In the shadow of Mont Ventoux.

Thursday 14th September 2017 - Vaison-la-Romaine.

We moved off from our little Aire de Camp.  The gender neutral policy took a bit of a backward step when Janice refused to empty the toilet cassette!  Toilet emptying isn't something that the feminist movement has focused on as an area needing equalisation!!!  We did a little shopping trip and picked up some necessities like moutarde, rappe, remoulade and wine. 

I had decided to belatedly start a little hill climb practice.  Janice took over the driving duties (in line with the gender neutral policy) and dropped me off with the bike so I could cycle up the Col de Aleyrac which is only 480 metres high, a quarter the height of Mont Ventoux and not as steep either.  Janice encouraged me with the lure of a pain aux raisen if I completed the task.  It worked!  I pedalled like a mad man.  I suggest that for Ventoux she hangs the pain aux raisen out of the camper window and drives 10 metres ahead of me.

I had phoned ahead to a campsite for tonight's accommodation near a village called Entrechaux, close to a town called Vaison-la-Romaine.  We headed straight to the site and pitched up in a tree covered area.  


We had a late lunch and then sat in the van whilst we had a downpour for half an hour.  Fortunately the rain stopped and we cycled into Vaison to do some sightseeing.

Vaison is a nice town with, you guessed, a Roman connection.  The old bridge was built by the Romans and still connects the old medieval town to the newer town.  The medieval town on the hill with ruined chateau was typically lovely with good views over the area.


Ventoux in the background!

Earlier in the day Mont Ventoux had been visible.  All except the top, that was covered by cloud but on our way back to the site the mountain was in clear view.  Frightening! There is what appears to be a lighthouse on top.....if any ship's captain sees this lighthouse he must have good eyesight.


In a way Mont Ventoux reminded us of Pendle Hill, although it is more than three times higher,  because it dominates the area.  So Janice and I tried to rewrite the song, Oh Pendle, Oh Pendle!

Oh Ventoux, Oh Ventoux, thou standest alone,
Twixt Valreas, Nyons, Vaison, and Bedoin,
Where Rhone and Dromes fair waters do meet,
With Beaumont and Sault content at thy feet.

We had a cheeky bottle of Cote du Rhone with our meal.  Why does the wine in France always taste better than the French wine in the UK.  Are they giving us the rough stuff?  Is this part of the Brexit negotiations?  Why should we put up with it?  Come on David Davies, insist on better wine before we negotiate on EU citizens rights, the Exit Bill and the Irish Border.  Put that in your pipe, Monseiur Barnier, and smoke it!

We have managed to get some wifi on the site but as normal it only partially works if you stand within 5 feet of reception and only every alternate hour.  Not a bad site though, plenty of space and decent 'gender neutral' facilities.  I don't see what the problem is with unisex toilet and showering facilities.  We have only booked for one night so we can wash clothes, shower and charge our devices and will be wild camping again tomorrow.  I need to seek out some more hills to climb.  My plan is to practice again tomorrow and rest on Saturday before attacking the mountain on Sunday.  We shall see, as the weather is all important too!


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