My Biking Blog: #manosque

Monday, 6 July 2015

100 Cols Day 23 Manosque to Gorges du Verdon 145km 2100m climbing

Well, a spectacular day for sure. The area of the Gorges Du Verdon is world famous and attracts lots of tourists in the summer season. Before reaching the Gorges there is a very large lake called the Lac de Sainte Croix. Popular in holiday season for water sports. The Gorge de Verdon is massive and you enter it from Moustiers-Ste-Marie perched high on the mountainside. The village has a stream running through it with beautiful views and a waterfall directly under the main bridge in the centre of town. Stephanie and I enjoyed a coke here before heading up the climb. Shortly after this village as a site for paragliding, and several gliders were preparing for flight.
I expected to see some very large and deep gorges at the Gorges Du Verdon, but this was certainly beyond all expectation. We departed from the “Circuit des 100 Cols” to complete a scenic loop of the Gorge. As it was quite hot this afternoon, the grind to the top of the 22km loop was very tiring. The name the one-way road around the Gorge is “Route des Cretes” means the “Path of the Roosters Crest”. So the ridge of the cliffs that it follows is similar in shape to the roosters crest. The river running below is almost impossible to see as it is so far down. After stopping at all the lookouts and taking photos it was a great descent through the gorges, following the river to campsite. The camp is beside a river in the gorge and the opportunity to enjoy a swim and a cold beer whilst sitting in the stream was too tempting.
Tomorrow we start in the Alpes with the Gorges Supremes des Cians (The Red Gorge) and the Col de Couillole which is quite a long climb with a nasty gradient. My netbook battery failed today so can only use it when connected to power. Bit of a nuisance since most WiFi is available outside the kiosk at each campsite and power isn't always available. Will just have to update as the opportunity arises. Garmin link here
Manosque Cycling by peterjkemp at Garmin Connect - Details

canola fields

lavender fields Greg

Valensole

Lac du barrage de Sainte-Croix

Stephanie in Gorges du Verdon

Gorges du Verdon

Jakob and Karin

Gorges du Verdon

Gorges du Verdon Route des Cretes

Gorges du Verdon - Route des Cretes

Kiwi Dave

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

Moustieres-Sainte-Marie

Kiwi Dave Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

Moustieres-Sainte-Marie

camping Gorges du Verdon

Lee Mark and Joergen (the Fairy servants)

Saturday, 4 July 2015

100 Cols Day 22 Malaucène to Manosque 145km 2100m climbing

This was a very tough day on the bike as the afternoon temperature was high and the wind was blowing against us for the last 2 hours. First col was the Col de l’homme Mort (Col of the “Dead Man”). Just over 1300m high and a steady grind over 15kms or so. Not too difficult as we started on it early and the temp wasn’t too hot.
I took a short detour to the Gorges d’Oppedette, a very narrow and steep walled gorge which has walking trails at the bottom and along the sides. Not a huge landform but very dramatic nevertheless. I enjoyed a refreshing coke at a tiny café at the little town of Oppedette.
The town is very quaint with building of old stone and render construction. The café seemed to me to be a very marginal business, as there is no through road and the only clients the owner would see would be mainly walkers who come to the area during the summer months. The lady who served me was very proud of her town and suggest it was “Une Ville tres tranquil” (a very peaceful town).
After lunch at about the 75km mark it was a pleasant descent through lavender fields for the next 20kms or so. Climbing over the final cols was tough because it got close to 40 deg. I punctured in Manosque only 5km from camp. After replacing the tube I punctured again! This is quite common of you don’t check your tyres carefully enough. I didn’t have another tube so had to mend it with a patch. Fortunately it got me to camp and meal service/wash-up detail at 630pm! Garmin link here
Malaucène Cycling by peterjkemp at Garmin Connect - Details