June 28, 2023
Day 12: Wednesday 28 June 2023 - Avignon to La Grande-Motte
a dip in the Med
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https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42604347
Another fairly good night, apart from knocking a glass of water over my phone in the night but it seemed ok by morning. Nasty cramp in my left calf at one point so I must try adding more salt.
Breakfast not open till 715 but we were away by about 8. Hot and breezy. Steve had planned a great route out to country lanes, my only dislike being a few km of shale cycle path which saps speed and risks a skid crash.
34 km saw us stopping for a cake and drink/snacks stop at a nice little town. There's another 35 KM to the next decent sized place where we had a very nice and filling pizza.
Zigzagging across the marshland, we had a very very strong tailwind, or a strong side wind as we turned left and right. Very flat, Camargue, cattle, horses, and flamingos on all sides. The temperature had rocketed yet higher, and I estimate around 35°. We were all absolutely parched when we arrived at Grau le Roi on the Med coast, the third time that I have done the full length of France by bike. We had a drink and an ice cream in the shade, and then pedal to the last few kilometres to la Grande Motte, a very French 1960s resort with medium rise buildings, and all very dated looking. Hotel has the smallest rooms known to man, and we are expected to store the bikes in the rooms. Just about okay for those on their own, but not for couples.
After a couple more cold drinks, I went for a quick dip in the med, which was extremely warm in the shallows and refreshing further out.
Kathy and Dave decided to have a picnic in their room, and I went for a solo seafood salad, substantial, followed by an ice cream that I only managed to finish 1/4 of! Unheard of for me…
Today's ride: 113 km (70 miles)
Total: 1,032 km (641 miles)
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