x-alt.fun: events

6.50am This was the bottom of the steep downhill, fast and curvy, lots of fun on the recumbent though the enjoyment was slightly spoiled by knowing that I was going to have to climb back up a similar type road on the other side.

This photos was me delaying that ascent by enjoying the river I'd last seen hundreds of kilometers to the north.

8.22am Here I am almost an hour and half of climbing later getting near the top. It was actually a nice ascent. The vegetation was definitely changing though. The plants were more spiky, there were more pines, it was starting to be more Mediterranean in feel. The smell of Oleander, which had been the predominant scent since virtually the start of the trip, was starting to be balanced by thyme and rosemary.

But, as enjoyable as the climb was I must admit that I was starting to get to the point where curvy steep roads up through pine forests were just starting to pall a little. As I've said, I think it was getting time for a rest day.

10.08 descents at last, with views to the reservoir in the distance. I'd now got about 25km of slight ascent before I'd get to the camp site for the night at La Bastide Puylaurent.

It was a pretty campsite though I almost gave up on it, the sign said 500m, after 2km another sign said, 500m, after 3km I finally came to it.

The campsite was next to a stream, the owners were very welcoming and the food they cooked was great. This photo is the small terrace next to the bar, looking out onto the park/playground.

The only downside was that I had to walk 500m further up the hill to get a phone signal to phone home.