Day 2 – Avignon Long Loop

76.58 miles, 984 metres climbed, 9 hours elapsed time .

The morning briefing given by Trevor who rode with us today. The briefings detail the location of brew and lunch stops as well as any particular navigational problems. I wore my Christchuch Bicycle Club shirt today and  was approached by a German lady at the briefing who asked if I was from New Zealand.  Not for the first time in France I had to explain I was from the original Christchurch in the UK.

The route took us out of Avignon and along the banks of the Rhone and passed the Pont d’Avignon. As we moved away from the river we came across large fields of asparagus beds, fields of artichokes and orchards of  peaches or perhaps apricots, ripened cherries and, of course, vineyards. The route was quite flat to the morning brew stop on the outskirts of Chateau Neuf du Pape which came up after 19 miles. We did climb up into the town  but did not sample the wine – too early in the day. There was a long climb up the picnic lunch stop at 40 miles and just beyond the summit of the Col de la Madeleine.

After lunch there was a nice downhill section to Bedoin followed some nice flat sections  which allowed us to make good time. After the afternoon brew stop there was approximately 15 miles to go the last part along a busy main road into Avignon. A long day but with a great sense of achievement at the end