Round the mountain

The skies had cleared by morning and temperatures a little lower with a strong wind. Ventoux day! So after getting money from Vaison and sausages, stuffed aubergines, lasagne and milk from Malaucène, we headed up the West Face of the Giant.







A few cyclists only and for most of the ascent good views. Until we got to the summit where visibility was zero, cloud down to the ground and wind so fierce we couldn’t open the car door. We decided to park tucked away in the restaurant carpark in the lee of the tower. Everything was closed - Fermé le Mercredi. But the bench had to be visited despite the icy gale. It was there, dark with precipitation.

Then we retreated down the Sault side into sunshine and warmth. Passing on our way the forest glade with scrap metal stag and hind that is part of a nature trail and observation area.

All the lavender fields have had a short back and sides so not looking their most colourful. Sault however was bustling.

Market just closing up and folk hogging the
outside tables in the sun at our designated caff. So we decided to go inside. Good call - it’s a really old fashioned bar with adverts for long ago drinks on the walls and a wooden counter. We’d bought sacristains and orange brioche from the pâtisserie across the road - that was lunch.

Return was via the northern side and a little walk round Plaisans. Birthplace of this chap.











https://storiesinscience.weebly.com/father-jerome-sixtus-ricard-becomes-padre-of-the-rains.html

And home to these caged beasts eagerly wagging at us from the other end of a field.

And quinces.