We went for breakfast in the sun in the square just around the corner from our hotel. We managed to confuse the waitress at first, but the breakfast was worth waiting for – pain et confiture, pain au chocolat, jus d’ orange. Then we set out on our excursion to Mont Ventoux.
Traffic jams on the outskirts of Orange forced us to make a diversion but we eventually managed to get there. We parked up at Chalet Rénard and were successful in locating the walking route from there to the summit. It was a beautiful day as we proceeded along the first 6+km of the path, though it seemed suspiciously flat. Suddenly, as we approached the tree line, we understood why. We were directed up a near vertical path of loose rock and scree, which continued for the remaining 3km to the summit.
We managed to make it to the top and celebrated with an Orangina at the bar at the top. Then we began the descent down the route by which we had ascended. The first part was somewhat perilous but once we had negotiated the demon slope we ran the remaining 6km to Chalet Rénard. As with the outward journey, we saw no-one, it was much more pleasant than the road and best of all Helen was able to run it without any reaction from her rogue hip.
At Chalet Rénard we had a well earned beer before facing the next challenge. The steep climb up to the Chalet had consumed a prodigious amount of petrol and according to the electronic petrol we had only 14 miles left and it was 16km to Bedoin, where the nearest garage was. We started gingerly down the hill and the indicator showed 10 miles, then 8..7..5.. but then, wonder of wonders, it started increasing and by the time we got to the garage we apparently had enough petrol left in the tank to do 44 miles.
We drove back to the hotel and asked them to book us a table at the Forum restaurant which we had spotted the night before and liked the look of. It proved to be an excellent decision, with the best meal of the trip so far, even better than the night before. We were treated to an amuse bouche of aubergine caviar followed by tomato gazpacho. The starters, mine from the fish menu and Helen from the herb menu were fantastic, so good in fact that they rather overshadowed the main courses. By the time the apricot gratinée was served we were both feeling a bit full up but an excellent glass of Beaune-de-Venise helped it down.
Traffic jams on the outskirts of Orange forced us to make a diversion but we eventually managed to get there. We parked up at Chalet Rénard and were successful in locating the walking route from there to the summit. It was a beautiful day as we proceeded along the first 6+km of the path, though it seemed suspiciously flat. Suddenly, as we approached the tree line, we understood why. We were directed up a near vertical path of loose rock and scree, which continued for the remaining 3km to the summit.
We managed to make it to the top and celebrated with an Orangina at the bar at the top. Then we began the descent down the route by which we had ascended. The first part was somewhat perilous but once we had negotiated the demon slope we ran the remaining 6km to Chalet Rénard. As with the outward journey, we saw no-one, it was much more pleasant than the road and best of all Helen was able to run it without any reaction from her rogue hip.
At Chalet Rénard we had a well earned beer before facing the next challenge. The steep climb up to the Chalet had consumed a prodigious amount of petrol and according to the electronic petrol we had only 14 miles left and it was 16km to Bedoin, where the nearest garage was. We started gingerly down the hill and the indicator showed 10 miles, then 8..7..5.. but then, wonder of wonders, it started increasing and by the time we got to the garage we apparently had enough petrol left in the tank to do 44 miles.
We drove back to the hotel and asked them to book us a table at the Forum restaurant which we had spotted the night before and liked the look of. It proved to be an excellent decision, with the best meal of the trip so far, even better than the night before. We were treated to an amuse bouche of aubergine caviar followed by tomato gazpacho. The starters, mine from the fish menu and Helen from the herb menu were fantastic, so good in fact that they rather overshadowed the main courses. By the time the apricot gratinée was served we were both feeling a bit full up but an excellent glass of Beaune-de-Venise helped it down.
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