week3

Week 3

Saturday 27 May

Montbrison to Aurec, France
45 kms 3 hours 20 min. Total 1094

The day started out with a tiny drizzle but it soon cleared up to a sunny and pleasant day.
Our aim today was to get a bit further than Aurec but we weren't feeling that good so we called it quits after 45 kms.
The anticipated hill that we had to climb was not all that bad, it was long but we managed it quite easily. There were great views all around and we quite enjoyed the climb. Even more the descend, we took it easy so it would last longer LOL
There was one little straight and steep hill that we had to get over but that too went OK.
All said it was a nice days ride, if a bit short.
The camping at Aurec was a dump, hillbilly heaven, all the people around looked very weird, large foreheads on some, long noses on others, eyes far apart, or eyes close together they looked like these families were much closer than most families, if you know what I mean.
Anyway they didn't tell us about the party they were having that night, (till 02:00) and it was loud. We were invited to try out this soup they were making, they had this large pot, heated with a wood fire, which they were boiling about half a cow, later they threw in sausages, bacon and cabbage. We didn't dare eat that, probably have fireworks in the tent LOL. That looked and smelled evil.
We dint sleep much that night, which explains the bad decision we made the next day.

Left to Right:
1- Almost to the top of the very long hill, at Chambles.
2- A panoramic view of the bridge near Corneillon on the river Loire. We came from the left side.
3- Route des Gorges de la Loire, this is one very beautiful route.

Sunday 28 May

Aurec to Le Puy, France
62 kms 5 hours 15 min. Av.11.9 Total 1155

We woke up at 05:45 and were on the road by 07:00. We had decided last night to change the plan of following Paul B's route and make our own way to Le Puy, boy was that a bad mistake as we ended climbing no less than 3 long and tough climbs (and several smaller ones) for over 1200 meters.
We doubled back a couple of kms to Aurec and followed the road on the opposite bank of the Loire river to Monistrol-sur Loire. That was a very long climb in itself but then on the other side of town we found ourselves climbing again and found ourselfs in a place where we had no choice but get on a dual carriageway (no bicycles allowed) heading for Le Puy, we were just about to cross the Viaduc du Lignon Longueur 640m, when these two motorcycle cops came to us and escorted us to the other side where we were allowed to get off the road and cycle downhill to the river than up again on this torturous hill, it was getting very hot now in the midday sun.
Heading steadily in the direction of Le Puy, so we thought, we stopped on top of yet another hill to take a break and some photos when this real nice fellow on a racing bike stopped by to say hello, and after a while we told him where we were heading, he said we would never make it the direction we were heading. He advised us to follow him to the other side of Yssingeaux at Villeneuve, were he would show us an old railway track that was paved over and used as a cycling route where we could go over a mountain pass so we could get to Le Puy. He said it was the easiest way to get there from where we were.
Man he was a god-send, we agreed, and so he phoned his wife saying he would be a bit late, and we followed him.
We would have never found our way to Le Puy from that place.
We could not thank him enough, once again I must mention that the kindness and help that we have received on this tour we would never forget. Claude if you ever come to Maastricht get in touch, the beer is on me, the very least I could do, thank you again.
Anyway right after Ysseingeaux he showed us the cycling path, drew on our map exactly were we must go to get over the Col du Pertuis at 1026m.
Le Puy is a very nice and also very touristy city, which meant it was also expansive.
The camping was real nice clean next to the river and near a very good Doner Kabab fast food near by (just over the bridge heading into town). We sat down and had this really huge sandwich, (we couldn't finish it) and went back to the camping to rest after the most difficult 62kms I've done in a long long while.

1- Early morning, our first climb of the day.
2- Monique nearing the top of our second very difficult climb.
3- Panoramic view from the top of our second difficult climb of the day, just before we met Claude.
4- Claude showing us the way right after Villeneuve.
5- Celebrating at the summit of Col du Pertuis (1026 meters) with a soft drink and a sweet roll.

Monday 29 May

Le Puy to Naussac, France

Today was another very windy day and after yesterdays very difficult day and over 1200m of climbing we decided to take the bus from Le Puy to Langogne about 35kms by bus or 68kms following Paul B's route. There was a problem catching the train as it left at 17:15, and we weren't sure they would accept the bikes, so we tried the bus station the early bus was at 10:20, but it turned out to be a mini bus, no room for the bikes. We tried another bus station a few blocks further, they had one leaving at 12:15, but found out later that its only on Wednesdays.
Finally we ended up back at the first bus station as we were sure the 17:15 bus was large enough and the bikes could go on.
Half way through our 35km bus ride we had to change buses, looking back now, I think it would have been easier to cycle after all LOL
This part of the route goes over this plateau which from the bus, it dint seem that we missed much, just a lot more climbing, very strong head winds and rain.
At Langogne we took our bikes and rode a couple kms up (at 15%) to Naussac where we found this campground next to Reservoir Naussac (962m) and set up the tent in light drizzle and force 6+ winds. This campground is very exposed to the elements, it is situated about 100 above the lake in a wind swept landscape, it looks very touristy with some sail boats on the lake but I can not imagine coming here for a holiday.
More noodles tonight as the restaurant was about a km from us, all downhill, and the wind and rain just kept getting stronger. We were hoping that it would ease a bit in the morning as we dint want to stay here another night there is nothing up here.

1- Old church carved out of a lava tower in Le Puy.
2- A huge statue also carved out of lava.
3- View from the bus, a nasty day.
4- Getting ready to set up camp by Reservoir Naussac.

