Lin has booked us a hotel in Nimes but I stay at a campsite just outside and do my washing.
Washing hung out to dry
Weather has picked up and life seems Ok. Big supermarket to buy food and beer. Great pasta meal and chat to some buskers who are staying there, turns into a drinking jam session, with us finally being told off for the noise, OOPS.
Next morning I cycle off to the airport to meet Lin and collect a hire car. Then its off to the hotel and bath.
We have a walk around the town to see the sites and find a great restaurant Des Artistes, I need a steak and the waiter tells me they have one of the best chefs in Nimes and all I want is a Blue steak!!! Lin has the special and I get a fantastic steak, first for months.
Nimes Square
While walking around the town I found a bracelet with the crocodile on, free souvenir of Nimes.
The next day we went for a drive along the route I had cycled and had a meal in St Enime and drove over the bridge at Millau, amazing from the crossing. that evening we went to Palavas les Flots, a tourist resort on the coast. Then a night drive back to Nimes.
Next day we went to Pont du Gard and then a drive around the Camargue, black bulls white horses and we saw Coypu in the ditches and fantastic bird life, flamingoes, bee eaters etc. at an ice cream stop were a group of english who had hired bikes for the day and complaining about the distance they had ridden, I held my tongue and said nothing of my trip. We went to the coast and Lin had a paddle in the Mediterranean.
Back in Nimes it was sunday and we could only find the Cafe Des Artistes open, so I had another steak.
Monday and Lin was flying back to England, and taking some of my gear that I found I did not need. Then, back on the bike. Off to Avignon
Avignon, Palais des Papes
The road then took me towards one of my dreams, Mont Ventoux . Through Carpentras to Malaucene where I "camped "at the bottom of Ventoux. Got some info at the local bike shop and bought food.
time to see the Giant of Provence, Mont Ventoux, a legendary place in cycling. 21 km to the top average 10% gradient, only 25 kilos in the trailer and fighting fit weight of 13st 5 pounds. the ride up to Serein ski resort, where the camp site is, was very very hard and I admit I walked a couple of times. Loads of cheers and horn blaring from passing cyclists and motorists.
After leaving my trailer at the campsite I finished the climb through the moon scape and past the SNOW.
Looking at the map I realised I had to get over the top again the next
day, with the trailer, to get to my next destination, Alpe D'Huez.
The next day, Wednesday 17th May 2006, I climbed from the ski station to the top, with the trailer loaded, only had to walk once for about
100mtrs
At the top everyone was amazed at the trailer and because of my Rohloff gears some though I was on Fixed Wheel single speed. so once again I was a tourist attraction, at one stage so many people around me I could not set off. They had seen me climbing with the trailer and knew what an effort I had.
The top of Ventoux
After enjoying my stay , and sticking a Bill Nickson Sticker, I started the descent to Chateaux Reynard the famous cafe. I sat with a couple of americans and an English guy. Then it was down to Sault and up to Gap.