Mike, here's the face of a man melting in 97 degree heat (miss this now?).A bit of an adventure today -- we set out on a 2-hour ride, which became a 3-hour ride in the heat. Why 3 hours? Well, the map didn't exactly agree with the roads. We climbed high into wine country, up a pass that was supposed to have gone up and over to our hotel.
Kent and Jay climbing up the "col du vin."We stopped and asked at the town at the base if the road was good to the other side. Yes, no problem was the answer. 30 minutes (and some awesome views later) we were faced with a stone and dirt road. We turned around and headed back.
Where do we go?Chateauneuf du Pape on the return (what's left of the home of the early popes, now surrounded by vineyards).
This afternoon, we ventured to Avignon. The city is divided by the Rhone river. On the south side 700 years ago, the Romans were in control. On the north side was the southern edge of Kingdom of France. We climbed up to a castle fortress that defended the French side.
From there, we could see the Roman fortress and the "Palace du Papes" -- or Vatican City during the exile of the Popes to Avignon.
Amazing lunch at a friend of David's restaurant.
Big day tomorrow, climbing Ventoux in prep for our stage race.
Growing overhead in the terrace....this is wine / grape country!
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