Ventoux and the End

The last day of riding today. Another wonderful tour, another hard day! The weather could not have been better today, and we kept the riding easy for the bulk of the day. Ventoux was waiting for us at the end, and we ended up with over 7,000 feet of climbing today. For most of the group, it was the first time going up, for others a familiar route.

We set off from the hotel along a beautiful valley full of apples, olives and lavender farms. We missed the lavender harvest by a month or so, but you can almost smell the perfumed air. About 20 miles in, and we stopped at our usual coffee stop on this route. A few building village that seems to be filled with lavender farmers and a coffee shop.

Always a nice view for our picnic lunch. This one overlooking the valley and farms we just rode through.

And we got our first look at the Giant of Provence in the distance.

That weather station looks so far away - and so high!!

The final little bump of the day after lunch on our way to the big finale - the Col of the Dead Man. A bit dramatic, no?

Into the town of Sault and on our way up.

Forgot about this guy, almost half way up the mountain.

3 kilometers left - still looks so far away

Done.

A view of all Provence below

Hanging out over the edge.

Almost like the one at home - Could have used this about half way up!

After a little regroup, it was on to Vaison la Romaine for our last night. Vaison is an incredible little town with an ancient city on a hill side overlooking the rest of the town, and we have been lucky enough to stay in the ancient part of the city. All of the building are many hundreds of years old, and still serve as homes, hotels, restaurants, and shops.

The hotel's garden is a perfect little oasis.

The inside staircase and one of the doors to the hotel, just as proof that we are in the ancient part of the city.

Dinner tonight was a seemingly endless affair, with multiple appetizers, multiple plates, multiple desserts, and many bottles of wine. Not that I'm complaining!

We have had it on prior trips. This tastes like France.

Perfect for a hot summer day.

The duck

One of the desserts. So flavorful, red berries.

Last dessert, lemon, pistachio, chocolate. Mmmmm.

Time for sleep, packing, trains, planes, and cars to get back to the people I love. Speaking of, all of this never happens without one of the best men I know, Mark. Thank you a million times over for making a once in a lifetime trip into an ongoing adventure!