Viviers to St. Martin d’Ardeche

September 18, 2024

Bikes and Wine

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We started the day with a breakfast surprise. Three other cyclists in the breakfast room. Two from the Netherlands and one from the USA. The conversation flowed, the routing apps and routes were discussed and it was a fantastic experience. We really had a good laugh when we discovered all five of us had trouble finding the property and we all ended up carrying our bikes up the Cathedral stairs 😂.

The three amigos. They bonded over wine and dinner the night before.

A river cruise group came through as we were getting organized.

Once on our way the Via Rhona was superb. As Keith said, it doesn’t get much more pleasant. Gorgeous route, beautiful day, no cars and a downhill pull with a tailwind.

We stopped at a bike shop, just because, about twenty kms into the ride and Tom arrived right behind us. Coffee time! We had a wonderful visit (and forgot to take a picture) and then he carried on to Avignon while we turned the bikes towards the Gorges de l’Ardeche.

It was astonishing to me that once off the ViaRhona we did about 2 km on a moderately trafficked D Road and then made a right, and boom!! Olive trees to the right, vines to the left and it was fantastic. Then, what to our wondering eyes should appear but a winery. An already great day was getting better by the moment.

We did have to remember our climbing skills in this section.

This was a variety we weren’t familiar with.

They were open. The next hour was sublime.

Fabulous goodies. I bought some tapenade.

Unlike Napa and Sonoma, tasting was free.

Maud was a wonder. So generous with her knowledge.

Beautiful Maud was so knowledgeable and passionate about her wines.

Seems we bought a bottle. I am having a glass as I write this.

Maud was generous with her knowledge and her pours. We wove our way out of the winery, had a short but ridiculously steep hill and I told Keith I had to have some lunch because the wine had gone straight to my head. We found a marvellous old chapel and parked in front for our picnic.

Then the final short push to St. Martin de l’Ardeche. We settled into our lovely room, went for a walk about and then retrieved the bikes for a short 6 km return ride to Aiguèze, an ancient village.

The bridge to Aiguèze immediately adjacent.

Once back at the hotel we sat on the patio, opened that bottle of red and enjoyed the glorious sunshine. Then a decadent dinner and back to the room feeling very full. We tackle the gorge tomorrow.

Today's ride: 36 km (22 miles)
Total: 690 km (428 miles)

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Rich FrasierI don’t think you could have packed much more into that day! Good work! You’re an inspiration to the rest of us!
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3 months ago

Patrick O'HaraLiving the dream.
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3 months ago

Keith ClassenTo Rich FrasierWe finished the day with a very nice dinner at the hotel. It was busy. The restaurant looks directly across the entry of the one way bridge. Busy coming and going across the bridge. Amazing number of cyclists going to and fro.
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3 months ago

Keith ClassenTo Patrick O'HaraHi Patrick - We are indeed very fortunate to be able to do this. Looks like a perfect day to ride up the Gorge. Still stuffed from dinner last night and going for breakfast soon. Hmm!
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3 months ago