Nice town, good wine, lots of green
This morning with the continuing cold and ice in Colorado I was in the mood to look at green. At first I thought about the green of Peter Sagan ...
But instead I settled on Gigondas. Not only because I like saying the name of this small town (commune) in the Vaucluse region of south-western France (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur), but because it is one of those places you imagine might exist in France and actually does.
Gigondas has nice roads to cycle on, nice streets to stroll along, nice cafe patios to lunch upon, and good wine to put within. Plus Mont Ventoux is in the back yard and that is one well worth journey up a mountain.
Today I could do with a good meal on a warm patio. Instead these photos will bring back fond memories.
Photos of Gigondas: All photos by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer® click to enlarge
Recommended loop route (to ride or drive) click to enlarge
Jace from In Situ Travel (bike tours) offers this alternative route between Vaison-la-Romain and Seguret/Gigondas. Jace wrote, "You're absolutely right, Gigondas is wonderful! And it's nice you included a route as well. Next time you're back there, check out this side road between Vaison La Romaine and Seguret. It's not the best pavement, but typically very quiet and has a nice little climb. It's also gets you off the main road for a little bit."
On to the Tour de France
And then after spending time in this lovely town in France, I went to see a stage finish of the Tour de France in Annonay, a simple working town. Aesthetically is was a real shocker and not exactly the green I had in mind, but it was fun because I was deep into France, I heard no English spoken and saw no American, Dutch, or Australian flags as I typically see on the big mountain stages. The drive along the Rhone River to get to and from the stage finish was particularly beautiful.
Gigondas wine
You don't have to go to France to enjoy Gigondas wine (Châteauneuf's "little cousin", By Wine Spectator). You can find the wine at a good local wine shop. Or at Trader Joe's market, which will be opening it's first store in Colorado, just blocks away, in only two days. Yippee!
Read more about the area from a transplanted American couple who write of their travel and food adventures in the area (based in the nearby town of Sablet): Sablet House.blogspot
This morning with the continuing cold and ice in Colorado I was in the mood to look at green. At first I thought about the green of Peter Sagan ...
 |
| Peter Sagan, in green again. Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer® |
But instead I settled on Gigondas. Not only because I like saying the name of this small town (commune) in the Vaucluse region of south-western France (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur), but because it is one of those places you imagine might exist in France and actually does.
Gigondas has nice roads to cycle on, nice streets to stroll along, nice cafe patios to lunch upon, and good wine to put within. Plus Mont Ventoux is in the back yard and that is one well worth journey up a mountain.
Today I could do with a good meal on a warm patio. Instead these photos will bring back fond memories.
Photos of Gigondas: All photos by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer® click to enlarge
Recommended loop route (to ride or drive) click to enlarge
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| Pass through the cities or small villages of: Vaison-la-Romain, Seguret, Sablet, Gigondas, Beaumes-de-Venise, La Barroux, Malaucène, Vaison-la-Romain. That white capped hill to the right is Mont Ventoux. |
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| See Google Map: http://goo.gl/maps/st0no |
On to the Tour de France
And then after spending time in this lovely town in France, I went to see a stage finish of the Tour de France in Annonay, a simple working town. Aesthetically is was a real shocker and not exactly the green I had in mind, but it was fun because I was deep into France, I heard no English spoken and saw no American, Dutch, or Australian flags as I typically see on the big mountain stages. The drive along the Rhone River to get to and from the stage finish was particularly beautiful.
 |
| Part of the famed Caravan of the TDF. Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer® |
You don't have to go to France to enjoy Gigondas wine (Châteauneuf's "little cousin", By Wine Spectator). You can find the wine at a good local wine shop. Or at Trader Joe's market, which will be opening it's first store in Colorado, just blocks away, in only two days. Yippee!
Read more about the area from a transplanted American couple who write of their travel and food adventures in the area (based in the nearby town of Sablet): Sablet House.blogspot