If entering Manosque yesterday was underwhelming then leaving it today was terrible as we battled busy roads and roundabouts emptying from various main roads and freeways in the surrounding area.
Finally we seemed to break clear heading out on a 7-8km climb past lavender fields and dry arid looking landcsapes. Working our way as usual across country Kev and I trailing Rick and Noel, descended down a short but bumpy hill. Rounding the corner and readying to climb again I heard a yell from Kev about 100 metres back. After pulling over and waiting for what seemed like ages for Kev to appear I finally rode back expecting the worst !
Rounding the corner I saw Kev's bike laying on its side and knowing Henley's penchant for high speed crashes (Scotland 2015) I immediately started scouring the roadside tree high branches fully expecting to see H hung over a limb many feet up in the air. When I really was starting to worry Henley finally appeared walking along the rode explaining that as he flew down the hill he hit a pothole dislodging his front bundle bar bag (with his camera inside) causing it to fly off into the hedge, the only problem being that by the time he'd stopped he couldn't remember which hedge it was!
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| That camera is around here somewhere ! |
Showing unheralded determination H said "I don't care if it takes me the rest of the holiday but I am going to find that bloody bag"!
H finally found the bag, checked the contents, and announced that all was ok & for us to cycle on and catch up with Rick and Noel !
We caught up with the boys who were relaxing drinking a coke at the next town not overly worried by the fact that we'd been missing for some time. I guess in hindsight they'd heard all sorts of excuses from the two of us during the length of this tour !
Noel's enthusuasm for more hill climbing was evident when he asked if the town we were now aiming for was on the way to our nights accommodation or off route !.Explaining that the town Moustiers Sainte Marie was one of France's designated most beautiful villages and likely also to have ice cream seemed to be enough to motivate Noel to keep on going !
Sitting high on terraces on the side of a limestone cliff Moustiers provided a dramatic setting as we cycled into town. This really was a lovely place we thought as we parked our bikes and peered over the towns ramparts staring into the vertiginous drop below ! We walked around the beautiful town glad not to be here in the middle of tourist season (there was just enough room in town to park the bicycles !) Being an area famed for its lavender production I had to try a Lavender ice cream - my feedback is that perfume and Ice Cream should never be mixed !
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| Beautiful Moustiers |
With Noel happy that the extra exertion was worthwhile we cycled the 10kms on to Les Salles passing the entrance to the impossibly narrow Gorge du Verdun. Here the lake provided a stunning aqua blue contrast to the rugged mountain setting with a number of holidaymakers taking kayaks, paddle boats and even small powered small boats from the lake into the entrance of the gorge itself !
While we admired the stunning views we also noticed the seriously high road plying its way through the gorge thinking that this could be tomorrow's much talked about route !
Photos taken, we soon entered the sleepy township of Les Salles arriving at our beautifully positioned hotel with one of the best settings on tour, a magical view overlooking the lake !
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| Supping cokes in Les Salles |
While Kev and I "slammed" back a coke or two enjoying the views in the afternoon sun we were soon joined by Rick and Noel for some afternoon natter mainly prefixed by what tomorrow's ride might bring in terms of climbing and distance !
We took it easy once again walking only a short distance to a nearby restaurant to count down our remaining days now just 3 !
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