LYON -

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21/8 - Le Beage to Les Vans. Hot and sunny day. 56mls.

Hot by 09:00hrs. High plateau ride with some undulations, wooded hillsides, long distance views, quiet roads. D122/D536 and minor roads to cross N102 at Col de la Chavade - cafe stop. Short climb over Col de Pendu then longer and better climb up to Col de Meyrand 1371’ - superb but hazy views at the top over the Cevennes region. Cafe stop 2kms down at Louberesse (BPF stamp here for the Col). Wooded roads, long ridge route and final descent through hot pine scented forests down to Les Vans (BPF stamp, gorges du Chassezac nearby) - another lovely area and a favorite one for us.

Hotel des Cevennes: Room 150frs. Meal 85frs(large amount). P/D 28frs.

22/8 - Les Vans to St Marcel d’Ardeche. Cloud, sunshine, very warm all day. 53mls

Flat but busy roads to Ruoms and Vallon Pont d’Arc (BPF stamp, Pont d'Arc,& the gorges) - this is a very popular toruist area. Impressive ride through the Ardeche gorges. One steep climb - road then runs along the cliff top with great views down to the river. Downhill through busy St Martin d’Ardeche and a finish. Very quiet village and hotel.

Hotel du Jardin: room in courtyard at back 185frs. Meal 85frs. P/D 28frs. Warm room, not enough food.

Pont d'Arc

Ardeche Gorges

23/8 - St Marcel to Malucene. Cloud, hazy sunshine and warm to hot. 54mls.

Went via quiet N86 road and busier N7 to Donzere (BPF stamp, 12thC church ruins,old houses) and then quieter roads to Grignan (BPF stamp,16thC chateau, 14thC church) and hot work as we went via vineyards to Richerenches(picnic lunch stop in a shady park. Minor roads via Visan, across dried up River Aiques and cycle route to Vaison-la-Romaine. Damage from previous years floods still evident. Main road to Malucene.

Hotel la Venaissan: Room 180frs. Meal 65frs. P/D 25frs. Room at back was quiet.

24/8 - Mt Ventoux. Cool and close after storm, but fine and dry. 34mls

Nearing the top

Simpsons Memorial

Thunderstorm and dark at 08:30hrs as we ate our breakfast - they had to put the lights on in the hotel! Cleared by 10:30hrs so we set off. No wind on ascent, some sunshine. Flies by the trees were a nuisance. Cloud build up as we got to the top in about 2.5hrs. Descended to Bedouin, with stop to look at the monument to Tommy Simpson 1km from the top. Got back to Malucene before 16:00hrs - beers in cafe. A good ride.

25/8 - Malucene to Buis-les-Baronnies.Warm(low 20’s) with high cloud. 47mls

Up and then down and along Toulourene valley, northside of Mt Ventoux. This is a lovely quiet route giving you different views of Mt Ventoux. A short climb into hamlet of Brantes, cafe here, and then over the Col des Aires 634’ and onto Montbrun-les-Bains (BPF stamp, old chateau).Narrow road through weird Gorges d’Aulan and then a descent through further gorges to Buis. A lovely quiet area around here with lots of minor cols - area known as the Baronnies.

Gorges d'Aulan

Hotel les Tilleuries: Room 150frs(shower & w.c on landing). No meals. P/D 25frs. Bikes in rear garden.

26/8 - Buis-les-Baronnies to Die. Cool to warm with high cloud. 57mls.

Left 09:00 after shopping. Nice climb over Col d’ Ey 718’ after 8k. Descent into the Ennuye valley, over the Col de Soubeyrande 994’. Descent to Remuzat for lunch stop. Sun came out. Past lavender fields and distilleries on the way to La Motte Chalencon (BPF stamp, gorges, chateau). Elvis Presley lookalike bar owner, couldn't stop looking at him as we drank our coffee. Climb over Col de Premol 964’ to Drome valley and Die.

Hotel St Domingue: in town centre. Room 180-220frs. Meal 85frs. P/D 25frs.

27/8 - Die to Col de Grimone & back. Cool day,thundery clouds - rain later. 44mls.

Gorges des Gats

View back from below Col de Grimone

Went to Chatillon-en-Dois(cafe stop) then very quiet road through Gorges des Gats and long easy climb to Col de Grimone 1318’ - good views. Gite buildings at top but no cafe. Spots of rain. Stopped at small Auberge at Grimone hamlet 4k from top on descent. 65frs meal - thunder and lightening whilst we ate. A nice feeling that, being warm and dry while it poured down outside. Cafe stop again at Chatillon before we raced back in the rain to Die. Didn’t eat out in the evening as we were full up.

