Verdon to Ventoux
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2018 6:37 pm
Just done a sunburnt trip from the Verdon Gorge to Mont Ventoux. France.
The day before, there was a 2" snow dump. The next day it was sunny. Strange weather in the mountains! I was too impatient to wait, so I set off at 7pm and did some night riding.
20180415_190321 by Hola Siesta, on Flickr
I didn't have a tarp or bivi so I was amazed to find a shelter by the side of the road. I think it might have been a renovated charcoal burner.
20180416_100327 by Hola Siesta, on Flickr
20180416_090644 by Hola Siesta, on Flickr
The next day I cycled on to Sault and camped in the forest at the base of Mont Ventoux. My early start to get up the mountain was delayed when I found a tick in my bedding. So spent the next hour doing a self cavity search. No picture of that, sorry!
20180418_184559 by Hola Siesta, on Flickr
The climb was through some really nice forest but the 'Sault climb' (there are 3 different ways up) was a bit too easy and I missed the hard challenge of the 'Bedoin climb'. I hope to do all 3 in a day later in the year. But that is roadie talk and probably won't be appreciated here.
20180417_122324 by Hola Siesta, on Flickr
It was my 4th summit and I have always had amazing weather. Which is very lucky. I took all my bivi gear with me, so I was overtaken by a few riders. That hurt, as it doesn't normally happen.
Then it was time to head back to Verdon. Stopping in a football pitch hut on the way.
20180418_073524 by Hola Siesta, on Flickr
20180418_184430 by Hola Siesta, on Flickr
Considering the big snow dump the day before, the following days were perfect, apart from being sunburnt to a crisp.
The day before, there was a 2" snow dump. The next day it was sunny. Strange weather in the mountains! I was too impatient to wait, so I set off at 7pm and did some night riding.
20180415_190321 by Hola Siesta, on FlickrI didn't have a tarp or bivi so I was amazed to find a shelter by the side of the road. I think it might have been a renovated charcoal burner.
20180416_100327 by Hola Siesta, on Flickr20180416_090644 by Hola Siesta, on FlickrThe next day I cycled on to Sault and camped in the forest at the base of Mont Ventoux. My early start to get up the mountain was delayed when I found a tick in my bedding. So spent the next hour doing a self cavity search. No picture of that, sorry!
20180418_184559 by Hola Siesta, on FlickrThe climb was through some really nice forest but the 'Sault climb' (there are 3 different ways up) was a bit too easy and I missed the hard challenge of the 'Bedoin climb'. I hope to do all 3 in a day later in the year. But that is roadie talk and probably won't be appreciated here.
20180417_122324 by Hola Siesta, on FlickrIt was my 4th summit and I have always had amazing weather. Which is very lucky. I took all my bivi gear with me, so I was overtaken by a few riders. That hurt, as it doesn't normally happen.
Then it was time to head back to Verdon. Stopping in a football pitch hut on the way.
20180418_073524 by Hola Siesta, on Flickr20180418_184430 by Hola Siesta, on FlickrConsidering the big snow dump the day before, the following days were perfect, apart from being sunburnt to a crisp.
