France

Had a swim before breakfast and came to find a film crew wanted the carpark. We finally ended up in a paid aire very close to the beach at Ramatuelle. The beach is about 2 miles long and is used by Saint Tropez, we were at the poor end by the look of the boats moored.

Topped up with fuel and food at a Casino supermarket just after Cannes after wading through the traffic for an hour. I don’t think we have ever done such a slow journey. We’re now parked up at a hilltop carpark with the Med before us. The carpark is busy with people stopping to take photos and the

Had a walk around Mougins, art and restaurants and then visited Les Jardins du MIP, botanical gardens for the perfume industry. Drove down to Antibes and parked up in the lee of the lighthouse. Bikes out and first swim in the Med, lovely.

Bikes out today and on the Route des Crêtes to view the Gorge du Verdon. Steep climb up but the electric bikes coped brilliantly. Superb views from the belvederes, kayakers in the gorge, griffon vultures soaring above and below us and some daredevil rock climbers plus a scary bike ride down a 11%

Visited the Citadel at Sisteron for 3 hours this morning, huge place with fantastic views. Quick lunch and then we were off to the Gorges of Verdun. Again fantastic views and some very tight roads with no safety barriers in sight.

Kay drove through the Gorges de la Bourne and on to Vassieux-en-Vercors for lunch. It’s cold and wet today so we decided to drive on to Sisteron dropping down 1200m in one go with lots of hairpins.