Kate rented a road bike until Wednesday just after I signed off this blog. She rode it home to make sure all was in working order. Then we had dinner. The classic roast chicken with roast potatoes and green beens preceded by a composed salad (using the last of Glenn's beets) and the three cheeses we got in Vaison: the blue one is roquefort; the irregular shaped one is a chevre wrapped around rosemary and thyme; and the heart-shaped one is a brebis (sheep). We got all that plus a bottle of wine (from the winery closest to us) for 11 euros. Everything was very tasty. In fact by now it would be a terrible shock to eat something that was not exceptionally tasty. I poked my nose very briefly into my book after dinner and then retired for the evening, leaving Kate with the Provence Cookbook to peruse. I fear she is a new disciple!
The weather here has turned a bit. It is still clear and sunny during the day, but quite chilly in the evening and early morning and the wind seems to be a bit more frequent. The up-side is that one can have a bit of a lie-in and a relaxing coffee and not get started on the bike until about 10:30 am without running the risk (that existed just last week) of severe heatstroke by about noon. We managed to get going just after 10, but by then we had had fresh-picked figs from the tree next to our terrace and some local peaches on our oatmeal, as well as some coffee and a little map consultation. I have a picture of at least part of Kate up the tree. (Some of you may recognize Glenn's slippers). I also have a picture later in the day of part of her on a bike. I am hoping to photograph enough parts that I will make a whole image soon -- much like the fridge magnet skeleton we are assembling from the pieces found in each box of Petit Ecolier biscuits. There is a bit of a fierce competition as to whether the recycling will be favoured with more biscuit boxes or more wine boxes by the time this is all over.
We rode just under 70 km today and parts of the route were familiar, and parts new. We went across the fields to Entrechaux and then took the small road from there to Faucon (bypassing Mollans-sur-Ouveze) and the nice coffee bar. From Faucon we went to Puymeras and rode into the town and beyond hoping to get to Mirabel aux Baronnies that way. On the way we spotted my favourite-yet name of a bar -- the Wild Boar and the Apricot. The road is nice and quiet and well-paved, but it unfortunately swings east (rather than west) after about 3 km and heads toward Buis les Baronnies and Nyons instead. We turned around and had a nice downhill run back the way we had come into Puymeras and then took the main road to Mirabel aux Baronnies and then to Villedieu (again!) for lunch. From there we went to Roaix rather than Vaison and ignored all the signs that said "route barree" and then went on to Seguret and took the "mountain" road back to Vaison. We met one car in 7 km or so. It is quite a narrow road, a lane really, with not the best pavement, but it is an efficient trip as the first km only is steeply uphill (I'd say 12% grade) and then the rest is gently downhill through a wooded area and it ends on the Vaison sud road just west of the road to Malaucene. We stopped at Entrechaux for a coffee on the way back, and then made our way again through the fields. Kate looks very serious on her bike, doesn't she? That is because she is riding and taking her own picture. Apparently it is par for the course for her to have to take her own photo.
I did a little more reading and Kate did a little more consulting of La Wells. I put my foot down at the prospect of our cooking an entire leg of lamb or suckling pig, but otherwise she has carte blanche to do as she wishes. One of those things is to sample fresh (not dried) legumes, so we have just bought some cranberry beans to have as a side dish. We are also going to create a beef stew of some kind tomorrow (although one hates to sacrifice the wine!).
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