We loved Arles, and we loved our hotel. Tonight we are in a lovely property, but I swear our bathroom at the Hotel du Forum was bigger than our room tonight. We will keep a tidy ship in our wee jewel box of a room and we will be just fine. We miss those red velvet chairs though!
We enjoyed a sumptuous breakfast and headed out. It was a no drama exit from town. We spotted a bike shop and borrowed their pump for a little top up. Then onto roads so quiet they really felt like bike lanes.
We rolled appreciating the scenery. The CN routed us onto a very quiet road, and there were the Aquaducts Romains, or the ruins of them anyway. The benefit of little research is stumbling on this stuff and being blown away. It was fascinating, and so interesting and there are a million pictures. What a spot.
Well that part of the day alone would have been enough to make it a banner day. We rolled into Maussane-les-Alpilles and I met a Parisian who has left the city for the village and is so happy. Loves the pace of life. A lovely encounter. I was waiting for Keith and she wondered if I needed directions. People are so kind. We stopped for lunch in the square and people watched.
Then more great riding, and the unexpected sighting of the bike tour we met going in to Beaucaire. They were on a nice descent just as we reached the turn for the climb to Les Baux de Provence so there was much smiling and waving but no stopping.
Les Baux de Provence was on our radar. It was first mentioned in 960 AD. The whole place was a feast for the eyes. The lower part of town was the usual tourist shops, and the CN immediately found ice cream, but the thousand year old castle was definitely the star of the show.
Kelly IniguezA trebuchet. My son's high school physics class had to build them and plot the landing of their projectiles, based on the weight of the item. Luis and his partner spent a great deal of time playing (ahem, experimenting) with theirs. They were like a couple of kids in a sandbox, except not. Reply to this comment 2 weeks ago
There was a little excitement as we left Les Baux. A French military jet came in low, turned on his side in salute as he roared over, and left everyone, first stunned (and happy to be alive) and then laughing. It was quite the display of power and you didn’t hear him coming. There is that roar and a moment of not knowing what the heck is going on, and then the realization. The sound was deafening. No time for pictures of that excitement. We loved it and I am sure the pilot was having a good laugh. Man, it was impressive.
The scenery didn’t quit after we left Les Baux either. It was a beautiful ride all the way into St. Remy. Our hotel, Mas Saint Joseph is a five to ten minute walk into town, so we did a quick explore before we checked in. We are planning a day ride tomorrow, but we’ll see. We may just decide to wander the town.
France continues to enchant with all the history, the beauty, the diversity, the food! Today was one incredible day.
Today's ride: 41 km (25 miles) Total: 997 km (619 miles)
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Kelly IniguezEach day is getting better than the last! Could you please add a map today, for those of us who hope to follow? Reply to this comment 2 weeks ago
