Crest to Nyons

Had you asked me, I probably would have told you that my posts are photo driven. But possibly not. I might have used words like history, architecture, environment, landscape. But I have learned that my posts are photo driven. Which is very frustrating, since with the kaput viewfinder I get very few usable ones, and often don't even try for more complicated framing or angles.

Looking towards the Alps 

Knowing that I had a shorter ride today, I slept a little later, lingered over breakfast chatting with three men who were cycle touring from Switzerland, though they hadn't crossed the Alps. Last week I met another Swiss cycle tourer. He was 75, had taken the train to Lyons, and was here for about 5 days.

With many errors, my French holds up pretty well in one-on-one conversations, but put a group together, a conversation with jokes and innuendo, moving from subject to subject, and I am lucky if I get half of it.

My route today did some decent climbing

If you look closely at the next image, you will see a large lump of a mountain in the distance. That might be Mont Ventoux, the very notion of which is now terrorizing me, especially if I continue with the current plan. That route has me riding it with my bike loaded, from the more difficult side, not unloaded from the easier. Am still trying to think that through.

The climbing was followed by some equally nice descending:

I rode past many vineyards as I got close to Nyons, and realized that what I thought I noticed around Bagnols, is true. Whether by virtue of variety, or culture, climate, cultural practices, or something else, the vines I see in the south are taller than their more northern cousins. From time to time rose bushes have graced the end of rows, their significance is a mystery to me.

Wanted to leave you with some pictures of Nyons, where I am now staying, but none were usable. Especially not the 7 hang gliders I watched over the surrounding hills. Nyons is surrounded by very steep cliffs and hills, and is located near Buis-les Baronnies, where several very entertaining documentaries on paragliding and hang gliding have been shot.

Those hills look ferociously difficult to explore by bike, but perhaps I am simply tired ...

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