Out and about on a bike in Provence

Old gate into Pernes-les-Fontaines

Although summer is always hot in this part of Provence as it lacks the sea breezes of coastal areas, no one had experienced this kind of heat so early in June. Temperatures were always in the 30s but climbed as high as 38 on some days. I know those of you suffering back in New Zealand from the cold, dark days of winter might feel envious, but Tony at least would have melted. It really is too hot to do anything.

Pernes-les-Fontaines

On a couple of days, however, I did manage to get myself organised and get out for a bike ride before the full heat of mid to late afternoon. Biking in France is always a pleasure. Not only are the drivers as respectful as they were 30 years ago when Tony and I did so much of it here, but there are small lanes, farm tracks, trails, canal paths and bike lanes everywhere. With a bit of thought and a desire to make it work, some or all of these are strung together and signed to make a bike route which is generally easy to follow.




The bike I had hired from a nice monsieur in Pernes was a bit clunky and I bet people wondered why a mad old woman would be biking along on this in the heat of the day. But it didn’t matter; it was virtually all flat and when you bike there is always a bit of a breeze in your face.

Mont Ventoux again

Pernes-les-Fontaines next to the canal



Canal path



I passed fields of poppies, lavender, barley and potatoes. This is a busy horticultural area despite the dry climate and with their huge plastic greenhouses and plenty of irrigation they can get four crops per season. From around here the views of the mythical Mont Ventoux are closer and its bald summit is certainly tantalising. When you're on a bike, you see so much more than from a car and it's very easy to stop and take photos, so I did, and took rather a lot, but the whole area is pretty cute you'd have to agree!








Typical farmhouse, Mont Ventoux behind