Mt Ventoux

Lets cut to the chase......

 

It was a cloudy start to the day - a welcome relief from yesterdays scorching sun.  After breakfast we were off to Ventoux.  It really is an imposing mountain - dominating the countryside all around.  It's quite imposing knowing that you have to climb up the bloody thing.

As per usual we got lost on the way.  The good news is that it turns out the the fancy GPS units our guides are using were not configured to avoid unsealed roads.

We fell back to more traditional methods of naviagtion like following road signs and generally heading in the direction of the only big mountain that we could see. 

Ventoux is a tough climb - around 21 km of climbing most of it around 8% or more.

 

As we approached the base at Bedoin we could see that the weather was closing in.  There was rain at the top and some lightning.  I was determined to press on to the top, knowing that the minivan would be at the top to drive us down the mountain if need be.  I rode the climb with one of the girls from the trip, Lisa,  which meant that I was able to ride well within myself.

The climb is amazing - your start in the trees where we had a little bit of hail

As you climb higher the sceenery opens up and near the top it is almost a lunar landscape...

The view from the top is spectacular ....

 

... but soon after we reached the top the rain cam again and we scampered into the mini-van to be driven down the hill.  With the wet roads, I didn't need much encouragement to jump into the van.

Back at the base of the mountain the warm busses were waiting and after a brief wait we were on our way back to the hotel to catch the last climb of the race in television.

Dinner again in town - another delicious meal - three courses tartare au salmon, lasagne, creme brulee, another suspect coffee and of course, an ice cream on the walk back to the bus.  Back at the hotel at around 10:45 tired but very pleased with myself.