1500 kilometres in three weeks, and we’re taking a two-day pause at the bottom of France in the completely delightful St Maries de le Mer, the capital of the Camargue (remember those stories about wild horses and gypsies at school – this is where they came from.)

Riding the Voies Vertes along repurposed railway lines through Haut Languedoc before reaching the sea and Montpellier, proved quite magical, camping under a magnificant pink-lit evening mountain wall and never having to climb anything steeper than 3% gradient.

This was instead of looping down under the Pyrenees through Northern Spain, and it was the right decision. France, the French with their respect for and love of cycling and cyclists (even the biggest lorries stop to let us cross the road at an intersection) is just magical.

Tomorrow Saturday we take a bus up to Arles for the day, to DO Vincent van Gogh, and then on Sunday (rain forecast, though still hot) we’re on to Marseilles, whence up through Provence via some friends and family.

Photos as ever.

Open road.
Voies Vertes through the Haut Languedoc. Lots of tunnels.
Yup, briefly 15% gradient. To be pushed, not ridden, and that only just…
France!
A real paddle ferry, 50 years old. So much younger than the riders.
Aigues-Mortes in the Camargue. Small tandem and ancient walls, as they were built in the 13th century.
Room title in F1 hotel near Montpellier.
Quite some railway cutting…
Our first native flamingos. Flamingoes?
18th century Montpellier aquaduct, to feed royalty’s fountains. Quite a feat of engineering – the French have always loved their bridges.
The view from our hotel room in Saintes Marie de la Mer, Camargue

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2 Responses to “Pausing in the Camargue”

  1. gerrybeechmountcouk


    I am appreciating the views as you draw a very active and beautiful line across France. This is particularly uplifting as we are a household with Covid ……

    • mbrayne

      What rotten luck Gerry. Just when they thought it was all over. Get well soon. Xx