhone, and assume they are a flood gauge. Not sure if the "29" near the top there means 29m above normal? Surely not.

Very peaceful riding for long sections. It is already warm early, so the shade was welcome as well.

We have noticed lots of Gum trees throughout this trip, and have seen them in most countries in which we have travelled. It must be the most invited invasive species there is!

After numerous (!) comments about this being "not a gum tree, dad gum it", I took a closeup of the leaves and fruit if it helps. The consensus seems to be a Plane Tree.

There were some very large estates along the route, which we could just peak into through the dense hedges we rode past, but this one seems to be built into an old castle structure. Quite the home.

As we came into Avignon, the walled city was ahead and striking. We will spend almost a week here, so will post pics of this town and surrounding Provence places we visit. We are most looking forward to accessing a washer and dryer! So easy to please...

Today's ride: 36 km (22 miles)
Total: 781 km (485 miles)

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