Another early start meant I arrived at the Vallon Pont D’Arc ahead of all the chuffin’ tourists, and also got to endure the horribly steep climb out of the gorge d’Ardêche in splendid isolation. There’s nothing like climbing up a hill to the accompaniment of birdsong and your own wheezing.

I then travelled along the plateau (which was was hilly for a plateau by the way) before descending down toward the Rhône.

It wasn’t long before Mont Ventoux appeared on the horizon.

Vallon-Pont-d’Arc and not a tourist in sight, except me of course.

An early sighting if Mont Ventoux.

The game of pétanque was a heated affair 😳.

Special mention of the cracking pizza I enjoyed in Villes-sur-Auzon, which was where I stayed overnight. As you can tell, I’m not starving myself on this tour.