Gorge de Verdon

A knock on the door and jef d proclaims - ‘it’s 2 degrees outside’ - we know that the first section is downhill, so we quickly decide to put the bikes on the roof for the first section of the ride to the ‘pont soleil ‘- by the time we arrive there after coffee and croissants in the local bakery - it has warmed up to a modest 6 degrees and we are off around the ‘rive gauche’ road. From the small river edge we climb slowly through the cool or should I say cold shade of the early morning to finally emerge into the sun at Trigance.

More climbing brings as to the balcon level on the rive gauche - and the views. the peleton had been asking before this - “where is this gorge you talk off?’ But the first view off the day stuns us - below twisting around a s bend far below is the River Verdon. Tall limestone walls drop vertical beneath our feet. The next hour of ridng is broken by many stops as we savour the views on the right deep into the canyon - it’s hard to concentrate on the road ahead. - but be assured it snakes and turns through and around steep walls above and below. though tunnels with view ports - smooth as silk - sometimes horizontal sometimes down or up - we care not. The surrounds overwhelming the riding even. Ahead a restaurant set impossibly on the edge of the world and coffee and cake follow as we sit with our eyes drawn to the valley bottom. Little figures wind along the valley trail below.

The road beacons ad we continue while the other side draws even closer and soon the canyon walls are only a stone throw apart. Deep below somewhere our walking friends - but we don’t see them.

Climbing again finally brings us to a col with views to Time for the lunch. A snack on the side of the road - left over pineapple pizza and banana for Mark and me Others have snack bars or power bars or fresh air.

We roll of the top into a tight group but a surprising tight rolling corner catches Mark unawares and with the hands still on the hoods a quick grab of the brakes - a side ways slide - and recovery - almost - the tire rolls of the rim and it puts Mark quickly on the ground - only meters in front of myself and Robina - he slides along the tar for a couple meters and under the guard rail fence to a stop. We all stop and lift mark to his feet to check him and the bike - surprising little damage to body and none to the bike. Within 5 mins we are underway again - but we all ride a little slower for the rest of the downhill that leads to the pont (bridge) at the base of the canyon.

Climbing again - I pace Jenny to the top at a steady 12kms hr for about 20kms of uphill. The town of la palud-su-verdon sits back from the rim and offers us beer and croissants - a perfect french cycling mix before riding the 8kms along the rim to the car.