… So to continue from last night’s saga with the washing machine, the guys managed to un-jam it and we were able to rescue our clothes, thankfully!
After hanging out the clothes to dry overnight, we retired to bed, only to be awoken by a loud bang. We wondered if it was from another apartment, but then we heard giggling from upstairs.
We went upstairs to investigate and found that Soo’s bed had collapsed! This was a cause of great hilarity! Soo was OK sleeping on the mattress on the floor!
After a reasonable night’s sleep, we set off. The air was still cool, but the route was a bit unkind by immediately climbing up out of Villefort. The climb continued for over 8km!
We were in the shade of the trees, it was peaceful with just the sound of our breathing and a soft breeze. The quiet was occasionally interrupted by the occasional motor cyclists.
We passed the Col du Mas de l’Aire and an incredible vista opened up before us. Followed by a long descent with sweeping curves, and the sound of the bike freewheeling. The expanse of mountains was breathtaking.
We stopped for a snack in Les Vans. We availed ourselves of a public toilet which shocked me by doing an automatic clean whilst I was still in it. It was dark and cold water was sprayed on me!
We continued to Maisonneuve for a rest break with the vehicle.
After that the remaining route delivered more beautiful sights, ending in Vallons Pont d’Arc with massive rock sides of the gorge.
We followed our ride with a refreshing swim in the Ardeche river.
Our accommodation is: Vacancéole – Le Domaine de Chames – Pont d’Arc, Vallon-Pont-dʼArc (updated prices 2026)
I have created a GiveWheel page to support my chosen charities – Sussex Cancer Fund and Cancer United. If you would like to help me reach my target of £2,000, please visit https://gvwhl.com/QV7EB