As lots 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 type 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 the moment the added risk of rain provides one other aspect of distress; I hate using within the rain.
As we speak’s route will not be all that lengthy, however there’s a reasonably daunting climb proper out of the gate: after solely 100 meters or so by way of city to “heat up”, I cross the Jonte River and begin climbing up the Col de Perjuret.
For. Eight. Miles.
Woof.
On the prime of the climb is the Causse Méjean, the final causse on the journey and maybe essentially 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 problem for the day (apart 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 trip would get considerably simpler, together with a screaming first rate off the Causse Méjean. Certain, there have been a couple of hiccups on the way in which into Florac, however I imagined they’d 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 (a long time?).
This would possibly look lots like the image from Day 6. That’s as a result of it’s the similar 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 gentle on Meyrueis down beneath.
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 in every single place that I simply needed to maintain rolling.
About midway down the first rate, I got here out of the fog to see a number of the fairly spectacular surroundings.
Florac is a cute city, with shady city squares…
…and the Vibrant River working by way of it.
Lots 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 following 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!
