Sunday 28 March 4, 2010
Hubert arrives with the bikes we are hiring at 8 am, and panniers. They are Specialized Cirrus hybrid bikes which we can use to go on the tracks leading up to the cliffs and they are also good at carrying stuff like climbing ropes and bottles of wine and potatoes. As we don’t have a car, these will be our only means of transport for two weeks. We prepare for a ride, – a tour of the Dentelles, and set off for Gigondas, for coffee first, outside in the sun, and then up onto a track that leads to the road around the tops of the Dentelles. This is a hilly and bumpy track, and it is great to be up on the tops, away from the cars, and looking at the lacy limestone flutes. In the evening we walk to Gigondas, returning under a full moon through the purple vineyards staked out with stiffly eerie figures of gnarled vines.
Getting to know the new bikes
Breakfast in the sun
the high level track that makes a circuit of the Dentelles
Entrance to the Domaine de Montmirail
Gigondas at evening time
The full moon that lit up our way home on the forest tracks
not at home 