Ventoux

In the spirit of spur-of-the-moment decision-making, we looked at the map on Saturday morning and established a principle of avoiding large cities whenever possible. Goodbye Nimes, hello Avignon (large but unavoidable).

After a late start and a long, late lunch under the plane trees in the centre of Avignon, we headed east toward Bedoin at the foot of Mt. Ventoux, thinking that we would be there in a couple of days. We were surprised that the first campsite that we could find that was still open was actually in Bedoin, where we arrived at sunset. 

This at least set us up for a lazy day of r&r before attempting the famous climb. Inexplicably, Barb decided this morning that we had sufficiently bounced back from yesterday's 82 km ride and we should head up Ventoux at our earliest convenience. This turned out to be 1130; late, but not late enough to be able to claim that no one passed us on the way up.

I believe that we did win or place well in the following categories;
1. Heaviest bicycles
2. Greatest average group age
3. Most stuff in panniers (ringer; only bikes with panniers)
4.  Best dressed cyclists on the descent (wore nearly everything that we carried up)

Tomorrow we do nothing for sure!

Sometimes too much information. 

Addition of a bike lane for the last 8 km is a welcome improvement. 

It was like this for much of the climb, but cleared for the descent.