Cloudless sky, heat forecast so we chose today to get some altitude and cooler air ( not having cool clothes as previously mentioned). Along the Toulourenc Valley and up onto the plateau behind Sault. First stop, a tiny smudge of habitation called Ferrassières that holds a mega lavande festival in July.
You can see why. The hillsides for miles around are corduroy lines of lavender bushes, greyish green now but a glorious sight in summer.
We had a walk around admiring the view which really is splendid. Ventoux in the distance, for once not shrouded in cloud. And farther along the road there was a belvedere from which you could see right down to Ste Victoire and La Sainte Baume.
We had intended to circle round and come back via Montbrun but got distracted by a tempting road down to Sédéron. Coming down from le Col de l’Homme Mort - so reassuring - we were assaulted by the sight of high mountain peaks with snow in the distance.
Sédéron itself is a bit grey and trenchlike and didn’t inspire investigation so, it being now 12, we thought perhaps a plat du jour might be in order.
Adrian suggested Le Trinit, a pretty village devoted to all things Champignon, that we’d been to in the Spring. I remembered it had a Bistrot du Pays. Sorted! But first a little detour to photograph the valley.
The colours are just turning now and here and there are vivid red bushes among the rocks as well as amber and acid yellow trees. It will be full on in a week or so.
But I digress...we retraced our route back along to St Trinit. Saw cars parked in front of the bistro and a menu board outside, but then all hopes were dashed. The shutters were up,
Fermé le jeudi sign hanging on the door! We ambled past as if we really hadn’t come to eat so as not to lose face and looked round the village again. It’s having a Champignon Fête on Sunday so marquees were up. As we got back to the car we were gratified to see that a French couple were also looking disconsolately at the closed restaurant.
Nil desperandum, there is a café in Aurel down the road that always looks tempting but at which we have never eaten. Five minutes later we were drawing up. Closed! About face and hightailed it to Montbrun where we know there is pizzeria/resto and crêperie. No parking...Adrian said he didn’t want to eat there anyway. So we were resigned to starve until teatime.
Along the lovely valley road back I remembered
there was a bistrot du pays in Savoillans. Adam and I once lurked in front of it hoping that Master would allow us to have lunch. But he strode resolutely off to the car and we didn’t. It was by now 1.15 and we fully expected it either to be closed or to be told we were too late. Miracle! Open and serving. Charming people, not bad food.
After which we had a short walk along the lane under the shadow of Ventoux past some impressive marrows and tomatoes with little flocks of birds twittering through the trees and two inqusitive hopeful white horses gazing at us over a fence.
