The forecast said very windy and max temp 19 degrees so we abandoned plans to summit Ventoux in clear weather or to climb up to see the Vultures in Rémuzat. We’d have been sent into orbit! Plan C - visit Richerenches and Grignan. The first is always a risk as the museum keeps its own hours despite what they publish. And so it transpired! Resolutely Fermé, but we still had a nice look round the fortifications before continuing to Mme de Sévigné’s country pad.
Grignan was looking very fine with still some of their famous roses blooming. A froggy sat outside my favourite shop today.
And we were just in time to take a turn round the terraces of the château - beautifully restored now - before lunchtime closing. Incredibly windy up there, definitely hood up conditions.
And fantastic views in all directions.
Then a stroll down to the newly refurbed church Parvis and a sit down in the sun for coffee...quality? hmm!
Terry says he hasn’t seen a single train and was doubting their existence so we took him to a spot overlooking the Pierrelatte nuke facility and a distant TGV line. We were rewarded by a double unit heading north.
There’s a good walk from there through the woods and along the cliff edge to a viewpoint so we strode out. Wind roaring in the trees and almost knocking us off our feet. Eventually we reached the open rocks - by separate paths. Once again I was alone in the forest. Super views. Then return. Ha! Pack leader refused to accept my waymarked path and we trudged on via another.
There came a point when I realised we’d overshot the car park high above us so we had to retrace our steps. Fortunately Terry had spotted a track going up to join the proper path, but it was mighty steep and we were all clutching our poor knees by the time we got to the top. But it was a great day out. Now for Soupe (au pistou).
