September 13, 2024
La Palud-sur-Verdon to Les Salles-sur-Verdon
Today is the day to reap the rewards of all the climbing. It should be a lovely and moderately technical descent down to the Verdon river. As I start descending, I get little peeks of azure blue, well-lit by the sun. Unfortunately the shoulders are loose gravel so it's hard for me to pull over for a better look in the traffic. It's Friday, and the motorcycles are all out to play.
| Heart | 1 | Comment | 0 | Link |
The crosswinds got pretty hairy out there, and my hands are freezing by the time I make it down. Tamara is waiting for me by the bridge. We see kayak rentals, so we decide to inquire. Unfortunately, due to strong winds, we wouldn't be allowed to kayak beyond the mouth of the gorge. We settle into our hotel early.
Walking into the town square, there's a festival this weekend celebrating fifty years of the towns built around the river. There'll be a pétanque competition, which we consider entering, until we see how seriously the locals practice. I have never played before, and Tamara has played a few times. We decide it won't be worth it to stick around until 3pm tomorrow to get routed in the first round.
The brocante (flea market) is all set up. There's even a guy selling pastis-related gear. Ricard is the most famous pastis, so I privately name this vendor Ricardo.
I also notice the public washbasin. I've been seeing these all around the towns we pass through. Nowadays, most people have washing machines, but these are still maintained. The first pool is for rinsing. The next for whites. And the last for colours.
For dinner, an entirely forgettable pizza. At least half the storefronts are closed. I'm told this is a very seasonal town, with only 230 year-round residents, so pickings are slim and it feels half-empty outside of summer. The school has only 15 students.
Today's ride: 28 km (17 miles)
Total: 393 km (244 miles)
| Rate this entry's writing | Heart | 6 |
| Comment on this entry | Comment | 0 |