Day 15 Saturday 9/14/13 Châteauneuf-du-Pape to Sault 44 Miles

This day was ridden in two parts:

PART ONE:
 

We have traveled 803 miles in fourteen days of riding.  Three more riding days to go.

Just the stats: 44 miles, 12.9 MPH average. Three hours twenty three minutes of riding time. I stopped for a total of 45 minutes before arriving in Sault around 1 pm.  It was sunny with high clouds all day, 60 to 68 degrees.

Calories burned on the ride – 3,011. My average heart rate during this ride was 122 bpm. Maximum speed – 31.4 mph.

Today started out with great expectations.  Not only would we ride the shortest day of our trip, but there was an optional ride to add on.  This option isn't some casual thing, no; it is probably the biggest thing a cyclist dreams he could do – climb Mt. Ventoux! 

So, the day began with a flat section in the Rhone Valley riding through Bedarides and Carpentras.  As we passed through the villages of Mazan and Mormoiron, cruising by lavender fields and vineyards, views of the mighty Le Mont Ventoux started to appear.

Do you see that mountain looming in the background? 

 

 With every pedal stroke I started hearing the drum beat - Ventoux, Ventoux, Ventoux

 

 

The Giant of Provence or, perhaps more fittingly “The Bastard” as it was famously described by Lance Armstrong, watched over us for much of the second part of the day.

 

For sure, we had some work to do before this 44 mile ride was over.  After some big climbs, we rode through an impressively beautiful gorge before rolling into Sault, the centre of the Provencal lavender trade.

We climbed and then rode on that upper ridge around the gorge.

 

 

I am ready to go.