As a lot of you already know, I used to be as soon as a cycle tour information in Europe (which was the genesis of this weblog). The corporate the place I labored for all these years, Blue Marble Journey, has formed my life in numerous methods however sadly not exists. Just a few weeks in the past, I used to be again in France, using a kind of Blue Marble routes, however not as a information; this time I used to be using solo.
As we speak I depart the pleasant confines of Meyrueis and head off to Florac, a city in the midst of the Cévennes Nationwide Parc. The entire week has been unseasonably cool (what most Houstonians would confer with as “freezing”) and at present the added menace of rain provides one other component of distress; I hate using within the rain.
As we speak’s route is just not all that lengthy, however there’s a reasonably daunting climb proper out of the gate: after solely 100 meters or so by city to “heat up”, I cross the Jonte River and begin climbing up the Col de Perjuret.
For. Eight. Miles.
Woof.
On the high of the climb is the Causse Méjean, the final causse on the journey and maybe probably the most spectacular (as I discussed in Cévennes Journey: Day 5, “the causses are ‘haunting, windswept, desolate plateaux, used for sheep farming when they’re used for something, however most frequently completely wild’”). The principle situation for the day (aside from the Col de Perjuret, naturally) was the utter lack of civilization, which meant there could be no place to cease for lunch. Thus, as soon as once more, I opted for a fast salad in Meyrueis earlier than heading out.
As soon as previous the Col, the experience would get considerably simpler, together with a screaming respectable off the Causse Méjean. Certain, there have been just a few hiccups on the best way into Florac, however I imagined they might be reasonably tame when in comparison with the primary twelve miles of the thirty mile route.
As added incentive for the day, the route would take me previous 300 miles (~500 kilometers) for the week, a complete I had not seen for years (many years?).
This may look rather a lot like the image from Day 6. That’s as a result of it’s the identical photograph. However that’s OK, as a result of I had precisely the identical factor on Day 7.
Beginning off the climb, the clouds have been ominous…
A little bit of a break within the cloud cowl, shining some mild on Meyrueis down under.
As soon as I neared to summit of the Col du Pérjuret, the fog began to get thick.
Up on the Causse Méjean, I didn’t take a single image. Why? The fog was actually so thick that I couldn’t see greater than 10 meters forward of me. And despite the fact that it was not technically raining (I believe?), it was so damp and moist all over the place that I simply needed to maintain rolling.
About midway down the respectable, I got here out of the fog to see among the fairly spectacular surroundings.
Florac is a cute city, with shady city squares…
…and the Vibrant River operating by it.
Most of the buildings on the town, together with the church, date from the fifteenth Century (or earlier than).
Because it was my final day of using (the subsequent day’s forecast referred to as for heavy rain all day), I splurged a bit on dinner. That meant it included the cheese cart!
That’s all for this leg of the journey, again once more subsequent week with extra!
