Last ride for a while. Today was just under 60kms of easy riding to Yves and Danielle’s place in St. Mitre Les Remparts. I’d been there in September catching up with Pete and Marl and half of their family, so it would be nice to see Yves and Danielle again and to catch up with Tina, their young effervescent dog.
First, I went into Arles for some breakfast and after some searching, I found a boulangerie/cafe. I also got the day’s food there – they did well out of me.
After some fairly busy roads, I was soon onto a cycle path and out of Arles. Today, the first 28kms were on the Via Rhona, and I followed it almost to the mouth of the Rhone before turning east and making my way into St. Mitre.
The morning was pretty cold and very foggy and it was after midday before the sun had burnt away the fog, and things became pleasant.
The bike path went past the bridge that van Gogh made famous in one of his paintings and it was nice to see what he would have been looking at. Apart from that, there wasn’t much to look at. The first half along the bike path was flat and dead straight on a neat perfect surface. Let’s call it meditative. Then when I turned towards St. Mitre, the potholes and bumps began. I shouldn’t complain. It was too bad.
I had lunch in the only rest area I saw after leaving the path, and closer to St.Mitre, I spent a few kms on a nice dirt trail. That finished and I climbed up a small hill with lakes on both sides and flamingos in one of them.
Unfortunately, St. Mitre is on the top of a hill, so there was effort involved in getting there. It was worth it though to catch up with Yves and Danielle – wonderful hospitable people who are great friends of Peter and Marlene.
I spent two nights at their place and had a great time. Their dog, Tina, is great too, like the energiser bunny – absolutely non-stop. Thanks again, folks !!