Tuesday 30 May

Naussac to St.Amboix, France
96 kms 6 hours 40 min. Av. 14.3 Total 1261 kms

Woke up at 05:00 to a very cold (seemed like freezing) 7+ force wind. We were rolled up like pretzels all night trying to keep warm. It did cross our minds to stay but this campsite was no place to hang out another day, so we got dressed like onions (layer over layer first a t-shirt, than sweater, windbreaker and rain jacket over that), and packed our bags.
The tent was wet and very cold we, froze our fingers trying to roll it gave us a chance to finally use our winter gloves for the first time.
We cycled into Langogne got some supplies and started to climb out of town.
The ride was very pleasant and after a bit more climbing we started on a very nice 40km long downhill through a wooded and traffic free road. The weather cleared up and we had fantastic views all around. Only problem was that the wind didn't let up and we had a few moments of terror, of getting blown off the mountain.
During the 95km ride today we have seen the lush dark greens of the higher elevations to the paler greens of olive trees down below.
The pine trees in the lower elevations also seemed to smell much sweeter, I had the same smell last year when I went down the Splugen pass in Italy.
In the 40kms downhill we dropped 900m of elevation, we tried to take as many pictures as possible but one really has to come here to appreciate it.
We only had one 2km long pretty steep climb just after Les Vans but the rest of the ride was very good.
Camping at St.Ambroix was very basic but clean, inside the the town, we got some beers and had canned pasta for dinner.
Afterwards we had a nice chat with this older couple, again from Holland, they were doing Europe in an old van that they put together in their spare time, old hippies LOL
I highly recommend this part of the ride. We don't know if this day would ever be toped.

1- The last time we will be cycling over 1000 m. on this tour.
2- Very nice but very cold day for cycling.
3- More nice views just before our decent.
4- And the downhill begins.
5- What can I add, this picture says it all.

6- We stopped for coffee at the village of Pied de Borne.
7- We came from there, you could just make out the road on the right center.
8- And are heading there.
9- The 2km climb right after Les Vans. The town is down below on the right.

Wednesday 31 May

St.Ambroix to St.Hippolyte, France
75 kms 5 hours 40 min. Av. 13.2 Total 1336 kms

Woke up at 07:00 and were on the road by 08:40. Again this morning the wind has picked up, gale force, the only difference for the first few kms it was a tail wind but when the route turned a bit it became a cross wind which was really annoying. When we had to ride for a while on a national road it became a bit hairy as well as it was blowing us all over the road.
The ride was OK the scenery was also very nice and different, vine yards and olive groves. But vine-yards meant that we couldn't hide from the wind.
We have tried very hard so far to keep some sort of schedule but this weather has worn us out. We were to visit some friends about 60 west of St.Andre but we have canceled it. We didn't fancy cycling 60 kms on a national road with these cross-winds.
The campground at St.Hippolyte is very basic and not so clean, anyone planning to visit, should really try to find another place.
From St.Hippolyte the plan is to ride, straight for the Mediterranean and relax for a while.
The ride is about 110kms and we will split that up in two, mainly because we don't know what kind of camping we'll find along the sea, and we need time to look around.

1- Beautiful farmland near the village of Le Mas Chabert.
2- The high winds had made the clouds in these long straight lines.
3- Looking like we've been doing this sort of thing all our lives :-)

Thursday, 1 June

St.Hippolyte to St.Andre de sagonis, France
62 kms 4 hours 40 min. Av. 13.3 Total 1398 kms

We woke up at 07:30 and were on the road by 09:00, we took our time this morning, I don't think either of us was much in the mood for cycling. The weather has finally got to us.
We are looking forward to reaching the sea and a well deserved rest day.
This morning there was very little wind and with the exception of a very hectic first 5kms on the very busy N999, the rest of the ride went very well.
The Gorges de L'Herault were very beautiful and we really enjoyed riding through them.
Some long but easy climbing was involved and we managed it well.
At St.Andre camping we met this young Dutch couple that were making the same tour as us, they had left much later than us but had so much nasty weather in Belgium, that they decided to take the train for about half the trip.
That night we slept good in anticipation of seeing the sea the next day.

1- One of the best days of cycling warm weather, little wind and a clear sky.
2- Great road.
3- Fantastic views.
4- And a long downhill, this is what its all about.

Friday 2 June

St.Andre to Vias-Plage, camping Le Mediterranee Plage
67 kms 4 hours 45 min. Av. 14.2 Total 1465 kms

Woke up at 06:00 and were on the road by 07:00. We were very anxious to reach the sea so we skipped the coffee.
Today went very good indeed very high tail winds, we hardly had to paddle. We made good time through very beautiful countryside.
This tail wind though nice we fear it will be almost a head wind after we reach the sea.
We will be heading more WNW later and it wont be nice.
At Vias-Plage we saw a very large amusement park and as we got near the sea we saw only families with small kids. We knew than that wasn't the place to hand out and rest.
So after some looking around we found this really nice camping about 5kms west of Vias-Plage called camping Le Mediterranee Plage. This place has everything, its on the beach, it has a bakery, supermarket (fully stocked, meats, fish) free internet, barbeques for hire and more. So we ended up hanging out for 4 nights, we really needed the rest.

1- Having a coffee at Pezenas, the town/city was not very nice, dirty, noisy, and a lot of traffic. I think the reason being is that a couple of major roads came into town and a highway past right next to it, quite hectic.
2- Finally we reached the med. after all we've been through. Looking back we were more happy than reaching Barcelona. For us the ride finished here. The rest was getting to the airport in Barcelona so we could get home.