28/8 - Die to Vassieux-en-Vercors. Cool (cold on top),very cloudy, some rain. 20mls.

Late up, left 11:30hrs after shopping and coffee, and the weather didn't look promising. Easy climbing up the Col de Rousset 1383’, had to stop to put more clothes on - thick cloud and windy at top, and cold - Goretex on. Walked through the tunnel. Cafe stop in ski village. Cold ride to Vassieux where we finished at 15:00hrs. After warming up we visited the local resistance museum - very graphic and unforgettable.

Hotel Fermont: Room 120frs(shower on landing). Meal 55frs. P/D 20frs. Excellent value

29/8 - Vassieux to Pont-en-Royans. Misty, cold on top, some light rain. Some sunshine. 46mls

Les Grands Coulets

Bourne Gorges

Over Col de la Chau 1337’, past World War 2 resistance graveyard. Very cold descent to Col de la Machine (BPF stamp, cirque and forest of Lente). Very misty around the superb Cirque de Laval - tremendous drops from road - scary! Descent to St Jean-en-Royans then ascent up Les Grands Coulets (impressive rock tunnels near top). Cafe stop. Further climbing through St Julies-en-Vercors before descent down more impressive gorges (Bourne Gorges). Pretty village of Pont-en-Royans. A beautiful ride today, pity about the poor weather.

Hotel Bonnard: Room 200frs. P/D 25frs. Ate elsewhere.

30/8 - Pont-en-Royans to Desaignes, Nr Lamastre. Cool becoming very warm. 56mls.

Flattish roads via St Nazaire and lanes beyond Romans-s-Isere across the Rhone and into Tournon for a lunch stop. Warm climbing up the Doux valley and descent to Lamastre - cafe stop. 10k further on a quiet road to small village of Desaignes - stopped early, very warm. We are back in the Ardeche region now.

Hotel des Voyageurs, 2 star Logis. Room 210frs. 5 course dinner 78frs. P/D 28frs. Small swimming pool.

31/8 - Desaignes to Bourg Argental. Sunshine but cool out of the sun when we were high up. 56mls

Steady quiet climb for 14k to St Agreve 1050’ (BPF stamp,location and nearby lakes).High plateau area now with cold headwind to Lac Chambon & Tence (BPF stamp, 15thC church, gorges de Lignon), a quiet ‘red’ road to Riotard then intermittent climbing to Col du Grandbois 1161’ (BPF stamp, monument to Velocio, apostle of cyclotourisme). Fast descent via St Sauveur to finish.

Hotel L’Esplanade: Room 120frs. Meal 45frs. P/D 15frs. Excellent cheap stop.

01/9 - Bourg Argental to Mornant. Cool and sunny becoming warmer. 48mls.

Gentle ascent to Col du Banchet 678’ then winding ascent through St Julien to Col de l’Oeillion 1370’ - bright sunshine now. Super views east on descent - cafe stop on the way down. Over Col de Pavezin 651’- monument to Paul de Vivie, an early prominent figure in French cyclotourisme - and 15k descent to Rive de Gier, lunch by lake on way down. Ascent into Lyonnais hills - cafe stop at St Catherine on the way. Final descent to finish.

Hotel de la Poste: Room 220frs(with TV). Meal 75frs. P/D 28frs.

02/9 - Mornant & Monts Lyonnais circuit. Sunny and warm, cloudless sky. 48mls.

Quiet climb to St Martin-en-Haut, cafe stop. Through Duerne and over Col des Brosses 867’. High plateau area again with good views eastwards - all very pastoral. Gentle undulations around Col de la Croiz de Past before steep, narrow, gravelly descent to Couriez and 6k easy ascent through trees to Col de Malval 732’. Back to Mornant via Yzeron (cafe stop and our 2nd visit here this holiday), St Martin & Riverie. Icecream and beers and a look around the Roman Aqueduct remains.

Monts Lyonnais region

03/9 - Mornant to Lyon Airport. A sunny day to finish with. 30mls.

A bit of up and down before we crossed the Rhone. Lunch stop in a roadside restaurant. Retrieved our plastic bags (all intact) before getting to Airport. Plane left 16:50hrs and we were back home by 22:00hrs.